4K Ultra HD movie reviews: ‘Companion’ and ‘Wolf Man’

Here’s a look at a pair of unusual monster movies now available in the ultra-high definition disc format.

Companion (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, rated R, 2.39:1 aspect ratio, 97 minutes, $32.98) — A foreshadowing of the dangers of artificial intelligence gone rogue came to light in first-time director Drew Hancock’s creepy romantic sci-fi thriller released earlier this year and is quickly making a debut in the ultra-high definition format.

After Cupid strikes a match between unassuming Iris (Sophie Thatcher) and Josh (Jack Quaid), an evolving relationship finds them at an isolated lakeside home meeting up with an eclectic group of friends for the weekend.

Specifically, owner Sergey (Rupert Friend) with girlfriend Kat (Megan Suri) and the couple Eli (Harvey Guillén) and Patrick (Lukas Gage) barely get to relax before Iris gets assaulted by Sergey the next morning, leading to his death.

Iris tells Josh what happened, and things get weird as her boyfriend tells her to shut down.

Yes, Iris is actually a very lifelike emotional support “companion” robot (a rental) that has committed a murder. Let the moral complications begin.

The robot creators promised that Iris could not harm a human or animal, and her strength and intelligence level could never be set to extreme behavior.

Why she killed and what happens after she escapes with Josh’s phone, that includes access to her programming no less, lead to quite the entertaining story that escalates with a humorous touch to the ensuing carnage.

And it should be an amusing cautionary tale of the future of sentient bots becoming part of a society still encumbered by the fragility of human relationships.

The 4K presentation does not distract nor enhance the film action, which offers very natural and realistic colors and crisp visuals throughout that are very noticeable, especially when a cherry-red Mustang drives on a forested road on a bright, sunny day.

Best extras: Viewers only get a trio of promotional featurettes (roughly 15 minutes long in total) covering the story of Josh and Iris; the relationship between Eli and Patrick; and the mashup between horror and science-fiction elements in the film as discussed by cast and crew.

Wolf Man (Universal Studios Home Entertainment, rated R, 2.39:1 aspect ratio, 97 minutes, $32.98) — An untraditional monster movie tapped into Universal Studios’ classic collection of creatures to deliver a thriller, rather than a pure horror feast.

The patriarch of the “Saw” and “Insidious” franchises, Leigh Whannell, co-wrote and directed the story that reimagines the legend of a man cursed to turn into a wolf by full moonlight and makes him a victim of a rabid infection.

In this case, quick-to-temper Blake Lovell (Christopher Abbott) – carrying the emotional baggage of a scary, stern dad – lives in San Francisco with his distant wife Charlotte (Julia Garner) and loving daughter Ginger (Matilda Firth) and learns his formerly missing father has now been declared dead.

Blake has been willed the house he grew up in and takes the family on an adventure to the wilderness of Oregon. The trip goes poorly with their moving truck crashing as the trio escapes through the woods to the house while an unknown creature hunts them.

Making it to the house, Blake realizes that he has been scratched by the creature and now must protect his family during a terrifying transformation.

Mr. Whannell loads up on the atmosphere amid too many dark scenes and a few jump scares while pounding home the point of a man obsessed with family. He puts viewers in the driver’s seat of watching Blake slowly and painfully turn into a wolf, much to the horror of his wife and daughter.

Unfortunately, a lumbering ending devoid of any twist or imagination certainly does not help to possibly extend the legacy of this Wolf Man universe in a film that ultimately never attains the horror heights of classics such as “An American Werewolf in London,” “The Howling” or the original, “The Wolf Man.”

The 4K enhancements first give a vivid vibrancy to the green flora of the woods and Oregon’s majestic mountain settings (via New Zealand).

Also, the enhanced introduction of Wolf Man vision offers a glowing and neon-tinted perspective to viewers that allows the creature to see prey in difficult lighting conditions and certainly helps clarify what’s happening onscreen in some very dark scenes.

Best extras: Mr. Whannell offers a slightly sarcastic personal dissection of his movie as well as offering tips for young filmmakers in an optional commentary track.

It covers topics such as shooting locations in New Zealand; actor performances; the positives of using computer-generated enhancements; following thematic instincts when editing; the meticulous details of set design; and the renaissance of horror films in the last decade.

Between occasional silent gaps, interesting info nuggets from the director include using an insect wrangler to have ants devour a wasp, the truck crash was completely digital effects, and the spider used to introduce Blake’s enhanced hearing was an Australian Huntsman.

A quartet of featurettes follow (roughly 30 minutes in total) focusing on an overview of the production and conjuring a new Wolf Man; creating the prosthetics and make-up effects for a transforming Wolf Man; using in camera practical effects and stunts; and the introduction of Wolf Man vision, with the tech magic behind his enhanced hearing and the sound effects.