‘Neon City’ Blu-Ray Review – Michael Ironside Elevates Derivative Yet Entertaining Post-Apocalyptic Tale

If murderous renegades don’t get them, poisonous clouds or deadly sunbursts will! The year is 2053. The atmosphere is lethal and people are literally fighting for survival. When iron-eyed bounty hunter Harry M. Stark (Michael Ironside, Total Recall) has to transport a tough and sexy lady outlaw (Vanity, 52 Pick-Up) to another jurisdiction—they’re in for the ride of their lives. Harry, his beautiful prisoner and six unwitting civilians board an armored transport vehicle driven by an ex-con named Bulk (Lyle Alzado, Destroyer). Along the way, they will all be forced to battle for their lives—but through gunfire and grisly death, unlikely heroes will be born, ugly secrets will be resolved and long-lost loves will be found. And, at the end of the road, a glimmer of hope and new beginnings await them in Neon City. The post-apocalyptic cult classic! The strong supporting cast includes Juliet Landau (TV’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Valerie Wildman (TV’s Days of Our Lives), Richard Sanders (TV’s WKRP in Cincinnati) and the film’s director Monte Markham (TV’s Baywatch).

For thoughts on Neon City, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/XVdHVOn5xZ0?si=CH3Kq-fa-gNwBl6f&t=1080]

Video Quality

Neon City debuts on Blu-Ray with a digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1 from a new 2K scan of the Interpositive that presents the movie well. The natural film grain of the presentation is intact and resolves favorably. The release thankfully does not appear to be hindered by digital tinkering. The presentation does deliver some softer shots and minor specks of damage pop up occasionally, yet we rather have this than an artificial-looking canvas. Overall clarity and detail are in fine shape, and skin tones only run a touch on the pale side with some distinct facial features apparent in closeup. Colors could be a bit more robust with a less desaturated aesthetic, but this is potentially an artistic choice. Black levels are a touch milky with crush surfacing intermittently in some of the shadows. This presentation from Kino Classics is a solid effort for fans.  

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that executes the material pretty well. Dialogue comes through crisp and clear as it distinguishes itself from the environmental elements. These complementary sounds such as the engine are rendered well along this journey. The score sets the tone of the narrative, and it holds a formidable place within the mix. We did not spot any signs of substantial age-related wear and tear or compression that might otherwise subdue this track. This is a fine representation of the film. There are optional English SDH subtitles provided. 

Special Features

• Audio Commentary: Director Monte Markham provides a great commentary track moderated by Black Mansion Films Producer Heather Buckley in which they discuss the production of the film, why stunts need to be performed by stuntmen, casting the performers, the location shooting, building out the world, and so much more. 

• Interview with Actor Michael Ironside: A new 10-minute conversation with the star in which he discusses how he came to be involved with the production, why he said yes to this one, working with director Monte Markham, why he loves working on low-budget films, the collaboration during pre-production, his aversion to lead roles at this time, and more. 

• VHS Trailer & Sales Reel: A two-minute vintage promo is provided. 

• Trailers: This disc provides the two-and-a-half-minute trailer for Neon City. There are also trailers provided for Mad Max, Stryker, Programmed To Kill, Rolling Vengeance, The Time Guardian, Highway to Hell, and Death Machine.  

Final Thoughts

Neon City feels slightly derivative in its ideas, but the execution makes up for some of the bouts of familiarity. Michael Ironside capably anchors this well-made B-movie filled with colorful characters and exciting action sequences. If you generally like post-apocalyptic tales, this one entertains as a mindless weekend watch. Kino Classics has brought this one to Blu-Ray with a pretty solid A/V presentation and a couple of fun special features. Recommended 

Neon City 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.