Stage a bogus kidnapping, collect the ransom, take 10% off the top and have a nice life, see ya later. They told Harry Barber the plan would work like clockwork. But it is hapless Harry who is running out of time. Woody Harrelson is Harry, a Florida drifter who goes from perpetrator to patsy when lured into an abduction swindle proposed by a mysterious blonde. Director Volker Schlondorff (The Tin Drum, The Handmaid’s Tale) steadily raises the stakes as Harry scrambles to untangle the mystery involving three women (Elisabeth Shue, Gina Gershon, Chloe Sevigny), false identities, cold corpses and a string of murderous clues that set him up for an extremely hard fall.

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

[youtube https://youtu.be/FjQ9S0XiZNo?si=micLNUs8GT40SgMP&t=64]

Video Quality

Palmetto gets a stellar upgrade on Blu-Ray courtesy of Warner Archive with a new 2023 1080p master. The transfer provides lush natural film grain absent of any compression artifacts or other such digital anomalies. This disc wonderfully represents the oceanside setting with the complexity it deserves. There are elements in the landscapes and production design that are easily visible for the first time ever on home entertainment. There are some nice, vibrant colors that make the film pop visually in an exciting way, especially in some of the outfits and lighting conditions. Skin tones look naturally warm, and the presentation offers up deep black levels. Warner Archive has provided a lovely transfer for a film that has not had much of a spotlight since its initial release.

Audio Quality

Warner Archive brings this new Blu-Ray to consumers with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix that is just as enjoyable as the video presentation. Dialogue primarily stays anchored in the center channel, but it makes its way to the surround speakers when necessary. This is far from an action-packed endeavor, but there are some exceptional environmental effects that spring to life. One could say that the movie has much of its identity wrapped up in the score from Klaus Doldinger, and this presentation delivers every note with unwavering fidelity. This is a well-balanced track that gets the job done in a most admirable manner. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are provided on this disc.

Special Features

Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here.

Final Thoughts

Palmetto is a decently entertaining neo-noir, but it is not one that sets itself apart as some sort of forgotten masterpiece from the era. Woody Harrelson capably leads this tale in a role that requires him to balance a lowlife quality with effortless charm, and the performer succeeds on this front. The women who find themselves wrapped up in his world are acted well enough, but the script leaves a lot to be desired from a character standpoint. Gina Gershon especially seems underutilized and unconvincing as a love interest due to the lack of time building up their relationship. You enjoy this one on a surface level, but we wish there was more to devour beneath the surface. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray featuring a lovely A/V presentation and not much in the way of special features. If you count yourself a fan of this film, you will be delighted by the technical presentation.

Palmetto can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or through various other online retailers. The film will be released on October 24, 2023.

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

Disclaimer: Warner Archive 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.