Death Wish 4: The Crackdown Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray release of "Death Wish 4: The Crackdown" offers a robust 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode, preserving the original 1.85:1 aspect ratio. As with previous entries in the series, the film retains its characteristic grainy texture, stemming from its budget constraints and use of non-anamorphic 35mm film stock. Despite these inherent limitations, the transfer handles the visual elements faithfully, avoiding heavy-handed digital noise reduction that could compromise the original cinematographic feel. The image is practically spotless, devoid of significant scratches, stains, or debris, showcasing a commendable restoration effort.

The picture quality sees a notable improvement over any prior DVD versions. Clarity is enhanced with more refined textures and cleaner lines, particularly evident in close-ups. The color stability and accuracy are remarkable, maintaining consistent tones without fading or fluctuations. Contrast remains strong, delivering crisp whites and deep black levels, although shadow details could be marginally better. Nonetheless, even during dimly lit scenes, visibility remains sufficient. The grain layer contributes a pleasing cinematic look, while definition highlights finer details such as the lines on Bronson's face and the textures of his leather attire.

Overall, "Death Wish 4: The Crackdown" on Blu-ray is a significant upgrade for fans of the series. While it maintains its vintage quality and rough-edged charm, the careful balance in digital restoration enhances viewing enjoyment without drifting from its original essence.

The audio presentation of "Death Wish 4: The Crackdown" on Blu-ray showcases a DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 mix that remains true to its original mono source, reflecting the typical limitations of Cannon Films' budget-conscious productions. Although stereo and multi-channel mixes were becoming standard at the time, the decision to stick with a mono track mirrors the film's original audio design. The dynamics are generally flat, with gunfire and explosions displaying a softer than expected impact, and much of the sound concentrated in the midrange. The bass is notably tempered and the high-end lacks sharpness, contributing to an overall rinky-dink, yet charming B-movie feel.

While there is an improvement in dynamic range compared to earlier films in the series, certain issues persist. Higher frequencies are more detailed, and the low-end has gained some weight, giving gunshots and explosions a bit more presence, enhancing the sound stage's breadth and imaging. However, this track is not without its faults, most notably the often-overwhelmed vocals, which necessitate frequent adjustments in volume to discern dialogue over the action and music. The use of repurposed musical cues from other Cannon Films productions, such as "Invasion U.S.A.", adds to the inconsistent audio level matching with the rest of the soundtrack, occasionally leading to certain action sequences overpowering spoken lines. The audio mix includes optional English SDH and Spanish subtitles, alongside a French Dolby Digital 1.0 dub, maintaining clear dialogue throughout.

Despite its serviceable execution, the high-resolution track fails to deliver a fully satisfying experience. Nevertheless, for enthusiasts and purists who appreciate the adherence to the film's original audio constraints, "Death Wish 4: The Crackdown" retains its nostalgic charm through its DTS-HD Master Audio mono track.

The extras on the Blu Ray of "Death Wish 4: The Crackdown" are rather minimal, catering primarily to collectors and fans of the series seeking a nostalgic revisit to the film's original marketing. The lone bonus feature included is the movie's theatrical trailer, available in high definition. This could be seen as a missed opportunity to delve deeper into the film's production or offer additional context or interviews. However, the quality of the high-definition trailer does provide a crisp visual complement to the main feature. The overall presentation maintains professional standards, but it falls short for those looking for comprehensive supplementary content.

Extras included in this disc:

• Theatrical Trailer: The original movie preview presented in high definition.

"Death Wish 4: The Crackdown" continues the saga of Charles Bronson's iconic character, Paul Kersey, venturing into the darker realms of the 1980s drug wars. Director J. Lee Thompson, known for his work in "Cape Fear" and "The Guns of Navarone," takes over from Michael Winner, bringing a pivot towards a more plot-centric narrative. Scripted by Gail Morgan Hickman, the film follows Kersey as he is drawn back into vigilantism after his girlfriend's daughter dies from a cocaine overdose. Hired by a newspaper mogul (John P. Ryan) whose own daughter also succumbed to drugs, Kersey begins a ruthless campaign against the city's drug kingpins, employing tactics reminiscent of "Yojimbo" and "A Fistful of Dollars."

Bronson's portrayal remains steadfast, though noticeably wearied, embodying a character caught in an endless cycle of vengeance. The film retains its gritty essence through memorable sequences like the roller rink shootout and a climactic rooftop encounter involving a grenade launcher. However, Thompson's direction sometimes dips into TV-movie melodrama, and the film's attempts at complexity occasionally muddle the straightforward brutality that marked its predecessors. The antagonists, including brothers Jack and Tony Romero and rival dealer Ed Zacharias, are two-dimensional, failing to provide substantial opposition to Kersey's onslaught.

Despite its uneven pacing and somewhat dated aesthetic, "Death Wish 4" offers points of intrigue with its dark twist on vigilante justice and occasional bursts of action-packed spectacle. The narrative thread of Kersey orchestrating a gang war introduces an element of strategic depth, though it never fully escapes the shadow of earlier installments. Surprising twists in the final act inject some unpredictability into the plot, ensuring that while not hitting the high notes of the original, this installment remains an entertaining, albeit flawed, chapter in the Death Wish franchise.

"Death Wish 4: The Crackdown" on Blu-ray represents a mixed bag for admirers of the series and action movie aficionados. This fourth installment diverges significantly from its predecessors, lacking the style of the original trilogy and the memorable music of Jimmy Page that accompanied the last two films. Charles Bronson returns as the aging vigilante, lethargically taking on comic book-style drug dealers. Despite being noticeably dated, the film retains a quirky charm that borders on a so-bad-it’s-good experience, which may attract fans of low-budget action cinema.

The technical aspects of the Blu-ray release are similarly mixed. While the picture quality sees an appreciable improvement from the previous full-frame DVDs, providing a clearer and more detailed visual presentation, the audio leaves much to be desired, remaining unfortunately average. The Blu-ray is a barebones release with no new special features, making it less appealing to those seeking added value external to the main feature.

In conclusion, "Death Wish 4: The Crackdown" is arguably the weakest offering amongst the recent MGM releases. It lacks the disturbing intensity of part two and the over-the-top craziness of part three. However, it might still find a niche audience among hardcore franchise devotees and those with a soft spot for cheesy action flicks. The modest improvement in clarity could justify an upgrade for dedicated fans, but casual viewers might find little reason to revisit this aging vigilante's exploits.