COLLECTOR'S CRYPT - CONTAGION (WARNER BROS 4K UHD)
The ancient Greeks are credited for discussing the idea of Mimesis and suggesting that “art imitates life”, whereas much later in time folks like Oscar Wilde would champion the complete opposite, that "Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life". There is no objectively “right” answer here as the point is the discourse, not a consensus, but no matter which side of this philosophical argument you support it can be agreed that how the real world and art interact is through constant realization of the other. In some ways, our tethering to the real world can sometimes stifle our most creative aspirations, but it can also serve as a prognostication of sorts. Take The Simpsons, a show that for decades has lampooned pop culture while suggesting hypothetical realities that fit the absurdity of the show's antics. Oddly enough, this blending of the past, present, and ideations on the future has, by chance or intention, created a phenomenon whereby people remark on current events by saying, “The Simpsons did it first”. While it is unlikely that the folks in the writers' room have some sort of clairvoyant capabilities, it is more likely a combination of random pairings mixed with a hint of history repeating itself. The relationship between the world we inhabit and the world we project in our entertainment is not always different, and in some cases, the world we create becomes the world we exist in. This foretelling is what makes Steven Soderbergh’s Contagion such a compelling film in a post-COVID era. Recently released for the first time on 4K UHD from Warner Bros Home Entertainment we take a look at this 2011 film that predated our pandemic nearly 10 years after its initial release.
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
Soon after her return from a business trip to Hong Kong, Beth Emhoff dies from what is a flu or some other type of infection. Her young son dies later the same day. Her husband Mitch however seems immune. Thus begins the spread of a deadly infection. For doctors and administrators at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, several days pass before anyone realizes the extent or gravity of this new infection. They must first identify the type of virus in question and then find a means of combating it, a process that will likely take several months. As the contagion spreads to millions of people worldwide, societal order begins to break down as people panic.
HOW IS IT?
Watching “Contagion” in 2024 almost feels like watching a documentary. Sure, it is more stylized and dramatic than the actual ordeal that the world collectively experienced at the end of 2019, but in a way, it forecasts with almost surgical precision how exactly society would break down and the kinds of characters and concerns that would emerge in the panic. The horror in “Contagion” isn’t the same kind of boogeyman or killer that genre fans are used to, but just like similarly great horror films like Night of the Living Dead or 28 Days Later, the horror is embedded within each of us. As if resting dormant inside some of us is a tendency to tear down the fabric of society in the name of self-preservation and protection of those dearest to us. What “Contagion” does so expertly should be apparent to those who have lived through the last 4 years, and possibly as an evergreen reminder of what could happen if we aren’t prepared, again.
The story of “Contagion” plays out with almost eerie similarity to what we know about the COVID-19 virus, and one could be forgiven for possibly mistaking the film for actual footage from the last 4 years. A woman on a business trip in China brings a devastating virus back with her that spreads at an unforeseen rate across the world. The narrative shifts between following various people and perspectives who are caught up in this fast-moving and deadly expansion of a novel virus. Sounds familiar, right? It is hard to find fault with the narrative given the hindsight we have now, and while there are certainly some situations added in for dramatic effect (such as the kidnapping of a WHO scientist to use as blackmail) the general gist of the plot follows almost the very things we saw happening live throughout 2020 until roughly 2023. Part of why this narrative is so evergreen is because it balances screentime with the personal stories of those affected with the more practical side of pandemics showing how government agencies and resources work to do things like contact tracing and vaccine development. In a similar vein, “Contagion” also spends time on the human cost and collateral of pandemics such as the one in the film. Take Jude Law’s “truth-seeking journalist” Alan Krumwiede. His greed disguised as altruism is no different than the Joe Rogans of the world who were pitching bunk remedies solely to push back against big government while lining their own pockets. This doesn’t speak to the filmmakers' ability to tell the future so much as it does our innate human fallacy to prey upon people’s ignorance and fear while enriching ourselves at those same folks’ expense. Even if the intention is noble, that doesn’t mean it stays that way, and the success of “Contagion” is that it never makes the gray areas of life feel binary in the story. There are no objective rights or wrongs, and even the people trying to do the right thing may falter regardless of whether they be an influencer or government agency.
One of the ways that “Contagion” immerses you in the narrative has a lot to do with how the film is edited and shot. On the latter, there is almost a documentary-style use of the camera where shakiness and imperfection are there to add to the experience by drawing the viewer in more closely and removing typical shot compositions and camera work that maintain the separation of the audience and the film. This use of the camera makes moments feel more intimate and candid while providing some opportunities for more subtle but impactful emotional beats. Take the scene where Kate Winslet’s Dr. Erin Mears takes a virus test in her hotel room. The camera is positioned in such a way that we only see a sliver of the bathroom where Dr. Mears is, and despite the distance from the character to the camera, we are treated to a voyeuristic look at someone coming to terms with their mortality in real-time. This elevates the emotion while not exploiting the situation to artificially create an impact. The same can be said for the editing as it feels almost breakneck while offering some calmer moments to give the viewer time to process. For a film that clocks in at 106 minutes, it will feel like much less, and some of that can be attributed to the intentionality of scene selection. Soderbergh knows how to balance the science, the legislative angles, as well as the human factors so elegantly that he moves between all three of them seamlessly. Perhaps it is a testament to how well the film is made that it almost feels like a highlight reel of our lived experience these past few years. At the same time, the film serves as a reminder that this can, and most likely will happen again.
HOW DOES IT LOOK?
This is the first time that “Contagion” has been released on 4K UHD and the results are absolutely stunning! The film wasn’t in dire need of restoration given the recency of release, but the upgrade to 4K is certainly noticeable in the details and darker parts of the film. The film is presented in 2160p UHD with a 1.78:1 open-matte aspect ratio and the HDR grading definitely gives this already great-looking film an extra dollop of polish. Images from the disc are used throughout the review and below.
HOW DOES IT SOUND?
On the sound front, there isn’t much change from the previous Blu-Ray release. Keep intact are the 5.1 DTS-HD tracks in English, French, and Spanish along with accompanying subtitles for each. “Contagion” isn’t a film packed with lots of tense action-heavy moments so the rear speakers aren’t going to get as much of a workout, but there are still moments when the rear channels work in concert with the front ranges to immerse the viewer in the soundscapes and crowded scenes littered throughout. While it would’ve been nice to have a Dolby Atmos upgrade, it is unclear if that would’ve made a significant difference in the viewing experience.
ANYTHING SPECIAL?
For those who own the previous WB Blu-Ray, don’t expect any new special features with this 4K release. Ported over from the last disc are all three of the special features, the first of which may be the best. The Reality of Contagion is an 11-minute featurette that includes interviews with cast members and technical advisors about bringing the hypothetical into the world of “Contagion”. Watching this in 2024 almost feels like deja vu as so many of the points are covered in this short, but dense featurette. Specifically, the processes used to track and identify novel viruses as well as the governmental policy implications of pandemics. One interesting comment from Jude Law in regard to his character is how Law seems to empathize with his character's pursuit of alternative forms of treatment. It wouldn’t be prudent to extrapolate meaning from Law’s brief comment, but it does underscore how accurately the film portrays the archetype of “truth-seeking influencer” and the kind of dangers those people can bring.
The other special feature is also the shortest, Contagion: How a Virus Changes the World. In this 2-minute PSA, quirky tongue-in-cheek animations are used to illustrate the very real process and consequences of an unmitigated pandemic. Once again, there is an ironic level of foresight in this short segment that one wishes we all would’ve seen before 2019. While it is short, this 2-minute video packs in more information about how pandemics work better than most TikTokers. A full list of special features included in this release is listed below.
The Reality of Contagion
The Contagion Detectives
How a Virus Changes the World
LAST RITES
“Contagion” is one of the scariest fiction films of all time, but not for the same reasons most horror movies are. “Contagion” succeeds because it carefully mixes science, policy, process, and humanity into one horrifying tale about how ill-prepared we are for devastating viruses both known and unknown. A strong cast of actors in top form makes this timeless tale even more relevant considering the context of the post-pandemic world we exist in today.
THE GORY DETAILS
Thank you to the fine fiends over at Warner Brothers Discovery for providing a review copy for the crypt! Peacock is available NOW and can be purchased via Amazon!
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