Get ready to see Jack Deth like you’ve never seen him before, as Full Moon proudly presents director Charles Band’s cult 1985 sci-fi action classic TRANCERS for the first time in glorious 4K, a sumptuous scan from the original camera negative! Welcome to Angel City, 2247. Trooper Jack Deth (Tim Thomerson NEAR DARK) is wiping out the last disciples of Whistler, who used his psychic power to ‘trance’ those with inferior minds, forcing them to follow his every desire. Though he’d been thought dead, he’s very much alive… in the year 1985. Whistler’s master plan – kill the ancestors of the City Council. With the Council disbanded, nothing can stop him from controlling the city. And that’s where Deth comes in. Jack is sent back in time, inhabiting the body of his ancestor. Just one problem: Whistler’s ancestor is a police detective, and he’s trancing people in 1985. With the help of a strong-willed punk girl, Lena (Helen Hunt, in her breakthrough feature film appearance), Deth must confront Whistler one final time, while the fate of time itself hangs in the balance!
For thoughts on Trancers, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
Video Quality
Full Moon Features presents Trancers with a 2160p transfer in its 1.78:1 aspect ratio sourced from a 4K scan from the Original Camera Negative in HDR. This is the first 4K UHD release from a company known for not providing an A+ presentation with their transfers, and sadly the same continues on with this new format. While a good deal of blame could likely be placed at the feet of Full Moon Features themselves, there is also something to be considered for providing a 4K UHD upgrade to a low budget film with such limitations at the source. The increased resolution is not doing the optical effects any favors. Yet, we have seen similar quality films handled with more care from other labels with notably better results.
There are some positive aspects to this transfer, such as the increase in fine detail in elements of the production design, clothing and even facial features. The HDR grade also makes certain colors pop off the scream with a bit more radiance, primarily when it comes to the clothing of the “past.” Nearly everything else has aspects working against it, such as the clumpy and indistinct grain field which lessens the base improvements in detail. The transfer itself is also very inconsistent from scene to scene when it comes to color timing and stability. There are many scenes that look exceptionally soft or even pixelated, which should not be happening on this format. The special effects look more wonky than ever, and the contrast is nowhere near as defined as it needs to be. A good deal of damage has been cleaned up, but this transfer from Full Moon Features fumbles anything good that could have come from it.
Audio Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc is even more baffling when it comes to the audio, as you are served up lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 tracks instead of a lossless option. This is a first for us on 4K UHD Blu-Ray, and that is not a favorable history to be making. The only element of the track that really delivers is the dialogue, which comes through mostly clear in the center channel. The music and sound effects both sound restrained and do not fill up the room. Environmental sounds are not very effective and barely extend into the surround speakers in the 5.1 track. The low end of the track is muted and fails to execute the sonic ambitions of the film. Overall, Full Moon Features has really fumbled providing the bare minimum of audio in the modern era. English SDH subtitles are provided for those who want them.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Director Charles Band and Actor Tim Thomerson provide a pretty loose, informative commentary track in which Thomerson carries the weight of recalling specifics while Band jumps in with what he knows for some decent anecdotes that fans will want to hear. It is amusing to hear them say a few off-color remarks and wonder if anyone is going to listen to the track.
- Short Film – Trancers: City Of Lost Angels: A 25-minute short film presented in rough upscaled standard definition which bridges the gap between Trancers and Trancers II.
- Trancers – A Video Essay: A 20-minute video essay written by Chris O’Neil and voiced by Claire Loy which takes a broad overview of the film including its place in the B-movie pantheon, the work of Charles Band, its film noir inspirations, the necessity of the short running time, the film’s ensemble and more.
- Official Trailer: The three-minute trailer is provided here.
- Cybercrime – The Making Of Trancers: A nearly 15-minute featurette in which the cast and creative team including Director Charles Band, Writers Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo, and Actor Tim Thomerson discuss how the film came about, how it evolved during production, the unique tone and aesthetic of the film, cast and performances, shooting locations, the release and its subsequent legacy and more.
- Archival Interviews: A two-minute selection of brief interviews with Tim Thomerson, Megan Ward, and Helen Hunt discussing their time on the movie.
- Still Gallery: A selection of promotional material, comic book panels and more are provided here.
Final Thoughts
Trancers is a scruffy sci-fi feature brought together through a labor of love and determination. Judged on those aspects, it stands as a pretty decent time with some heady ideas that are realized in some creative ways. The acting is a bit inconsistent, but Helen Hunt makes an early impression in a role we would have loved to have seen beefed up even more. The short running time makes the film zip by, but it also feels like there is some connective tissue missing that could have made it flow more smoothly. Full Moon Features has provided the film with a 4K UHD Blu-Ray release that fumbles its A/V presentation, but delivers some interesting legacy special features. If you already own the previous Blu-Ray from a few years back, there does not seem to be any real reason to upgrade.
Trancers is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Full Moon Features 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.