Flatliners might have a solid following and while there were some interesting visual elements and solid cinematography courtesy of Joel Schumacher and Jan de Bont, but the story wasn’t something that captivated me despite a very respectable cast.
Flatliners
(1990)
Genre(s): Science Fiction, Horror, Suspense/Thriller
Arrow Video | R – 114 min. – $49.95 | August 2, 2022
Date Published: 08/01/2022 | Author: The Movieman
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Arrow Video provided me with a free copy of the Blu-ray I reviewed in this Blog Post.
The opinions I share are my own.
THE MOVIE — 3/5 |
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Plot Synopsis: Seeking answers about the afterlife, Chicago medical student Nelson (KIEFER SUTHERLAND) persuades his fellow pupils to help him end his life, and then resuscitate him in the nick of time. Atheist David (KEVIN BACON), playboy Joe (WILLIAM BALDWIN) and troubled Rachel (JULIA ROBERTS) also journey into the unknown, looking for meaning in their own lives. As the experiments become more perilous, each is forced to contend with the paranormal consequences of trespassing on the other side. Quick Hit Review: Flatliners is a cheesy 1980s film that ushered in the ‘90s with a who’s who cast and while technically this isn’t some sort of classic or even that good, I did enjoy the film for what it is and especially for stars Kiefer Sutherland, Kevin Bacon and, to some extent, Julia Roberts. I’ve only seen the film maybe twice, the last time prior was probably on VHS, and it’s still relatively entertaining. |
SPECIAL FEATURES – 4½/5 |
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This single-disc release comes with a good amount of features. This also comes with a textured slip cover and a booklet. Audio Commentary – Critics Bryan Reesman and Max Evry as they break down both the cinematic and moral issues the film brings up. Would’ve liked someone directly involved with the production but this is still worth a listen. Interviews:
This is a fairly good selection of interviews though strange they could’ve get a couple of the cast members to sit down, not even William Baldwin (though probably preoccupied with his brother’s troubles). Still, you do get a good picture on the various stages of production. All together there is 80-minutes of interview footage. Also included is the Theatrical Trailer (1:27) and an Image Gallery. |
VIDEO – 4½/5 |
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Arrow Video releases Flatliners to get a much-needed upgrade over the old transfer from Mill Creek Entertainment. The movie is presented here in its original 2.35 widescreen aspect ratio and given a new 2160p high-definition transfer, which was provided by Sony Pictures and underwent HDR color grading by Roundabout Entertainment, confirmed by colorist Sheri Eisenberg. While I don’t think this was a wow-inspiring picture, it’s still fairly impressive. Although the movie was darkly lit even in the daylight scenes, there are a few splashes of colors and the detail was still sharp and nicely defined throughout. There weren’t any noticeable signs of artifacts, aliasing or other flaws and the natural film grain was retained. |
AUDIO – 4½/5 |
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The included DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track was fairly good showcasing good dialogue levels and decent depth, most notably the afterlife sequences. Like the video, the audio also underwent restoration using the original 35mm LCRS stereo magnetic tracks. |
OVERALL — 3½/5 |
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Flatliners might have a solid following and while there were some interesting visual elements and solid cinematography courtesy of Joel Schumacher and Jan de Bont, but the story wasn’t something that captivated me despite a very respectable cast. |