Michael (Nicolas Cage, Wild at Heart), a discharged marine turned drifter, ends up in Red Rock, Wyoming in search of honest work. Wayne (J.T. Walsh, Breakdown), a local bar owner, offers Michael the dishonest work of carrying out a hit on his wife Suzanne (Lara Flynn Boyle, The Last Seduction) after mistaking him for the actual hitman, “Lyle, from Dallas”, that he hired to murder his spouse. Before Michael can split town with his downpayment, he runs into the real Lyle (Dennis Hopper, Blue Velvet) and, from there, all hell breaks loose.

Directed and co-written by John Dahl (Kill Me Again), RED ROCK WEST is an endlessly twisty slice of distinctly American neo-noir set in the heartland of the United States. Featuring stellar performances from all three leads and a nearly repellent mean streak, Dahl’s film is an often forgotten jewel of 90s crime cinema, making its US Blu-ray debut in an all-new restoration from Cinématographe.

For thoughts on Red Rock West, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/pPsN6xv-QFw?si=WDaYxVTCd8sKHLjE&t=1429]

Video Quality

This new Blu-Ray from Cinématographe gives Red Rock West an AVC-encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1 derived from a newly commissioned 4K restoration from the 35mm Interpositive. This film has been available on Blu-Ray before overseas, but this gorgeous new restoration greatly outpaces any previous release. The cinematography from Marc Reshovsky is essential to setting the mood of this palpably sweltering modern noir. Colors radiate off the screen nicely, especially in the warm desert tones that permeate the screen, not to mention some of the costumes and even the neon lights of the bar signs. Black levels hold up very well and never lack for shadow detail. The picture never succumbs to crush, and highlights are firm with no ounce of blooming.

The film has a solid, consistent grain structure that preserves the filmic look of the picture, showcasing subtle details in the Wyoming locale. There are fleeting instances where the grain field becomes a bit heavier than normal, perhaps due to the source limitations of the Interpositive, but these moments are few and far between. This presentation is almost entirely free of print damage such as specks, scratches, and tears. Skin tones look natural, with an excellent amount of facial detail present in close-ups. This burgeoning label has given this film a tremendous new life on Blu-Ray which allows it to look the best it ever has.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that captures this moody tale most impressively. The sounds of the small town creep through to provide some excellent ambient details. All of the various sounds in the mix seem accurately rendered so that nothing ever feels off. Dialogue comes through crystal clear without being overshadowed by the sound effects or the score from William Olvis. The soundtrack complements the general aesthetic as it comes through powerfully in this presentation. Cinématographe has provided an audio track that is equal to the excellence of the video quality. There are optional English SDH subtitles provided.

Special Features

The Limited Edition version of Red Rock West comes beautifully packaged in a hard outer slipcase that opens up to a MediaBook that includes a bound booklet featuring new writing by writers Jourdain Searles, Keith Phipps, and Justin LaLiberty plus select archival photo reproductions. These essays delve into the film from multiple angles including the subgenre of “drifter noir” and the career of Nicolas Cage, and each piece provides a great analysis in a thoughtfully written style. The on-disc special features are as follows:

Audio Commentary: Historian Alain Silver and filmmaker Christopher Coppola provide an informative commentary track that discusses the film’s place in the realm of film noir, details about the production, the shooting locations, the work of director John Dahl, the turns by the performers, the legacy of the feature, and much more. Coppola is the brother of Nicolas Cage and brings up his collaboration on the film Deadfall quite a bit while peppering in a lot of great personal details.

John Dahl – A Thousand Miles From Nowhere: A 27-minute interview with the writer/director in which he discusses his background, the development of this project, his interest in noir, the retooled third act, working with the performers, the persistence of Dennis Hopper wanting to play his role, and more. There are a handful of audio dropouts in the interview.

Rick Dahl – Neon and Dust: A 17-minute interview with the co-writer, working with his brother to make Red Rock West, the original dream cast for the film, the brilliance of the cast, the debate over the ending of the movie, an alternate ending that never got processed, and more.

Video Interview with Editor Scott Chestnut: A 22-minute interview with the editor in which he discusses his relationship with John Dahl, coming on board Red Rock West, following the storyboards from John Dahl in the course of editing, the motivations behind editing specific sequences, and more.

Video Essay by Chris O’Neill: A 14-minute video essay in which Chris O’Neill dissects the film in relation to the films of John Dahl, the moral clarity of the protagonist, the duality of certain characters, and more that explores the film in nice depth.

Video Essay by Petros Patsilivas: A nearly ten-minute video essay in which Petros Patsilivas dives into how this film fits into the career of Nicolas Cage.

Final Thoughts

Red Rock West is really engaging western film noir that takes a tried-and-true premise and finds new layers to explore. The confidence shown by John Dahl still relatively early in his career helps keep the story on track with a breathless energy. Nicolas Cage is perfect in the lead role of a man who quickly gets over his head, and his fellow castmates knock it out of the park when bringing their distinct characters to life. It is great that the film will once again be top of mind and ready for a new generation to discover. Cinématographe has provided a Blu-Ray that features a stellar A/V presentation and a rich assortment of supplemental features. If you are a fan of any of these performers or just enjoy exploring the dark secrets of a small town, this movie is a true gem. Highly Recommended

Red Rock West 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: Cinématographe 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.