New York City, 1980s. A struggling, deadbeat musician named Julius has fallen on hard times. With no guitar, band or paying gigs, he cooks up a get-rich-quick scheme – to find the legendary, yet elusive guitar-maker Elmore Silk. Considered one of the greatest luthiers in the business, Silk’s disappearance from the scene has only made his work more coveted by musicians and executives looking to make a buck off his name. Julius agrees to track the man down and sets out on the road. Meant to be a simple journey upstate, Julius stumbles down a long, winding road full of dead-ends and wrong turns towards an eventual revelatory conclusion in the Canadian wilderness. One of the great cult classics of the 1980s and starring character actors Kevin J O’Conner and Harris Yulin, the supporting cast features real-life music legends Tom Waits, Leon Redbone, Joe Strummer, Dr. John, David Johansen and more. “A wry, laid-back Heart of Darkness” (Chicago Reader), Candy Mountain combines the keen eye of legendary photographer Robert Frank with novelist/screenwriter Rudy Wurlitzer’s mythic American prose to produce the quintessential road movie.

For thoughts on Candy Mountain, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

Video Quality

Candy Mountain arrives on Blu-Ray courtesy of Film Movement Classics sourced from a new 2K restoration in the original 1.66:1. The film has a natural, consistent grain structure that preserves the filmic source of the picture, unveiling subtle details along the open road. You can notably appreciate the barren terrain when our protagonist heads into Canada with the textures that are revealed in the heavy clothing needed to keep warm. The grain field can be thick, yet it never veers into what we would classify as noise. This presentation is essentially free of print damage such as specks, scratches, and tears.

The cinematography from Pio Corradi is key to unlocking all the nuances along this journey. Colors are not especially vibrant within this overcast locale, but everything appears to be accurate with the ideal amount of depth. Certain pieces of clothing and some lighting choices make a bigger impression. Black levels hold up mostly well and never come up short in shadow detail. The picture never suffers from crush, and the highlights are strong with no signs of blooming. Skin tones look natural, with an excellent amount of facial detail present in close-ups. The label has given this film a necessary second chance at life on Blu-Ray with a great presentation.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with an LPCM 2.0 mono track that holds up very well here. Dialogue comes through nice and clear without being trounced by the sound effects or the soundtrack. Music is a large part of the film’s identity, and it works in tandem with the free-wheeling vibe of the picture as it comes through impeccably in this presentation. The sounds of the road creep through to provide some exquisite ambient details. All of the various sounds in the mix seem deliberately rendered so that nothing ever feels off. Film Movement Classics has provided an audio track that showcases this one with the proper care. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Alex Cox on Candy Mountain: An 11-minute interview with filmmaker Alex Cox in which he discusses his friendship with Rudy Wurlitzer, being asked to play the lead in Candy Mountain, the background of the co-directors, the issues that arose during the production, and more.

The Road Goes On Forever: A six-minute piece by author David N. Meyer delves into the place of this film in the road movie genre.

Original Theatrical Trailer (1:17)

Booklet: A 16-page booklet is included featuring a new essay by author John Dixon that provides a good examination of the film’s background, the key players, the themes, and more.

Final Thoughts

Candy Mountain stands firmly in the pantheon of great road movies that are more of a state of mind rather than a strict narrative to get invested in. If you are a fan of Americana and folk music, you will find yourself put under the spell of this feature, especially with many of the big names from that world making an appearance. The lead performance from Kevin J. O’Connor keeps you engaged throughout, and it is always a pleasure to see who is going to cross his path next. Film Movement Classics has released a Blu-Ray which features a stellar A/V presentation and a couple of worthwhile supplemental features. If this sounds appealing to you in the slightest, give it a chance. Recommended

Candy Mountain is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through Vinegar Syndrome.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Film Movement Classics and OCN Distribution have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.