Review: Rollercoaster BD + Screen Caps

Rollercoaster is a well made and suspense-filled thriller with an impressive cast that includes George Segal, Timothy Bottoms (who effectively portrays a domestic terrorist) and Peter Fonda in a small role.

 

 

Rollercoaster
(1977)

Genre(s): Suspense/Thriller
Shout Factory | PG – 119 min. – $27.99 | June 21, 2016

Date Published: 06/18/2016 | Author: The Movieman

 

MOVIE INFO: Directed by: James Goldstone Writer(s): Sanford Sheldon (story), Richard Levinson & William Link (screenplay) Cast: George Segal, Richard Widmark, Timothy Bottoms, Harry Guardino, Susan Strasberg, Henry Fonda DISC INFO: Features: Interview, Theatrical Trailer Digital Copy: No Formats Included: Blu-ray Number of Discs: 1 Audio: English (Dolby Digital 3.1), English (DTS-HD MA 2.0) Video: 1080p/Widescreen 2.35 Subtitles: English Disc Size: 36.6 GB Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Region(s): A

 

PLOT SYNOPSIS

Thrills abound in this suspense yarn as a determined terrorist (TIMOTHY BOTTOMS) begins to turn America’s amusement parks into battlefields. The tension mounts as affable safety inspector Harry Calder (GEORGE SEGAL) attempts to track down the saboteur who has targeted the country’s most popular rollercoaster and its riders for senseless destruction. Calder and the terrorist mount a battle of the wits as it builds to an explosive climax.

 

SPECIAL FEATURES – 1.5/5

Nothing major included save for an Interview (12:51; HD) with writer Tommy Cook, Radio Spots (2:08; HD), a Still Gallery and the film’s Theatrical Trailer (1:19; HD).

 

VIDEO – 4.0/5

Shout Factory releases Rollercoaster onto Blu-ray presented in its original 2.35 widescreen aspect ratio and given a 1080p high-definition transfer. Colors are pleasantly bright during the daylight scenes and night shots are fairly stark and well balanced. There were no major instances of debris though with the grain, it’s not the cleanest looking transfer. Still, for a quasi-obscure 1970s thriller, it’s a decent enough transfer.

AUDIO – 4.0/5

The film has been given its original Dolby Digital 3.1 track which, for its time, I suppose was unique. In the home theater arena, it’s not bad sounding and provides some clear dialogue levels and there’s some OK depth, though nothing amazing. There’s also an alternative DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track which is just as good if not a tad better.

 

OVERALL – 3.0/5

Overall, Rollercoaster is a well made and suspense-filled thriller with an impressive cast that includes George Segal, Timothy Bottoms (who effectively portrays a domestic terrorist) and Peter Fonda in a small role. The Blu-ray released through Shout offers good video and audio transfers and a subpar selection of bonus material.

 

 

 

 

Check out some more screen caps by going to page 2. Please note, these do contain spoilers.