Plot: What’s it about?
Jason Walk (Robert Forster) works as a cab driver most of the time, but he also does some numbers work, which supplements his fares well. Since he runs numbers at times, he is used to being around criminals and the like, but soon, he will find himself hunted by them. As he drives his cab one night, he runs into a woman, Christine (Nancy Kwan) who seems to need his services. So even though he doesn’t really want to, he gives her a ride and accidentally helps her, which causes him to become a target to the local underground mobsters. Although she wasn’t always aware of it, Christine was married to a member of the mob and when something went sour, some people murdered her son. But now she has a plan and with Jason involved, he has become a marked man as well. As Christine seeks revenge against those who killed her son, Jason agrees to help her and thus stars his dive into the underworld. As he delves deeper into a realm filled with filth and crime, Jason is pushed closer and closer toward the edge of his sanity, but sooner or later, he is bound to cross that line…
I had never seen this film before, but I think any action/thriller with Robert Forster is worth a look, so I was pleased when Anchor Bay released Walking The Edge on our beloved format. Aside from Forster, the cast also includes Joe Spinell and as such, my expectations were raised a little more. I’ve now seen the movie of course and in the end, I think genre fans will find a lot to like here. I don’t think Walking The Edge offers much in terms of fresh content, but it does provide a brisk pace and solid overall experience. If you don’t like these brutal urban flicks then this one won’t change your mind, but genre followers should give this one a look. The storyline seems rehashed at times, but has enough twists to keep things interesting, while the cast does better than I expected. There is some violence and potential disturbing scenes, but I doubt this is the kind of stuff that will bother you, if you’re watching this flick in the first place. As I said, I recommend this disc to genre fans and with such a nice disc, a rental or purchase will do your cash justice.
As I mentioned, this is an above average genre entry, but without the presence of Robert Forster, I doubt this would have ever gotten off the ground. The material and the rest of the cast are good, but without Forster to anchor it all, this would be just another action/thriller lost in the crowd. He seems very natural in these roles and while that could be a problem, Forster also works well within more varied roles. I love his persona in these kind of flicks and it was fun to check out one I had not seen, as it proved once again he could shoulder a film by himself. Other flicks with Forster include Vigilante, Me Myself & Irene, The Black Hole, Original Gangstas, Jackie Brown, and of course, Alligator. The rest of the cast here includes Wayne Woodson (I Ought To Be In Pictures), Nancy Kwan (Supercock, The McMasters), Aakira Wells (Sharky’s Machine), A. Martinez (One Night Stand, She-Devil), James McIntire (Ghost Dad, Good Morning Vietnam), and Joe Spinell (Maniac, Taxi Driver).
Video: How does it look?
Walking The Edge is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. I am very impressed with this transfer, as it shows minimal signs of the film’s low budget nature, which is a real feat if you ask me. There is a minor amount of grain at times, but nowhere the level I expected, while the source print looks very clean as well. The black levels look sharp and smooth here, even in the darkest scenes the grain is minimal and detail is good. No problems with colors either, as they seem bright and well presented, while flesh tones seem normal and consistent also. I am very surprised at how good this transfer looks, kudos to Anchor Bay for giving this a solid treatment.
Audio: How does it sound?
This disc uses a mono track, which is rather basic, but seems up to the task. I do wish the film’s soundtrack could be heard in full surround sound, but then again, it doesn’t come off that bad here in the end. The more action driven scenes lack that punch of course, but as far as mono goes, not much reason for complaint. The vocals sound clean and crisp also, no volume problems or other flaws to report. It isn’t flashy or powerful, but it handles the basics and that is what counts.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc houses some talent files, as well as the film’s theatrical trailer. You can also listen to audio commentary from director Norbert Miesel, as well as actors Robert Forster and Nancy Kwan. This seems to be a very fun track, as the three discuss some events from the production, as well as various memories and their thoughts on the film now.
