Fresh from the bloody battlefields of Vietnam, Ray Hicks (Nick Nolte, The Deep, 48 Hrs., The Prince of Tides) does his friend Converse (Michael Moriarty, Courage Under Fire, Pale Rider, Q, The Stuff) a favor, smuggling a stash of heroin back to the States. But when Ray goes to deliver the drugs, he and Converse’s wife, Marge (Tuesday Weld, Pretty Poison, Thief, Falling Down), are ambushed and barely escape with their lives! Suddenly on the run from two ruthless thugs and a murderous cop, the unlikely pair must find a way to get along and survive a perilous double-cross in this gripping nightmare adventure that quickly becomes a harrowing journey into hell. Also starring Anthony Zerbe (The Omega Man, Opposing Force, License to Kill), Richard Masur (The Thing, Risky Business, Scavenger Hunt, Fallen Angel), Ray Sharkey (The Idolmaker, Wiseguy, Hellhole), Charles Haid (Altered States, Hill Street Blues), Gail Strickland (The Drowning Pool, Protocol) and featuring music by Creedence Clearwater Revival. Now see this exciting thriller from a brand new 2020 2K master from the original I.P.!
For thoughts on Who’ll Stop The Rain, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
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Video Quality
Who’ll Stop The Rain comes to Blu-Ray with a digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer derived from a new 2K scan of the original interpositive. This film has a very distinct, variable aesthetic which this new master handles admirably. From the dreamy flashbacks to the gritty peril of their present situation, the image remains strong and faithful to the creative intention. This does mean that many shots are not as pinpoint crisp as you may be accustomed to, but it all appears to be very organic. While several shots run a bit soft and lack crisp details, there is an appreciable amount of texture within the environment and costumes at other points.
Black levels are pretty good in their depth with only a handful of moments lacking precise detail. This transfer resolves the natural film grain of the presentation very well even under harsher conditions such as smoke-filled environments. Colors are fairly robust with a good depth and balance throughout. Instances of print damage are occasionally visible with fleeting specks and marks that do not take you out of the experience. This new presentation from Scorpion Releasing brings this film up to the level it deserves.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray disc comes with a lossless DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that is not a powerhouse, but it gets the job done overall. Environmental elements such as large engine sounds or gunfire are a bit more reserved than you may want. There is at least a decent precision which elevates the experience. Age-related anomalies are less of an issue with very little distortion or strain. The music provides a consistent atmosphere for this story that retains a good fidelity. Dialogue is a stable element that remains well defined and is not overwhelmed by competing sounds. The audio portion of the disc offers a pretty decent experience even if it is in need of some refinement. This release includes English SDH subtitles.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Film Historians Daniel Kremer and Scout Tafoya provide an insightful commentary track in which they discuss how this fits into the lineage of early Vietnam films, the source material used for this feature, the era and attitude in which this film was created, the performances from the ensemble and more which adds some great context to this feature.
- Interview with Actor Richard Masur: A 12-minute interview with the performer in which he discusses meeting with director Karel Reisz, the audition process that led to him landing the role, the changes that were made from the novel, the negative feedback on the original title of Dog Soldiers, the music of Creedence Clearwater Revival, the performances in the film and more.
- Interview with Associate Producer Roger Spottiswoode: A 14-minute interview with Spottiswoode in which he discusses learning on set from director Karel Reisz, the multiple layers of the narrative, the dynamics between the characters, the location shooting, the film’s critical reception and more.
- Interview with Screenwriter Judith Rascoe: A 12-minute interview with the screenwriter in which she discusses getting involved with this project, the care taken with adapting the novel into a feature film, what it was like working with director Karel Reisz, the power of the performances and more.
- Trailers: The two-minute trailer for Body and Soul is provided here. There are also trailers provided for Trackdown, September 30 1955, Rollerball, The Dogs Of War, The Norseman and Opposing Force.
Final Thoughts
Who’ll Stop The Rain is a pretty engaging take on the anti-war subgenre which deftly weaves in elements of a crime thriller. There are some narrative detours that are not as rewarding, but overall it makes an impact thematically. Nick Nolte provides a really strong grounding performance alongside a more-than-capable ensemble. Scorpion Releasing and Ronin Flix have released a new Blu-Ray with a good A/V presentation and an array of special features. If you are a fan of these performers or this era of filmmaking, this one is worth a shot. Recommended
Who’ll Stop The Rain 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: Scorpion Releasing and Ronin Flix have 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.
