Raising Cain isn’t high up compared with some of the other films by Brian De Palma even with the over-the-top performance by John Lithgow. However, this is a nice “Collector’s Edition” release by Shout Factory offering solid video/audio transfers and a good selection of bonus features.
Raising Cain
— Collector’s Edition —
(1992)
Genre(s): Suspense/Thriller
Shout Factory | R/NR – 91 min. – $34.93 | September 13, 2016
Date Published: 09/14/2016 | Author: The Movieman
  |
|
THE MOVIE — 2.5/5 |
|
Plot Synopsis: Carter Nix (JOHN LITHGOW) is a respected psychologist, a loving husband and a devoted father who decides to take a year off to help raise his daughter. Carter’s wife Jenny (LOLITA DAVIDOVICH) is pleased to have her attentive husband home – at first. When Carter shows obsessive behavior toward their daughter, Jenny becomes concerned, and to complicate matters, Jenny’s old flame (STEVEN BAUER) re-enters her life. But nothing can prepare her for the emergence of Carter’s multiple personalities, and a fiendish plot to recreate the infamous experiments of his own deranged father. Quick Hit Review: Raising Cain is hardly one of my favorite films from Brian De Palma although it’s not the awful mess others make it out to be. I primarily enjoy it for the De Palma-isms with his angles but also with John Lithgow’s utterly gleeful and over-the-top performances. This probably lays perhaps on the lower end of De Palma’s filmography. |
SPECIAL FEATURES – 4.0/5 |
| This release comes with a matted slip cover and a reversible inner cover revealing the original poster artwork.
DISC 1 (THEATRICAL VERSION): The Man in My Life (24:00; HD) has actor Steven Bauer discussing working on the film in another fairly lengthy interview and talks about working with De Palma, beginning on Scarface. Have You Talked to the Others? (10:49; HD) is another new interview, this time with Editor Paul Hirsch. Three Faces of Cain (15:47; HD) features Gregg Henry recounting his experience on the film. The Cat’s In the Bag (8:00; HD) is an interview with actor Tom Bower (Sgt. Cally). A Little Too Late for That (8:43; HD) finds actress Mel Harris (Sarah) talking about working with De Palma and on the movie. Rounding things out is the Theatrical Trailer (2:05; SD) and a Still Gallery. DISC 2 (DIRECTOR’S CUT): Raising Cain Re-Cut (13:02; SD) is the original video essay with Peet Gelderblom explaining why he re-cut the film. |
VIDEO – 4.0/5 |
| Shout Factory, through their Scream line, releases Raising Cain both with the Theatrical Version and so-called Director’s Cut (approved by De Palma but cut by Peet Gelderblom). Presented in the original 1.85 widescreen aspect ratio and a 1080p high-definition transfer and showcases nice and bright colors and some sharp detail throughout. I did notice a couple instances of dust marks but nothing overabundant or distracting. |
AUDIO – 4.0/5 |
| The disc comes with both a 5.1 and 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio tracks and either option is fine, though the latter is a bit more even while the 5.1 track can a be somewhat more low key by comparison. Either way, dialogue levels sound good and the score by Pino Donnagio comes through each channel fairly well. |
OVERALL – 3.0/5 |
|
Overall, Raising Cain isn’t high up compared with some of the other films by Brian De Palma even with the over-the-top performance by John Lithgow. However, this is a nice “Collector’s Edition” release by Shout Factory offering solid video/audio transfers and a good selection of bonus features, though I wish De Palma participated in the new material. |
Check out some more screen caps by going to page 2. Please note, these do contain spoilers.