On the streets of Los Angeles and Las Vegas, daredevil drivers race the world’s most exotic cars for million dollar bets. But as the stakes rise, so does the danger – from deadly crashes to kidnapping and murder – and only the fast and furious survive. With adrenaline-pumping action and some of the rarest, most expensive high performance vehicles ever raced and obliterated on film, Redline roars into high gear and doesn’t let off the gas until the final explosive rush.
Directed by legendary stuntman and fight choreographer Andy Cheng (End Game) and featuring an all-star cast that includes Nadia Bjorlin (Alone), Nathan Phillips (Snakes on a Plane), Angus Macfadyen (Saw series), Tim Matheson (Animal House), Jesse Johnson (Gun Shy), Eddie Griffin (Armageddon) and Ernie Reyes Jr. (The Last Dragon), with enough gorgeous cinematography from Academy Award® nominee* Bill Butler (Jaws, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest), whose “camera’s intimacy with vehicles at rocket velocity is striking” (The New York Times) and “breathless” editing (The New York Times) to keep you on the edge of your seat from the start to the finish line!
For thoughts on Redline, please check out our discussions on The Video Attic:
Video Quality
Redline debuts on Blu-Ray with a very pleasing 1080p presentation in 2.35:1 from a high definition master that captures the film incredibly well. The project has a vivid color palette that pops off the screen while showcasing an impressive amount of detail and clarity. There are some gorgeous automobiles that have bold colors that are quite fetching. Despite not being a big studio picture, it never ceases to impress with how sleek the film looks even with the occasional variances in aesthetics from the different locations.
The highlights do not show off any instances of blooming, and black levels hold up well as they appear with great depth. Objects maintain their presence in shadows and retain their depth. There may be a hint of slight banding in certain shots, but it is not pervasive throughout. The special effects are executed well considering the conservative budget they had to pull it off. Overall, this is a rock solid disc that showcases the work well. MVD Entertainment has delivered top notch work.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray disc strangely enough comes with a lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 track instead of the typical lossless DTS-HD track you would normally get. This is one of the first discs that we can recall that has skimped in the audio department from MVD Entertainment. While the track is far from a failure, it is disappointing to not see this audio presentation reach its full potential.
By and large, this track brings every element to life capably. This movie is at its best when you have cars zooming around on screen, which this track replicates well. The environmental effects are delineated strategically with some ambient noises on display. Dialogue holds up quite nicely, coming though clearly without being stepped on by the music or sound effects. The soundtrack maintains a strong fidelity and comes through the room really purposefully. While the lack of a lossless track feels like a missed opportunity, this one does what it needs to. Optional English (SDH) and Spanish subtitles are provided on this disc.
Special Features
- Under The Hood – The Making Of Redline: A 12-minute collection of archival footage which gives you a glimpse of the filming of a selection of stunts from the film with some on-set interviews with the crew.
- Redline at the LA Auto Show: A nearly four-minute piece which shows all of the gorgeous cars the film brought to this famous auto show along with a look at the cast interacting with fans.
- Trailers: A two-and-a-half minute trailer is provided for Redline. There are also trailers provided for Action USA, Kill Zone and L.A. Wars.
Final Thoughts
Redline is one of the most inept movies we have seen recently. It manages to make the act of high stakes street racing seem positively dull. This may be due in large part to the characters, who are both written with no semblance of substance and performed without a pulse. While a few of the more seasoned performers hint at some kind of creative spark, pretty much everyone feels as if they have just been handed the script for the first time and told to roll with it. This is not even a “so bad it is good” movie – it is just bad. MVD Entertainment has released a Blu-Ray that has a mixed bag of an A/V presentation and some fleeting special features.
Redline will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD on May 30, 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.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.