“Constantine” was a 2005 film based on the DC Comics/Vertigo graphic novels “Hellblazer.” The film was directed by Francis Lawrence. Lawrence got his start directing many music videos for popular rock and pop artists. He has directed several notable films. These include “I Am Legend” (2007) and “Water for Elephants” (2011). He also directed “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” (2013) and both parts of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay” (2014, 2015). Additionally, he directed “Red Sparrow” (2018) and “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” (2023).

The original character, “John Constantine,” was created by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette, and John Totleben. The character first appeared at DC Comics in an issue of “Swamp Thing” back in 1985. John Constantine’s home would later be at Vertigo in the graphic novel series “Hellblazer” (1988). The motion picture story adaptation was written by Kevin Brodbin. He is known for writing screenplays for the films “The Glimmer Man” (1996) and “Mindhunters” (2004). Brodbin also co-wrote this screenplay adaptation with Frank A. Cappello. Cappello is known for writing and directing the films “No Way Back” (1995) and “He Was A Quiet Man” (2007). Vertigo’s parent company DC Comics served as a producer on this film.

The story is set in modern-day Los Angeles, California. Our main character, a demon hunter, who has literally been to hell and back, is named “John Constantine” (Keanu Reeves). As we’re first introduced to Constantine, he’s arriving in a taxi driven by his friend named “Chas” (Shia LaBeouf). Chas likes to hang around John because he not so secretly wants to also be a demon hunter. He drops John off at an apartment building where he meets with “Father Hennessy” (Pruitt Taylor Vince). The priest informs Constantine that a mother has a daughter who is possessed by a demon. And that’s where John comes to the rescue, performing a very unconventional exorcism.

Meanwhile, in a psychiatric ward, a young woman named “Isabel Dodson” (Rachel Weisz) is more troubled than usual. She’s experiencing premonitions. She hears voices that eventually lead her to panic. She breaks free and heads to a rooftop where she does the unthinkable. She jumps. There’s something way too supernaturally suspicious about this tragic death. Isabel’s twin sister, a police officer named “Angela Dodson” (Rachel Weisz), arrives. She investigates the crime scene. eventually Angela teams up with John Constantine to try to find out what exactly happened to her sister. That is going to take them through a world filled with angels and demons, in human form.

Helping John along the way is his friend “Beeman” (Max Baker). Beeman provides him with religious items like holy water and of course a cool shotgun shaped like a cross. That shotgun comes in handy when fighting demons, folks. Constantine, determined to uncover the truth, embarks on a journey of self-investigation. He encounters a mysterious friend named “Midnite” (Djimon Hounsou), who provides crucial insights into the unfolding mystery. Along the way, he meets with “Gabriel” (Tilda Swinton), a celestial being who offers guidance and assistance. Well, not exactly the truth there about Gabriel, but you’ll understand.

Constantine’s quest leads him to meet various notable figures, including “Balthazar” (Gavin Rossdale) and, of course, “Satan” (Peter Stormare). Each evil experience deepens his understanding of the supernatural forces at play. As he delves deeper into the mystery, Constantine realizes that his destiny lies in finding the truth with Angela. He wonders what the personal cost will be. Undeterred by the challenges ahead, Constantine feels compelled to confront his demons and problems. He ventures into the depths of hell and back. He seeks to unravel the enigma that has been haunting him. His journey is fraught with peril. He faces great sacrifice. But Constantine is determined to uncover the truth. He wants to find peace in the face of adversity.

“Constantine” on 4K UHD Blu-ray is presented in the 2.39:1 aspect ratio with Dolby Vision (or HDR10) form of high dynamic range. This movie was shot on 35mm film using the Panavision Panaflex Platinum camera. According to Warner, “The 4K restoration was completed at Warner Bros. Discovery’s Motion Picture Imaging (MPI) and was sourced from the original camera negatives. The restoration was overseen by director Francis Lawrence.“

Next, let me get technical, about the 4K UHD Blu-ray Disc itself here. This release uses a BD-100 (100 gigabytes) disc, 85.2 gigabytes total, and 66.0 gigabytes itself for the film. Based on my observations via my 4K UHD Blu-ray player, this seems to peak at around 127.5 Mbps. It then runs roughly around 65.3 Mbps and dips down as low as 56.9 Mbps. According to info on the PC side, this seems to have an overall video bitrate of 64.2 Mb/s average.

Blacks in this visual presentation are admittedly over-saturated but that was done on purpose, to fit the movie’s style. You can expect this to have a very solid black level. This is especially true when viewing on an OLED 4K screen. There is a remarkable amount of newfound detail here in this 4K restoration. It looks phenomenal and also comes with a very nice visible amount of film grain existing throughout. Even though they are slightly subdued, for visual style, the colors here look incredible. The addition of a high dynamic range makes things look all the more vibrant and realistic. Flesh tones are precise here, skin pores are slightly visible in close-ups, and hair strains stand out more than ever.

I also found the special effects held up incredibly well for a film celebrating its 20th anniversary. The movie still delivers that disturbing vision of a Los Angeles freeway in hell. Now, it’s even more detailed. The CG demons also end up coming across just as convincing today as they did back in 2005. This movie has stood up well to the test of time. The folks at Warner Bros. Discovery’s Motion Picture Imaging have simply done an outstanding job here. This is one of the most visually impressive catalog titles I have seen come to the 4K physical media format. “Constantine” on 4K UHD Blu-ray visually looks exceptional and earns itself a perfect 5 rating for video quality.

“Constantine” arrives on 4K UHD Blu-ray with a new Dolby Atmos sound mix. The Atmos mix comes with a Dolby TrueHD 7.1 core, for those not capable of decoding the immersive sound format.

The movie, from the start, immerses you in a massive amount of low-frequency effects (LFE). You also experience generalized bass, primarily heard and felt through the subwoofer. This is obvious in the Warner and DC Comics logos. The height and real channel speakers are also skillfully utilized, creating a sense of depth and realism. This is just a glimpse of what awaits you in the opening sequence. The intensity truly reaches its peak near the end of the movie.

As the dialogue begins, the center channel speaker takes center stage, delivering clear and precise sound. Dialogue is never overshadowed by sound effects or music, ensuring it remains spot-on throughout. There are indeed several “demo material” sequences in this Atmos mix. You won’t have to wait long to experience them. In just two minutes, a short action sequence will captivate you. It seamlessly transitions into the cold opening title sequence. That’s when the real magic unfolds around the 3 or 4-minute mark. Sit back and immerse yourself in the awe-inspiring and powerful soundscape that this movie truly deserves.

Further demo material sequences in terms of audio presentation can be found later on in the film. 5 minutes in there’s the beginning of an exorcism scene that has its memorable moments. This particular scene uses the height channel speakers effectively. Many types of sound effects are featured here, including demons and specifically the sound of breaking glass. Things can get crazy as all hell here, and you’ll be amazed by the intensity of the sound mix.

Later on, 13 minutes exactly in, things get far out. The rear channel speakers are used for sound effects that a woman is supposed to be hearing. Then, all speakers are used very effectively for the sound effects of her running upstairs to a rooftop. These are just early highlights in this sound mix. As I mentioned before, the intensity peaks near the end of the film. I won’t mention any more sequences to avoid dishing out “spoilers.”

“Constantine” on 4K UHD Blu-ray features an exceptional new Dolby Atmos sound mix. This mix proves to be an improvement over the lossless surround sound mix found on the Blu-ray. It manages to deliver, what I consider, a perfect audio presentation here from start to finish. That being said, this earns every bit of a 5 rating for audio quality.

A Digital Copy of the film in 4K resolution is included (via paper insert) compatible with Movies Anywhere. You can use it across various online video services. These include Fandango at Home (formerly VUDU), AppleTV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, and Chromecast. It is compatible even with smart TVs from television makers like LG & VIZIO. 

Bonus materials included on the 4K UHD Blu-ray are listed below.

• Audio Commentaries include:
  • Commentary with director Francis Lawrence and producer Akiva Goldsman
  • Commentary with writers Kevin Brodbin and Frank A. Cappello
• NEW “Two Decades of Damnation” (15 minutes, 3 seconds – HD) is a new retrospective. This features interviews with Keanu Reeves (“John Constantine”), Akiva Goldsman (producer), Max Baker (“Beeman”), Naomi Shohan (production designer), and the film’s director Francis Lawrence. It’s also great to hear some discussion about the new 4K restoration, shortly before the end of this featurette.
• “Channeling Constantine“ (8 minutes, 1 second – HD) includes interviews with Michael E. Uslan (producer), Lauren Shuler Donner (producer), Francis Lawrence (director), Kevin Brodbin (screenwriter), Tilda Swinton (“Gabriel”), Keanu Reeves (“John Constantine”), Rachel Weisz (“Angela Dodson / Isabel Dodson”), Shia LaBeouf (“Chas”), Peter Stormare (“Satan”), and Djimon Hounsou (“Midnite”).
• “Conjuring Constantine“ (15 minutes, 44 seconds – HD) explores the comic book/graphic novel character’s origin. It also examines the adaptation via the screenplay. This includes interviews with Francis Lawrence (director), Akiva Goldsman (producer), Michael E. Uslan (producer), Karen Berger (executive editor, VP – Vertigo Comics), Jamie Delano (“Hellblazer” writer), Paul Levitz (president, publisher – DC Comics), Kevin Brodbin (screenwriter), Lauren Shuler Donner (producer), Frank Cappello (screenwriter), Keanu Reeves (“John Constantine”), Rachel Weisz (“Angela Dodson / Isabel Dodson”), and Tilda Swinton (“Gabriel”).
• “Director’s Confessional” (5 minutes, 36 seconds – HD) includes an interview with Francis Lawrence (director). He discusses briefly his early career as a filmmaker doing music videos and how he felt that limited him.
• “Collision with Evil” (4 minutes, 40 seconds – HD) is an interview with Francis Lawrence (director) discussing the opening scene. Also interviewed are Josh McLaglen (first assistant director), Frank Toro (special effects technician), and Joe Montenegro (special effects assistant coordinator).
• “Holy Relics” (8 minutes, 22 seconds – HD) is an interview with Francis Lawrence (director) discussing holy relics. That includes items like “The Spear of Destiny.” Also interviewed is Kirk Corwin (property master) who discusses briefly Hitler’s possession of the item during World War II. It is ironic. Within hours of Allied forces finding the relic, the Spear of Destiny, Hitler was soon found dead in a bunker. I found that to be a very interesting historical fact. Keanu Reeves (“John Constantine”) and Naomi Shohan (production designer) are interviewed here as well.
• “Shotgun Shootout” (2 minutes, 4 seconds – HD) focuses on an action sequence in the movie. This features on-set footage and includes an interview with R.A. Rondell (stunt coordinator).
• “Hellscape” (12 minutes – HD) showcases a scene set in Hell. It also highlights all of the visual effects for that scene. Interviews include Francis Lawrence (director), Naomi Shohan (production designer), and Michael Fink (visual effects supervisor). They also feature Craig Hayes (visual effects supervisor – Tippett Studio), Matt Jacobs (lead compositor – Tippett Studio), Simon Allen (lead animator – Tippett Studio), and David DeBry (CG supervisor – Tippett Studio).
• “Visualizing Vermin” (9 minutes, 37 seconds – HD) focuses on a creature featured in a very memorable chaotic fight scene. This includes interviews with Michael Fink (visual effects supervisors), Adam Martinez (lead effects artist – ESC), Greg Juby (visual effects supervisor – ESC), Francis Lawrence (director), George Murphy (visual effects supervisor – ESC), and Craig Hayes (visual effects supervisor – Tippett Studio).
• “Warrior Wings” (3 minutes, 19 seconds – HD) focuses on wings. It includes interviews with Michael Fink (visual effects supervisor). Interviews also feature Francis Lawrence (director). George Murphy (visual effects supervisor – ESC) and Greg Juby (visual effects supervisor – ESC) are interviewed as well.
• “Unholy Abduction” (5 minutes, 47 seconds – HD) focuses on a scene involving Rachel Weisz. It includes interviews with Francis Lawrence (director), Michael Fink (visual effects supervisor), Rachel Weisz (“Angela Dodson/Isabel Dodson”), R.A. Rondell (stunt coordinator), Timothy E. Angulo (visual effects director of photography),
• “Demon Face” (2 minutes, 1 second – HD) focuses on a villain played by the lead singer of Bush. This includes an interview with Gavin Rossdale (“Balthazar”). This shows how the demon face makeup special effects were practically applied. Meaning he had to sit in a chair in makeup for a pretty long time.
• “Constantine‘s Cosmology” (5 minutes, 22 seconds – HD) features an interview with Phil Cousineau (author, “The Hero’s Journey”).
• “Foresight: The Power of Pre-Visualization” (13 minutes, 56 seconds – HD) includes an introduction with Francis Lawrence (director). It also includes audio commentary for all of the Previs shots.
• “A Writer’s Vision” (1 minute, 19 seconds – HD) includes audio commentary with Frank A. Cappello (screenwriter). This shows you what the writer’s vision truly as, as he explains the Previs scenes.
• Deleted Scenes & Alternate Ending (18 minutes, 44 seconds – HD) all play together as one.

The bonus materials included in this set amount to approximately 132 minutes, which is over 2 hours in length. Additionally, there are two audio commentary tracks available on the 4K disc. All the legacy bonus materials from the 2005 DVD are included, along with a new retrospective featurette. This is an impressive collection of bonus materials sure to still leave viewers pleased.

“Constantine” proved to be a very impressive directorial debut by Francis Lawrence. It also featured some very impressive performances from Keanu Reeves and Rachel Weisz in the leading roles. The supporting performances by Shia LaBeouf, Tilda Swinton, and Peter Stormare were memorable as well. It’s worth noting that this movie is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Fans have long wanted a sequel. I’m happy to report that Francis Lawrence recently revealed a sequel is closer than ever to becoming a reality. See this article for more information about that.

The critics were pretty brutal to this film. On Rotten Tomatoes, it carries a 46% rating from critics yet it carries a 72% rating from audiences. Yes, audiences liked the film despite the negative film reviews. Imagine that. The movie reportedly had a 100 million dollar budget. It managed to bring in 230 million dollars at the box office worldwide, making it quite successful.

In terms of video quality, this release brings you a new 4K restoration that was overseen by the director. It looks downright remarkable and finally does the beautiful cinematography visual justice. This movie always looked good on HD-DVD and Blu-ray but now it simply looks exceptional. Amazingly, a 2005 film can end up looking this good 20 years later.

In terms of audio quality, this delivers one very powerful and impressive Dolby Atmos sound mix. The amount of height channel usage is very impressive, along with the use of rear channels as well. There’s a very good amount of LFE to be felt here, via the subwoofer, all throughout. Dialogue is delivered spot-on and never overpowered or drowned out by this incredible mix. Again, this was always an impressive title on HD-DVD and Blu-ray. Now it is absolutely “demo material” from start to finish.

The bonus materials here include a new 15-minute retrospective featuring the film’s director Francis Lawrence and star Keanu Reeves. You also get all of the legacy bonus materials. These have been available on the DVD since 2005 and earlier on Blu-ray. They include 2 audio commentary tracks. There is also a wealth of extras. Altogether, they total up to just a little over 2 hours in length.

“Constantine” on 4K UHD Blu-ray is an excellent release. It is highly recommended for those who earlier owned the movie on home video. In turn, this comes as a highly recommended upgrade.

In terms of 4K UHD Blu-ray release, this gets:
5 (out of 5) for video quality
5 (out of 5) for audio quality
4.5 (out of 5) for bonus materials