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Released by: Vinegar Syndrome
Released on: September 7th, 2021.
Director: Russell Mulcahy
Cast: Christopher Lambert, Robert Joy, David Cronenberg, Leland Orser
Year: 1999
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Resurrection - Movie Review:
1999's Resurrection sees the director of Highlander and Highlander II: The Quickening, Russell Mulcahy, team up once again with his leading man from those two films, Christopher Lambert for a 'cops versus serial killer' thriller that stars Lambert as a man named John Prudhomme. He works as a cop in the homicide department of the Chicago Police Department. When a murder takes place on his turf, he's called in to investigate - the victim having been not just killed, but mutilated and partially dismembered.
It soon becomes obvious that there's a serial killer on the loose, their modus operandi tying into the use of Biblical quotes delivered with a rather twisted vibe. Soon enough, an FBI agent named Andrew Hollinsworth (Leland Orser), who thinks he might have a lead on who the killer is, the pair team up to try and stop the maniac from killing again and taking another victim. As John becomes increasingly obsessed with the case, his wife, Sara (Barbara Tyson), becomes more and more irate with him. Of course, the killer is always one step ahead of the lawmen, who very definitely have their work cut out for them, but the closer they get the closer John gets to putting together the pieces of this odd religious killer's puzzle.
Borrowing way too heavily from David Fincher's Seven for its own good, Resurrection is nevertheless an entertaining picture. It isn't a particularly original film at all, but it moves at a good clip and it is atmospheric and stylish enough to ensure that it always looks good thanks to some strong cinematography from Director Of Photography Jonathan Freeman (though there are a few too many times where some handheld/shaky cam style filming can get to be a bit much). The movie is also fairly grisly, and while it never feels like a proper slasher per se, Mulcahy seems really into lingering on the cut up bodies that the killer leaves in their wake. The effects used to create these sequences are pretty well done, and the score does a good job of enhancing things.
The performances are okay. Lambert does feel a bit out of his element here but for the most part he handles himself well enough. He and Orser make for an odd but amusing team, they've got a certain quirky chemistry that works well enough. Barbara Tyson is also fine here as John's rather put upon wife. We feel for her! Also be on the lookout for none other than David Cronenberg cast here as a priest named Father Rousell in an interesting supporting role.
All in all, this definitely could and should have been more original than it turned out to be, but it's decent enough that, derivative or not, it's worth a watch.
Resurrection - Blu-ray Review:
Vinegar Syndrome brings Resurrection to region free Blu-ray in an AVC encoded 1080p high definition transfer framed at 1.85.1 widescreen with the feature taking up 32.7GBs of space on the 50GB disc. Presented “newly scanned & restored in 2k from its 35mm interpositive†and it looks nice. The image is clean, showing no real print damage but a fair amount of natural film grain. This is a fairly dark film, visually and tonally, but the colors are reproduced nicely and we get good shadow detail even in the picture's many darker scenes. No compression problems to complain about and the image is free of any noticeable noise reduction or edge enhancement issues.
The 24-bit DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track, in the film's native English, comes with optional English subtitles and it sounds very good. Optional subtitles are provided in English only. Audio quality is very good, with clean, crisp dialogue and properly balanced levels. The score and effects are spread out nicely and the track is devoid of any hiss, distortion or sibilance.
Extras stat off with A Cathartic Experience, which is a new interview with director Russell Mulcahy that runs for twenty-seven minutes in length. He speaks here about where his career was at during this period, how he came to direct the picture and what it was like working with the different cast and crew members on the production. Actor Robert Joy gets in front of the camera for fifteen minutes in a new interview entitled Terrifying Or Hilarious. He gives some thoughts on his character, what it was like working with Mulcahy and offers his thoughts on the picture overall. On The Same Page spends thirteen minutes with actor Jonathan Potts who talks about getting cast in the picture, getting along with Mulcahy and his co-stars and how he feels about the picture. Over the Top is a fourteen minute interview with composer Jim McGrath who covers how he came to be involved with the film, some information on his background and what went into scoring the picture.
Menus and chapter selection are also provided, and it's worth pointing out that this release comes with some nice reversible cover sleeve artwork.
Resurrection - The Final Word:
Resurrection is a decent, noirish thriller with some interesting performances and a strong visual style. Vinegar Syndrome's Blu-ray looks and sounds really strong and the extras are illuminating. All in all, a nice release for a good suspense picture.
Click on the images below for full-sized Resurrection screen caps!
