The Straight Story (UK Import) - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

David Lynch trades in his trademark surrealist dread and macabre subversiveness for a genuine slice of Americana in The Straight Story, a heartwarming biographical road drama. And it remains one of his most beautifully unexpected departures. Based on the real-life story of Alvin Straight, an elderly man who traveled hundreds of miles on a lawnmower to mend his relationship with his ailing brother, Lynch replaces his usual atmospheric, non-linear, oneiric storytelling with a straightforward, emotional and idyllic meditation on family, persistence and the wide-open American Midwest. Without a hint of ironic detachment or something more perverse, he leans into earnest emotion and sincerity to find remarkable beauty in the unremarkable. It is a poetic pilgrimage and pastoral drama that celebrates the heartland, proving that Lynch has the talent for deeply moving and profound films, an unorthodox gem in his repertoire.

At the heart of the film is Richard Farnsworth's endearing portrait of Alvin, a weathered and dignified performance that carries the entire film. As the world teetered nervously into Y2K uncertainty, his inspiring journey was precisely what we needed at the time: an elderly man rejects all modern conveniences, choosing the slowest possible route to redemption. While Lynch explores aging, regret and mortality, Farnsworth turns Alvin into a shepherd guiding us through the heartland, stopping to dispense wisdom in folksy parables to the strangers he meets. Lynch isn't mocking the American dream or exposing the hidden underbelly of suburbia. He is genuinely celebrating it, finding meaning in the uplifting beauty of rural life. Chugging along at five miles per hour, Alvin's journey is a series of quiet, impactful and poignant encounters told at a slow, meandering pace that forces him and the audience to truly observe the world, connect with strangers and reflect on life's deeper meanings.

For another take on the movie, please read Josh Zyber's review of the Japanese Import Blu-ray from 2012 HERE.

Vital Disc Stats: The Ultra HD Blu-ray
Imported from the United Kingdom, StudioCanal brings David Lynch's The Straight Story to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray as a single-disc package. The triple-layered, Region Free UHD100 disc sits comfortably inside the standard black keepcase. At startup, the disc goes straight to a menu screen with full-motion clips, music playing in the background and the usual options along the bottom.

Restored and remastered from the original 35mm camera negatives, the bio-drama arrives on 4K Ultra HD with stunning results, looking better than it ever has on home video. The HEVC H.265 encode boasts sharp details and better clarity of background information, from the minute features of the lawnmower and trailer to the surrounding foliage and the stitching of clothing. Thanks to the Dolby Vision HDR grading, the presentation comes with a richer, bolder display of colors throughout with primaries looking particularly fuller and more animated. Highly revealing facial complexions also appear healthier with lifelike peach-rose tones in the entire cast, exposing every wrinkle and negligible blemish. Presented in its original 2.39:1 aspect ratio, the native 4K transfer enjoys spot-on contrast and crisp, vivid specular highlights, making the entire picture feel fresh and rejuvenated. Awash in a fine layer of natural grain, the video also comes with improved black levels and excellent shadow details, providing some welcomed dimensionality and depth, sure to satisfy Lynch fans everywhere. (Dolby Vision HDR Video Rating: 90/100)

Unlike the video, the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack doesn't show such a night-and-day difference as its uncompressed PCM counterpart. As Josh Zyber mentioned in his review, this is very understated and quiet film where the primary focus is on the dialogue and visuals. Rear activity is minimal but used effectively for ambience, such as the scenes with thunderstorms and other bits of weather, but these moments are few and far between. Bass is also reserved for specific moments and adds some mild weight to the visuals, and the mid-range is not particularly standout or dynamic. Vocals are always precise and come through cleanly. Nevertheless, this lossless mix is an accurate and faithful representation of the original audio design. (Audio Rating: 80/100)

For this release of The Straight Story on 4K UHD, StudioCanal has done a lovely job assembling a selection of worthwhile new and archival bonus features. At the top of the pack is an audio commentary with critic Peter Tonguette that is a very interesting listen. His comments can sound a tad prepared or scripted, certainly not off the cuff, but an informative track digging into the backstory of the production and other aspects of the film. Of the featurettes, we have nice segments about the location scouting and a terrific appreciation of Angelo Badalamenti's score. John Thorne offers an insightful look at how the film came together for his segment. After that, we get an archival on-set interview with Lynch, and a rather fascinating, almost forty-minute behind-the-scenes footage of Lynch and his frequent cinematographer, Freddie Francis, as they work through lighting a complicated location at night. 

• Audio Commentary featuring Peter Tonguette
• Mark and Bob Tell it Straight (HD 19:57)
• Straight & Narrow: Inside the Film (HD 11:28)
• Far & Wide: Inside the Score (HD 10:33)
• Straight Talking: A Making Of - Interview with David Lynch (HD/SD 19:11)  
• The Straight Story: On Set with David Lynch Behind-the-Scenes (SD 38:19)
• Image Gallery
• Original Trailer
• 2025 Trailer

Based on an improbable true story of a man in search of redemption, David Lynch's The Straight Story is a testament to the director's versatility, a significant departure from his filmography that celebrates the human spirit, persistence and the American heartland. While Richard Farnsworth delivers an unforgettable performance in a series of poignant encounters with various strangers, Lynch explores aging, regret and mortality while also discovering remarkable beauty in the unremarkable, making for a deeply moving and unforgettable film. StudioCanal brings the biographical road drama to 4K Ultra HD with a gorgeous Dolby Vision HDR presentation and an excellent DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. With a welcome selection of bonus material, the overall UHD package is Highly Recommended.

All disc reviews at High-Def Digest are completed using the best consumer HD home theater products currently on the market. More about the gear used for this review.

Click to Order