‘Death Of A Cheerleader’ Blu-Ray Review – True Crime Telefilm Favors Excavation Over Exploitation

Santa Mira High is a competitive place, where even the principal challenges students to strive for excellence in every regard. No one hears this message more than Angela, who’s convinced this is her year to join the newspaper staff, get in with the popular crowd, and make the cheerleading team. But the popular girls are led by Stacy, who’s quick with a put-down and often more than a little mean. When Stacey suddenly winds up stabbed multiple times and left on a neighbor’s doorstep, her death rocks the entire close-knit community of Santa Mira. The police have no real leads or any evidence as to who the killer is, while the high school kids go after their own candidate for the crime. Now that the FBI has been called in and the media are becoming increasingly involved, will revealing the truth further divide the once-peaceful town?

A long-time cable TV favorite based on a real case from a decade earlier, DEATH OF A CHEERLEADER from veteran director William A. Graham (Return to the Blue Lagoon) brought together younger stars Kellie Martin (Life Goes On) and Tori Spelling (Beverly Hills, 90210), alongside prolific veteran players Valerie Harper (Rhoda) and Eugene Roche (Soap). This high school potboiler, originally broadcast under the title A Friend to Die For, also features supporting roles by James Avery (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air), Christa Miller (Shrinking) and Terry O’Quinn (The Stepfather). Iconoscope is pleased to present this early ’90s small-screen gem newly scanned in 4K from its original camera negative and accompanied by a host of newly produced special features.

For thoughts on Death of a Cheerleader, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

Video Quality

This new Blu-Ray from Iconoscope gives Death of a Cheerleader an AVC-encoded 1080p transfer in 1.33:1 derived from a newly commissioned 4K restoration from the 35mm Original Camera Negative. We love this line so much, as it gives seemingly forgotten television films such as this one the premium presentation we never dreamed of it getting on Blu-Ray. This tremendous presentation preserves the look of this surprisingly lush production, which never could have been as appreciated when it aired due to the limitations of the technology of the time. 

This presentation is completely free of print damage such as specks, scratches, and tears. The picture has a solid, consistent grain structure that preserves the filmic look of the presentation, showcasing subtle details in the various design elements. Skin tones look natural, with a lovely amount of facial detail present in close-ups. Colors beam off the screen with a notable vibrancy in the Los Angeles locales and key articles of clothing. Black levels hold up very well and never come up short in shadow detail. The picture never stumbles with crush, and highlights are firm with no semblance of blooming. Iconoscope has given this telefilm a dream presentation. 

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio stereo track that translates the material perfectly. The primary element of this journey is the dialogue, as much of the tension between the leads comes from biting barbs thrown with a reckless disregard for any feelings. Every one of these remarks comes through with the utmost clarity. The spread of the stereo presentation opens up things quite admirably as the sounds of bustling school hallways provide some excellent ambient details. All of the various elements in the mix seem precisely rendered. The score from Chris Boardman nearly feels like another character in the movie, and every note comes through with commendable fidelity. Iconoscope has preserved the audio just as thoughtfully as the video side of things. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided. 

Special Features

• Audio Commentary: Film historian Amanda Reyes provides an informative new commentary track in which she discusses the film’s place among telefilms at the time, how this compares to the real-life crime, the background of the performers, shooting in Los Angeles, some of the themes explored, and so much more that is worth a listen. 

• A Friend To Die For – The Accidental Actor In A Floppy Hat: A new 13-minute interview with actress Margaret Langrick in which she discusses her early childhood, her unusual entry into performing, the burgeoning Vancouver film industry, early projects she appeared in, the experience of filming Death of a Cheerleader, and more. 

• To Be The Best – The Dark Side of Establishment Values in Death of a Cheerleader: A 17-minute visual essay from author and critic Scott Humphries that explores the television movie landscape at the time, how true crime became a popular form of entertainment, how the film attempts to challenge the community values that led to the tragic events, and more. 

• Still Gallery (2:37)

• Original Video Trailer (1:41)

• Booklet: A multi-page booklet featuring an essay by Amanda Reyes is provided which delves into the career of actress Valerie Harper. 

Final Thoughts

Death of a Cheerleader is an important entry in the made-for-TV pantheon, as it approached the “ripped from the headlines” true crime philosophy with a bit more care and understanding than going for pure exploitation. By following the perpetrator of the crime, you can see how she ended up making this terrible decision while not excusing anything that happened. Kellie Martin was seemingly made for this role, perfectly embodying the earnest nature of the character. Tori Spelling likewise gets to the core of her role as the victim with apparent ease. It is easy to dismiss these productions as second-class due to the stigma of telefilms, but there is a unique artistry to them that we enjoy sincerely. This is a prime example of how to do one very well. Iconoscope has provided a Blu-Ray that features a first-rate A/V presentation and a pleasing selection of special features. Recommended 

Death of a Cheerleader 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: Iconoscope 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.

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