The savagery of “The Deer Hunter”, the brutality of “First Blood” and the unbridled power of “Rambo” come together to create the most intense film yet about the effects of the Vietnam War – KILL ZONE.

Colonel Crawford (David Campbell, Killer Workout), the sadistic commander of an advanced military training center known as “Scare Camp”, has created the most grueling and realistic exercise imaginable; to him it is brilliant, to his men… deadly. To Vietnam War veteran Jason McKenna (Fritz Matthews, Deadly Prey) it becomes all too real. His ability to distinguish between flashbacks and the ongoing exercise slowly fades. Driven by emotional terror McKenna believes he must kill to survive. He escapes the simulated prison camp and begins his reign of terror; killing the unsuspecting residents of a nearby town. Now it is up to Colonel Crawford to stop him in this action-packed adventure from director David A. Prior (Deadly Prey) and producer Jack Marino (Forgotten Heroes).

For thoughts on Kill Zone, please check out our discussions on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/Ytx1z8cSy70?t=3051]

Video Quality

Kill Zone debuts on Blu-Ray via the MVD Rewind Collection with a 1080p transfer that has been scanned and restored in 4K from the 35mm interpositive. The results are very pleasing for this effort given the rickety nature of the production with a filmic presentation that holds up better than many films of its ilk. Some nick and scratches remain in the print, but there has been some obvious care taken with this presentation. The transfer is pleasantly detailed with only the occasional shot that experiences fluctuations in density. You are actually treated to some detail in the production design and texture in the clothing. Colors are a standout, especially in the daytime portions of the film. Black levels could be a bit more robust, but there is a semblance of depth in the shadows. This is an effort that easily could have been lost to time, so fans should be pleased by how good it looks under the circumstances.

Audio Quality

MVD Entertainment brings us this new Blu-Ray with an LPCM 2.0 mono track in the original English. While we are mostly in favor of the video side of the equation, the audio portion can sound a bit weak thanks to the source. The track is far from a disaster, but there is enough underlying hiss and small bits of distortion to make an impression. Dialogue can sound slightly hollow, but it mostly holds up nicely without being overshadowed by the music or sound effects. Environmental effects are at the forefront when it comes to the sounds of gunfire, and this track provides as much power as the source will allow. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are provided on this disc.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Producer and co-writer Jack Marino provides a commentary track moderated by ‘Cereal at Midnight’ host Heath Holland in which Marino reflects on the production of the film, developing the idea for the narrative, the special effects work, memories of the performers and more. Holland is a thoughtful moderator who keeps this one moving and going in informative directions.

Video Commentary: An option to watch this commentary track as the video call it was originally recorded as.

The Making of Kill Zone: A new 38-minute interview with co-writer and producer Jack Marino moderated by filmmaker and project producer Steve Latshaw in which Marino discusses discusses his background and early interest in the movies, the development of this film, shooting on a limited budget, hiccups during the production, the film’s legacy and more.

Kill Zone VHS Version (1:29:39): An option to experience the film as many first saw it with VHS quality.

Photo Gallery: A two-minute collection of images from the production and marketing.

Trailers: A three-minute trailer is provided for Kill Zone. There are also trailers provided for Action USA, L.A. Wars, Showdown, Angel Town and My Samurai.

Poster: A fold-out poster of the cover art is included in the case.

Final Thoughts

Kill Zone sits firmly on the cheesy low budget action spectacle side of the spectrum which delivers what is asked of it without being obnoxiously inept in other areas. The performances are often strained, but the narrative holds up and the stunts are executed to an acceptable level (outside of hand-to-hand combat). This film is still an acquired taste, but it should be a fun experience for those who love dumb, low budget action movies. MVD Entertainment has kept the video store culture alive by unearthing a forgotten film with a new Blu-Ray which sports a passable A/V presentation, a couple of excellent supplements and some spiffy packaging.

Kill Zone will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD on June 13, 2023.

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

Disclaimer: MVD Entertainment 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.