Plot: What’s it about?
Jonathan Ratcliff (Joseph Bottoms) is blind, though his condition was not caused by a physical problem. Instead, his sight was taken by a subconscious defect when his mind is unable to handle a level of emotional stress. His life has been good since however, thanks mostly to the companionship of the beautiful Claire (Kirstie Alley). She helps his cope with his blindness and he depends a lot on her, though he is certain his sight will return at some point. When a chance comes to be part of a special program for the blind, Jonathan signs on and learns that a small computer chip will be placed within his brain. If he wears the special headphones and receiver, the chip will send out a sonar signal that will feed back a rough image of what Jonathan would see. As it is a sonar program, it can’t show much detail, nor see through even the thinnest glass, but for Jonathan, it is a dream and he can’t wait to be involved. He is only permitted to use the device for two hours per day and even then, in only fifteen minute spans, to ensure no damage is done to his brain. The world is open to Jonathan now, but when he witnesses a brutal murder, even he wishes he could have been blind for those few moments. Can he put the outline of the murderer to good use and end the string of horrific murders, or is this beyond his range of sight?
No, this isn’t the Blind Date that stars Bruce Willis, it is the thriller from director Niko Mastorakis that offers some solid suspense. The premise isn’t all that original, but the whole “seeing eye” technology adds a new spin and since that idea drives Blind Date, it proves to be enough to set it apart from similar pictures. As cool as the “seeing eye” angle is, this movie isn’t able to fulfill the potential of the premise, though it does have some good moments. Then again, the thriller genre is overrun with poor entries, so when compared to some of the stuff out there, Blind Date emerges as a solid overall project. In addition, it was made in 1985 and that means tons of cool 80s texture, from the clothes to the lingo to the “seeing eye” visuals, which look like something from an old Atari system, a device which happens to have a sizable role in Blind Date. As this is a thriller about a serial killer, it includes some scenes of violence and naked flesh. This means if you see a female on screen, she’s going to either take her clothes off, wind up murdered, or perhaps even both, if she happens to be one of the lucky ones. The cast is even solid in Blind Date, with such names as Kirstie Alley, Keir Dullea, and Lana Clarkson, and Marina Sirtis involved. If you’re a fan of thrillers, cheese laden computer graphics, or you just want to see Kirstie Alley in the buff, then Blind Date is more than worth a look.
This is a movie about a blind dude, but in a strange twist, he isn’t blind due to a physical defect, its more of a mental issue. This seems as though it should play into the performance and it does to an extent, as Joseph Bottoms is given a rather complex character to work with. This internal conflict presents an interested idea, as his blindness is related to some subconscious problem and that means he’s a little imbalanced in other ways. At the heart of this character, we have a stalker without quite as much psychosis as we’re used to attaching to that persona, as he is still a decent person in most regards. So his mental state figures into the movie quite a lot and with good results, though I still don’t think this was explored to the fullest extent. The whole “seeing eye” angle also opens up some potential, as the character is no longer able to see the entire picture, but instead a rough outline of the world around him. Other films with Bottoms include The Black Hole, Snide and Prejudice, Born to Race, Inner Sanctum, and Joseph’s Gift. The cast also includes Kirstie Alley (Drop Dead Gorgeous, Tv’s Cheers), Lana Clarkson (Barbarian Queen, Deathstalker), and Marina Sirtis (Paradise Lost, Star Trek: The Next Generation).
Video: How does it look?
Blind Date is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. This looks about as good as you’d expect from a 1980s thriller, so the image isn’t flawless, but it has held up well and looks solid in this treatment. The print has some grain and assorted nicks & scuffs, but these elements never amount to much, so no need to be concerned. The colors look bright and natural, but never too vivid, while contrast is smooth and consistent. The grain does lessen the black levels a shade, but not enough to detract from the experience. So this one has some flaws, but when you think about the material involved, I think Omega has done some solid work here.
Audio: How does it sound?
A new Dolby Digital 5.1 option was created and included on the overseas edition of Blind Date, but here in Region 1, we’re saddled with a simple stereo soundtrack. This track isn’t bad, but when you think of how much a full surround sound option could add in terms of suspense and atmosphere, its hard not to be let down. A basic, unremarkable soundtrack is what we have here, one which sounds decent, but never offers much beyond the essentials. This movie needs enhanced atmosphere in some of the scenes, the kind a 5.1 option could provide, but instead, we have this simplistic option. A range of subtitle choices are also included on that import disc, but none have been ported to this edition.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The main supplement here is The Films of Niko Mastorakis Part I, which runs almost an hour in length and takes a broad look at some of Mastorakis’ pictures. A few minutes are devoted per film, with clips shown as Mastorakis comments about them, though some scenes are shown without his narration. I would have rather had an audio commentary for each of his movies, but this is still a solid, extensive overview of a section of his efforts. This disc also includes two isolated musical tracks, some talent files, and the film’s trailer.
