Ex-mercenary Nick Escalante isn’t a violent man by nature. He’s just good at it. And when things get very, very bad, he’s naturally at his best. Las Vegas is the backdrop for all the torrid action of Heat, as screen legend Burt Reynolds (Hustle, Stick) plays the softhearted bodyguard who’s out to protect his friends. When a gangster’s son brutally beats an old flame, it ignites a tightly wound thriller that pits Burt against the mob and culminates in a vicious cat-and-mouse climax. Written by Hollywood’s master craftsman, William Goldman (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Marathon Man, Misery), directed by Dick Richards (Farewell, My Lovely) and co-starring Karen Young (Criminal Law), Peter MacNicol (Ghostbusters II), Neill Barry (O.C. and Stiggs), Howard Hesseman (Honky Tonk Freeway) and Diana Scarwid (Inside Moves).

For thoughts on Heat (1986), please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/8VuXnHIaTrw?t=337]

Video Quality

Heat (1986) debuts on Blu-Ray with a digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1 from what seems to be an older master that holds up well. This transfer does not appear to be hindered by digital tinkering with some lovely natural film grain present and resolved pretty well with only some moments that appear a bit clumpy and swarming. Overall clarity and detail is decent, and skin tones seem natural with perhaps a slight push to the warm side. Colors are a standout part of the presentation with good saturation within the vibrant Vegas hues. Black levels could be a bit strong with crush becoming a bit of an issue in some of the darker moments. The presentation does exhibit some softer shots and minor specks of damage throughout. This presentation from Kino Classics gets the job done, even if things could potentially be improved with a new master.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that holds up a bit better than some Lionsgate titles we have gotten recently from Kino Classics. The dialogue sounds pretty stable and clear with most exchanges coming through without major issues. Environmental sounds such as gunfire and the ambiance of a casino floor are rendered admirably alongside various locales. The score maintains a good fidelity within the mix. There does appear to be minor signs of age-related wear and tear that hinders the track a bit, but it does not consistently pop up. There are English SDH subtitles provided.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Action Film Historians Brandon Bentley and Mike Leeder provide a great commentary track in which they discuss the troubled production of this film, where the cast and creative team were in their careers, the location shooting, the cast and characters, the state of action movies at the time, the release and audience reception to the film and much more that is very enlightening.

Alternate Ending: A five-minute alternate ending is provided here which finds one character making a miraculous recovery. This does lose some of the poignancy of the theatrical ending.

Trailers: This disc provides the minute-and-a-half trailer for Heat. There are also trailers provided for Fuzz, Shamus, White Lightning, The Longest Yard, Hustle, Gator, Stick, Malone and Breaking In.

Final Thoughts

Heat (1986) is a pretty average Burt Reynolds movie when you get down to it, but there are oddities that keep you at least a bit interested. The writing is the weakest element of this production, but Reynolds does his charming best to make the material work – and he almost does. The film offers passable entertainment as a lazy weekend afternoon watch, but there are better examples of such features from the icon. Kino Classics has brought this one to Blu-Ray with a fine A/V presentation and a great commentary track. If you are a major Burt Reynolds fan, you probably won’t be disappointed here.

Heat (1986) 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: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.