Starring
Kiefer Sutherland, Julia Roberts, Kevin Bacon, William Baldwin,
Oliver Platt, Kimberly Scott, Joshua Rudoy. Directed by Joel
Schumacher. (1990, 115 min).
We'll
start by stating the obvious: Flatliners is being re-released
on Blu-Ray to coincide with the all-new version, which is not a
remake, but an actual sequel (!), complete with Kiefer Sutherland. But
since it isn't being promoted as one, it's safe to assume some of
those looking forward to the new film aren't even aware the original
even exists. So it sort-of makes sense to bring the old one out of
mothballs.
Speaking
of mothballs, Flatliners is 27 years old and an strange choice
for sequelizing. Not that the film is bad or anything. It's slick,
well-crafted and entertaining. The film was also fairly sizable hit
in 1990, especially since Pretty Woman had recently turned Julia
Roberts into a bankable star. But like much of director Joel
Schumacher's work, it's undoubtedly a product of its time and typical
of the type of high-concept horror favored by major studios,
featuring a beautiful cast with great hair who normally wouldn't be
caught dead dabbling in the genre.
While
I've never run into anyone who didn't enjoy it in the moment,
Flatliners was never one of those films people felt compelled
to revisit. Hence, there's no cult following or nostalgic reverence.
No one kicking around in the 90s has later been heard to exclaim,
"Finally! Flatliners on Blu-Ray!"
 |
| Big hair saves lives. |
However,
I don't think this new disc (a Steelbook edition from Mill Creek Entertainment) is really aimed at them. It's for those who may have actually forgotten all
about the film until news of a new one reared its head: "Flatliners?
Didn't I see that once? I seem to remember it was pretty good."
At least that's what I said when my youngest daughter got excited
over the new Flatliners trailer. My reaction piqued her
interest in the original, which is arguably the other chief reason
for this disc.
So my kids and I watched it together. I had forgotten most of it, including a few
sex scenes that briefly made it uncomfortable father-daughter time.
Elsewhere, Flatliners is arguably the most 80s movie that
wasn't actually released in that decade. Its glossy production, sexy
sci-fi/horror concept and hot ensemble cast make it play more like Young
Guns & The Lost Boys than any serious exploration of
what lies beyond death. And that's just fine, because it's still
fairly enjoyable in the moment.
Aside
from a DVD and digital copy, this Blu-Ray doesn't boast any extras.
None of the previous ones did either, so if you're that one fan who's
been waiting for the definitive version, you probably already have
it. It's a attractively packaged, though, with new artwork
and the text printed on a transparent slipcase.
EXTRA
KIBBLES
None
KITTY CONSENSUS:
NOT BAD...LIKE CAT CHOW
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