Best Blurays IconBest Blurays
Films
/
The Keep (1983)
The Keep (1983) poster
Letterboxd

2.9

The Keep (1983)

Horror, Fantasy • 1h 36m

Overview

Set during World War II, a German army garrison is sent to guard a mountain pass in a village in Romania's Carpathian mountains and sets up barracks in an ancient stone fortress. Two of the soldiers unwittingly release a mysterious entity that kills or corrupts those within its influence, drawing the attention of a Gestapo commander, a Jewish scholar and a mysterious traveller.

Director: Michael Mann

Best English-Friendly Release

Best Audio Release

Imprint 4K Blu-ray has the same audio as Vinegar Syndrome

Format

UHD Blu-ray

UHD Tiers

Excellent
Imprint > VS

Featured Lists

Length

96 mins

Type

Movie

Last Updated

6 months ago

Contributors

Best English-Friendly Release
Best Video Release
Best Audio Release

Imprint 4K Blu-ray has the same audio as Vinegar Syndrome

Format
UHD Blu-ray
UHD Tiers
Excellent
Imprint > VS
Featured Lists
Length
96 mins
Type
Movie
Last Updated
6 months ago
Contributors

Featured in Perfect Release

See more →
The Sound of Music poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Disney 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Disney 4K Atmos is great, a reference quality track. It's a very slight remix (music seems to be from a better source), but it's completely seamless and faithful to the original, better fidelity than anything since the 1994 30th Anniversary Edition LaserDisc.

All DVDs (and 2010 Blu-ray) sound far worse than the 4K Blu-ray/LaserDisc and have various missing sound cues.

Best English-Friendly:

Disney 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Disney 4K Atmos is great, a reference quality track. It's a very slight remix (music seems to be from a better source), but it's completely seamless and faithful to the original, better fidelity than anything since the 1994 30th Anniversary Edition LaserDisc.

All DVDs (and 2010 Blu-ray) sound far worse than the 4K Blu-ray/LaserDisc and have various missing sound cues.

Mortal Kombat poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Arrow includes the original theatrical sound mix in all its glory. All previous releases other than the 1996 AC-3 LaserDisc were tamed relative to the original theatrical DTS track.

The disc is authored by Duplitech, but doesn't exhibit any compression issues, though the image is pretty soft, that's likely just down to the stock used.

Old New Line Video LaserDiscs include an exclusive commentary track.

Best English-Friendly:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Arrow includes the original theatrical sound mix in all its glory. All previous releases other than the 1996 AC-3 LaserDisc were tamed relative to the original theatrical DTS track.

The disc is authored by Duplitech, but doesn't exhibit any compression issues, though the image is pretty soft, that's likely just down to the stock used.

Old New Line Video LaserDiscs include an exclusive commentary track.

Die Hard poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Fox 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Fox 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

70mm Six-track mix: THX AC3 or DTS LaserDisc

Die Hard poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Fox 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Fox 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

70mm Six-track mix: THX AC3 or DTS LaserDisc

L'Atalante poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray with much better encoding than the Gaumont Blu-ray with the same 4K restoration see caps

Criterion Blu-ray uses an older restoration

L'Atalante poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray with much better encoding than the Gaumont Blu-ray with the same 4K restoration see caps

Criterion Blu-ray uses an older restoration

Zero for Conduct poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray

Taris poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray

Taris poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray

À propos de Nice poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray

Trainspotting poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 2026 4K Blu-ray (UPC 715515334617)

Best Video:

Criterion 2026 4K Blu-ray (UPC 715515334617) > Criterion 2024 4K Blu-ray > Film4 4K Blu-ray

  • Criterion 2026 redid the encoding and none of the blocking issues any more, see disc info and nicolas' review

  • Criterion 2024 encode struggles with brighter areas of the image but still superior to Film4

Best Audio:

5.1: Universal EU Blu-ray - Criterion and Lionsgate are missing LFE, otherwise the same
Stereo: Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Film4 4K Blu-ray is on a BD-66, both Criterion releases are on BD-100 discs. 

Criterion 2024 release bitrate: 94.67 mbps

Criterion 2026 release bitrate: 93.66 mbps

Film4 bitrate: 62.00 mbps

Trainspotting poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 2026 4K Blu-ray (UPC 715515334617)

Best Video:

Criterion 2026 4K Blu-ray (UPC 715515334617) > Criterion 2024 4K Blu-ray > Film4 4K Blu-ray

  • Criterion 2026 redid the encoding and none of the blocking issues any more, see disc info and nicolas' review

  • Criterion 2024 encode struggles with brighter areas of the image but still superior to Film4

Best Audio:

5.1: Universal EU Blu-ray - Criterion and Lionsgate are missing LFE, otherwise the same
Stereo: Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Film4 4K Blu-ray is on a BD-66, both Criterion releases are on BD-100 discs. 

Criterion 2024 release bitrate: 94.67 mbps

Criterion 2026 release bitrate: 93.66 mbps

Film4 bitrate: 62.00 mbps

Boogie Nights poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Like previous releases, the 4K Blu-ray was scanned from an interpositive rather than the original camera negative at Paul Thomas Anderson’s request which may explain the softness.

Best English-Friendly:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Like previous releases, the 4K Blu-ray was scanned from an interpositive rather than the original camera negative at Paul Thomas Anderson’s request which may explain the softness.

Thief poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray is encoded by FiM encode is better than Criterion, see caps https://slow.pics/c/Z2RRQAAT

Criterion 4K Blu-ray vs Blu-ray: caps colors are more different and nuanced than anticipated even in the SDR-converted caps and the usual gain in highlight detail is also apparent. Encode looks excellent except for the brightest areas as usual.

Best Audio:

Arrow/Criterion 4K Blu-ray. Only imperceptible differences in bit-depth: 20 vs 24.

Additional Info:

Arrow and Criterion 4K Blu-rays have differing extras, Arrow LE has Theatrical cut Blu-ray from older HD master, most likely from a 2K scan of an interpositive.

Thief poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray is encoded by FiM encode is better than Criterion, see caps https://slow.pics/c/Z2RRQAAT

Criterion 4K Blu-ray vs Blu-ray: caps colors are more different and nuanced than anticipated even in the SDR-converted caps and the usual gain in highlight detail is also apparent. Encode looks excellent except for the brightest areas as usual.

Best Audio:

Arrow/Criterion 4K Blu-ray. Only imperceptible differences in bit-depth: 20 vs 24.

Additional Info:

Arrow and Criterion 4K Blu-rays have differing extras, Arrow LE has Theatrical cut Blu-ray from older HD master, most likely from a 2K scan of an interpositive.

More from Michael Mann

See more →
Heat poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Theatrical Cut: Old Warner Bros DVD or fan restoration

Revised Cut: 2012 Japan Blu-ray for less revisionist colors, 2022 Disney 4K Blu-ray is controversially regraded and too dark overall.

Best Video:

Theatrical Cut: Old Warner Bros DVD or fan restoration

Revised Cut: 2012 Japan Blu-ray for less revisionist colors, 2022 Disney 4K Blu-ray is controversially regraded and too dark overall.

Best Audio:

LaserDisc 2.0 (restores censored dialog). Comparison of 5.1 mixes
For the 5.1: LaserDisc AC3 vs US DVD AC3 vs Japan DVD DTS

Heat poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Theatrical Cut: Old Warner Bros DVD or fan restoration

Revised Cut: 2012 Japan Blu-ray for less revisionist colors, 2022 Disney 4K Blu-ray is controversially regraded and too dark overall.

Best Video:

Theatrical Cut: Old Warner Bros DVD or fan restoration

Revised Cut: 2012 Japan Blu-ray for less revisionist colors, 2022 Disney 4K Blu-ray is controversially regraded and too dark overall.

Best Audio:

LaserDisc 2.0 (restores censored dialog). Comparison of 5.1 mixes
For the 5.1: LaserDisc AC3 vs US DVD AC3 vs Japan DVD DTS

The Jericho Mile poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

OOP KL Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

OOP KL Blu-ray

Collateral poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount/Plaion Spain/Italy 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Paramount/Plaion Spain/Italy 4K Blu-ray has better encoding than the US 4K Blu-ray.

Best Audio:

Paramount US 4K Blu-ray: the EUR 4K has missing dialog.

Collateral poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount/Plaion Spain/Italy 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Paramount/Plaion Spain/Italy 4K Blu-ray has better encoding than the US 4K Blu-ray.

Best Audio:

Paramount US 4K Blu-ray: the EUR 4K has missing dialog.

Ali poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Theatrical: Universum Film Germany Blu-ray 2004 Director's Cut: Sony Director's Cut DVD 2017 Director's Cut: Sony Blu-ray

Best Video:

Theatrical: Universum Film Germany Blu-ray (caveat: not entirely English friendly, R1 DVD for a more English friendly release)
2004 Director's Cut: Sony Director's Cut DVD
2017 Director's Cut: Sony Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Theatrical: The UK DVD has a DTS 5.1 track

Additional Info:

The Sony Blu-ray is missing the commentary from the DC DVD

Michael Mann changed it so much for the new cut that it no longer lined up.

Ali poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Theatrical: Universum Film Germany Blu-ray 2004 Director's Cut: Sony Director's Cut DVD 2017 Director's Cut: Sony Blu-ray

Best Video:

Theatrical: Universum Film Germany Blu-ray (caveat: not entirely English friendly, R1 DVD for a more English friendly release)
2004 Director's Cut: Sony Director's Cut DVD
2017 Director's Cut: Sony Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Theatrical: The UK DVD has a DTS 5.1 track

Additional Info:

The Sony Blu-ray is missing the commentary from the DC DVD

Michael Mann changed it so much for the new cut that it no longer lined up.

Miami Vice poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

88 Films UK Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray upcoming

Best Video:

88 Films UK Blu-ray for both cuts 

Best Audio:

88 Films Blu-ray is missing Michael Mann commentary for the DC found on other BDs

Miami Vice poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

88 Films UK Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray upcoming

Best Video:

88 Films UK Blu-ray for both cuts 

Best Audio:

88 Films Blu-ray is missing Michael Mann commentary for the DC found on other BDs

Public Enemies poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Universal Blu-ray

Best Video:

Universal Blu-ray

Public Enemies poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Universal Blu-ray

Best Video:

Universal Blu-ray

The Insider poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Disney Blu-ray

Best Video:
The Insider poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Disney Blu-ray

Best Video:
Blackhat poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Arrow 4K 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Arrow 4K 4K Blu-ray

Blackhat poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Arrow 4K 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Arrow 4K 4K Blu-ray

More from Imprint

See more →
Species II poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Imprint 4K Blu-ray scheduled for August 2026 release

Species II poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Imprint 4K Blu-ray scheduled for August 2026 release

Species poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

88 Films & Scream Factory 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Imprint 4K Blu-ray scheduled for August 2026 release

Best Video:

88 Films tied with Scream Factory 4K Blu-ray (88 Films is FiM encoded)

Additional Info:

88 Films and Scream Factory have exclusive extras

Species poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

88 Films & Scream Factory 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Imprint 4K Blu-ray scheduled for August 2026 release

Best Video:

88 Films tied with Scream Factory 4K Blu-ray (88 Films is FiM encoded)

Additional Info:

88 Films and Scream Factory have exclusive extras

Downfall poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Canada Blu-ray or Netherlands Blu-ray?

Upcoming Release:

Australia Imprint 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Canada Blu-ray or Netherlands Blu-ray? better than Constantin Germany 4K Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Canada Blu-ray or Netherlands Blu-ray?

Upcoming Release:

Australia Imprint 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Canada Blu-ray or Netherlands Blu-ray? better than Constantin Germany 4K Blu-ray

The Bounty poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Imprint Blu-ray

Best Video:

Imprint Blu-ray, 4K scan

The Bounty poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Imprint Blu-ray

Best Video:

Imprint Blu-ray, 4K scan

Hard Boiled poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

UK Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Imprint 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

UK Arrow 4K Blu-ray, correct grade and archival extras missing from the Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Criterion USA LaserDisc [CC1397L]: Original Cantonese mono.

Best Cantonese mono still was from Criterion LaserDisc, as the Shout one was boosted with clipping, with some filtering and losing dynamic range over the Criterion LD.

There’s no need for other Cantonese audio, as all 5.1 remixes are extremely bad and not worth including.

For English Dub the Shout offered the best, it was pure mono. All other 5.1 remixed of said dub are also terrible and offer no value, only less fidelity and more echo.

More info.

Hard Boiled poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

UK Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Imprint 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

UK Arrow 4K Blu-ray, correct grade and archival extras missing from the Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Criterion USA LaserDisc [CC1397L]: Original Cantonese mono.

Best Cantonese mono still was from Criterion LaserDisc, as the Shout one was boosted with clipping, with some filtering and losing dynamic range over the Criterion LD.

There’s no need for other Cantonese audio, as all 5.1 remixes are extremely bad and not worth including.

For English Dub the Shout offered the best, it was pure mono. All other 5.1 remixed of said dub are also terrible and offer no value, only less fidelity and more echo.

More info.

Halloween poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray for now

Upcoming Release:

Australia Imprint 4K Blu-ray upcoming, UK Arrow 4K Blu-ray possibly teased?

Best Video:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray but bad compression

Best Audio:

1994 Criterion LaserDisc

Halloween poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray for now

Upcoming Release:

Australia Imprint 4K Blu-ray upcoming, UK Arrow 4K Blu-ray possibly teased?

Best Video:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray but bad compression

Best Audio:

1994 Criterion LaserDisc

Dark Blue poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

UK Arrow Blu-ray

Best Video:

UK Arrow Blu-ray

Australia Imprint 4K Blu-ray disappointing, nice new master, but poor encode, grain completely crippled in some scenes, artifacts abound, etc, makes Kino Lorber look like FiM.

Dark Blue poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

UK Arrow Blu-ray

Best Video:

UK Arrow Blu-ray

Australia Imprint 4K Blu-ray disappointing, nice new master, but poor encode, grain completely crippled in some scenes, artifacts abound, etc, makes Kino Lorber look like FiM.

Hud poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Imprint Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Imprint Blu-ray is sourced from the older Paramount master

Hud poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Imprint Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Imprint Blu-ray is sourced from the older Paramount master

State of Grace poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

UK Second Sight Blu-ray?

Best Video:

UK Second Sight Blu-ray maybe better than all the other Blu-rays?

Australia Imprint 4K Blu-ray is disappointing with DNR and poor compression

Additional Info:

US Twilight Time and Germany NSM Blu-rays have exclusive extras

Best English-Friendly:

UK Second Sight Blu-ray?

Best Video:

UK Second Sight Blu-ray maybe better than all the other Blu-rays?

Australia Imprint 4K Blu-ray is disappointing with DNR and poor compression

Additional Info:

US Twilight Time and Germany NSM Blu-rays have exclusive extras

The Mothman Prophecies poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Australia Imprint Blu-ray?

Best Video:

Australia Imprint Blu-ray?

Germany Filmjuwelen 4K Blu-ray is disappointing with AI upscaling

Best Audio:

Germany Concorde Blu-ray has lossless DTS-HD 5.1

Best English-Friendly:

Australia Imprint Blu-ray?

Best Video:

Australia Imprint Blu-ray?

Germany Filmjuwelen 4K Blu-ray is disappointing with AI upscaling

Best Audio:

Germany Concorde Blu-ray has lossless DTS-HD 5.1

Edit History

4 edits
The Keep (1983) backdrop

Made with ❤️ 📀 by vanshady