‘Highway to Hell’ Blu-ray Review (Visual Vengeance)
Stars: Benton Jennings, Richard Harrison, Blue Thompson | Written by Gary Kennamer | Directed by Bret McCormick
When you hear the phrase “Highway to Hell”, most people immediately think of the iconic AC/DC song, not a low-budget cult thriller from B-movie director Bret McCormick. But back in 1990, McCormick delivered exactly that, with the weird, wild and wonderfully offbeat Highway to Hell, a film that has quietly built up a loyal following over the years thanks to its mix of dark humour, horror and road-movie insanity.
Now, 36 years after its original release, Highway to Hell is getting the deluxe treatment it never had the first time around. Boutique label Visual Vengeance – who have made a name for themselves rescuing forgotten genre oddities and giving them stacked home-video releases – have brought the film to Blu-ray for the very first time. The result is a release that finally gives this cult favourite the kind of presentation physical media fans love, ensuring that Highway to Hell can continue to find new audiences for years to come.
Convicted mass-murderer Toby Gilmore has escaped from prison, and the open desert becomes his playground for sadism and destruction. Determined to stop him after failing to execute him years earlier, officer Earl Dent (Richard Harrison) sets out on a relentless pursuit that turns into a deadly game of cat and mouse. But Gilmore has taken a hostage–Fran Tucker, a young woman caught in the wrong place at the worst possible time. As the chase hurtles across backroads and wastelands, Dent closes in, each mile bringing he and Gilmore closer to an explosive reckoning on the highway to hell.
Highway to Hell is very much a low-budget exploitation flick, shot out in rural Texas, and that rough-and-ready production actually works in the film’s favour. The dusty locations and stripped-down feel give the movie a sense of authenticity that recalls classics like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, helping the whole thing feel grimy, unpredictable and just a little dangerous. The story itself is a solid one, packed with the kind of offbeat ideas you only really get from late-80s and early-90s genre cinema, though the performances are a bit of a mixed bag. Some of the cast lean fully into the film’s bizarre tone and come off great, while others feel a little less convincing, giving the movie an uneven quality at times – but honestly, that roughness is part of the charm with a film like this.
Visual Vengeance has transferred Highway to Hell to Blu-ray in 1080p, presented in the original full-screen format 1.33:1 aspect ratio. The audio is a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, and there are also English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing. Highway to Hell was shot in Standard Definition, and so Visual Vengeance re-mastered the film from original tape elements. Which means the video quality is not mind-blowingly spectacular. But I was impressed by how good it looked for a low-budget feature.
As with all Visual Vengeance titles, these are not bare bones Blu-rays – they always put in the effort to their releases, and this Blu-ray is no different. Take a look at the cool bonuses included here:
Special Features:
- Commentary with director Bret McCormick
- Director Bret McCormick interview
- Red Hot Asphalt: actor Richard Harrison interview
- Road Trip: actress Blue Thompson interview
- Writing A Road Map to Hell: screenwriter Gary Kennamer interview
- Actor Tom Fegan interview
- Image Gallery
- Bonus Movie: Redneck County Fever (1992), directed by Gary Kennamer
- Redneck County Fever – Commentary track with Bret McCormick and Gary Kennamer
- Redneck County Fever – Bret McCormick interview
- Redneck County Fever – Gary Kennamer interview
- Visual Vengeance trailers
Bonus Materials:
- ‘Stick Your Own’ VHS sticker set
- Reversible sleeve featuring original VHS art
- Folded Redneck County Fever mini-poster
- Limited Edition O-CARD featuring original poster art – FIRST PRESSING ONLY
As you can see, Visual Vengeance really went above and beyond with this Blu-ray release. Audio commentaries, interviews, and the best bonus, the movie Redneck Country Fever. That’s two movies for the price of one. Plus, I love the artwork and the VHS Stickers… talk about retro!
***½ 3/5
OK, so Highway to Hell is not the greatest film you will ever see, but if you love the low-budget films of the ’90s, this Blu-ray release may just be for you. Head over to Amazon and order your copy today.
______
