‘Dangerous Game’ (1993) Blu-Ray Review – A Visceral Swirl Of Immorality & Chaos From Abel Ferrara

New York based filmmaker Eddie Israel (Harvey Keitel, Bad Lieutenant) is embarking on a new production titled Mother of Mirrors, being shot in Los Angeles. Joining Israel in Hollywood are his film’s lead actors, Sarah (Madonna, Desperately Seeking Susan) and Francis (James Russo, China Girl), playing an unhappily married couple coming to terms with matters of religion, drug use and unconventional sex. As reality and fiction begin to merge, Israel’s wife, Madlyn (Nancy Ferrara, real life wife to Abel), enters the fray of the tumultuous film production that has become home to infidelity, drug use and acts of violence, setting the stage for an unpredictable and uncompromising final act.

A searing, remarkably raw, film industry drama from noted provocateur Abel Ferrara (King of New York), DANGEROUS GAME is propelled by fearless performances from its three leads and a naturalistic, and ferocious, script by frequent Ferrara collaborator Nicholas St. John (Ms. 45, The Addiction). Cinématographe is proud to bring one of Ferrara’s most underrated, yet exceedingly powerful, films to Blu-ray in a brand new 4K restoration from its uncut original negative with a vast array of newly produced supplements featuring Ferrara himself as well as long time collaborators.

For thoughts on Dangerous Game (1993), please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required: 

Video Quality

Cinématographe brings Dangerous Game to Blu-Ray with an AVC-encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1 derived from a newly commissioned 4K restoration from the uncut 35mm Original Camera Negative. The film was previously released on Blu-Ray in 2015 by Olive Films. We have never seen that release, but all indications point toward it being a crusty old master supplied by MGM. Some may bemoan the lack of a 4K UHD Blu-Ray upgrade, but most will likely agree this is a stunning release. This presentation tidies up nearly all print damage such as specks, scratches, and tears. 

The transfer provides a deftly executed grain structure that preserves the filmic origins of the picture, showcasing discrete details within the movie set and at home. There are stylized instances where the picture shifts to a lower-quality videotape source for rehearsals, and they are presented as pleasantly as the source allows. The cinematography from Ken Kelsch is vital to establishing the intimate and suffocating atmosphere. Colors are fairly subdued, saturating the frame with neutral hues in the costumes and set design. Skin tones appear to be natural with a respectable amount of facial detail present in close-ups. Black levels are stable and never lack shadow detail. The picture never falls victim to crush, and highlights are firm with no trace of blooming. Cinématographe keeps knocking it out of the park with its releases. 

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio stereo track that perfectly realizes the sonic ambitions of the film. This is a relatively talky picture, and the dialogue comes through clearly without being enveloped by competing noises. The sounds of both the film set and the personal apartment emanate creating excellent ambient details such as the chatter of the crew and other subtle elements. The score from Joe Delia sounds great as it comes through with ideal fidelity. All of the sounds in the mix seem properly executed so that nothing ever feels unnatural. Cinématographe has provided an audio track that will make audiences happy. There are optional English SDH subtitles provided. 

Special Features

The Limited Edition version of Dangerous Game comes beautifully packaged in a hard outer slipcase that opens up to a MediaBook that includes a bound booklet featuring new writing by film critics Samm Deighan, Peter Labuza and Carlos Valladares plus select archival photo reproductions. These essays delve into the film from multiple angles and each piece provides a great analysis in a thoughtfully written style. The on-disc special features are as follows: 

• Audio Commentary: Chris O’Neill and Bill Ackerman of the Supporting Characters podcast provide an informative commentary track that discusses the work of Abel Ferrara, where this fits in his cinematic output, the bold aesthetic choices, details about the production, the shooting locations, the backgrounds of the performers, the photography from Ken Kelsch, the assembly cut, the legacy of the feature, and much more.

• Interview with Director Abel Ferrara: A new 19-minute interview with the filmmaker filmed just days after the passing of Ken Kelsch in which he reflects on their friendship and professional collaborations. He transitions into the work of the performers, throwing out half of the script, the background of the title, the chaotic release of the film, and more. Ferrara is such a raw and entertaining figure that this interview is worth the price of admission.

• Interview with Actor James Russo: A new 12-minute interview with the actor in which he discusses initially being attached to King of New York, a brief falling out with Abel Ferrara, his initial disinterest in the script, the chaotic filming style of Ferrara, memories of his fellow performers, and more. 

• Interview with Actress Nancy Ferrara: A new 25-minute audio interview with the actress in which she discusses her relationship with her husband at the time, getting back into acting on screen for this film, her fond memories of Harvey Keitel, her aversion to seeing herself on screen, the Christmas gift she received from Madonna, and more. 

• Interview with Composer Joe Delia: A new 17-minute interview with the composer in which he discusses his relationship with Ferrara, never relying on music to make a scene work, memories of the performers, and more. 

• Interview with Editor Anthony Redman: A new 20-minute interview with the composer in which he discusses his relationship with Ferrara beginning with Fear City, the evolution of the production, the absence of studio involvement, cutting his part in the film to achieve an R-rating, and more.

• Video Essay by Alexandra Heller-Nicolas: A 15-minute video essay in which the brilliant film historian dissects the film in relation to Ferrara’s filmography, the thematic and stylistic gaze in his work, how the presence of Madonna adds deeper layers to the narrative, and more that explores the film in nice depth. 

• Theatrical Trailer: A minute-and-a-half-long trailer is provided here. 

Final Thoughts

Dangerous Game is a searing effort from Abel Ferrara that destroys the barriers between reality and performance, between morality and chaos. The effort is so visceral that many will be repulsed by some of the developments. Ferrara offers no easy outs, and the film exhausts more than it transfixes. The film struggles a bit when deciding what it wants to say about the toxicity at hand. The performances are truly terrific, but any viewer needs to be primed to explore the darker tendencies of Ferrara before jumping in. Cinématographe has provided a Blu-Ray that features a terrific A/V presentation and a vital array of supplemental features. If you have an affinity for the talent involved, this release is the one to get, but this probably shouldn’t be your first exposure to Ferrara. 

Dangerous Game is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray. 

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

Disclaimer: Cinématographe has supplied a copy of this set free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.