American Rampage Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

American Rampage Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov December 21, 2019

David DeCoteau's "American Rampage" (1989) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Massacre Video. The supplemental features on the disc include new audio commentary with the director and producer Raj Mehrotra as well as previously exclusive deleted scene. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

The rookie

In the early ‘80s David DeCoteau was still shooting adult films, so this is obviously the reason why he could not have teamed up with Andy Sidaris. At some point they probably crossed paths somewhere in LA, but they were shooting different types of films and the latter could not have been interested in what the former was doing. However, there is a part of me that likes to speculate that the right project still could have made them partners. Why? Because if a project like 52 Pick-Up could bring together John Frankenheimer, Roy Scheider and an entire team of adult stars, then surely there must have been another project like it that would have excited DeCoteau and Sidaris. Can you imagine the fireworks they would have produced with the right material? These two guys would have delivered the Ben-Hur of B-grade G-string action.

In LA, rookie vice cop Sam York (Kary Jane) discovers that a wealthy businessman named Matt Palmer (Otis T. Longhorn ) is running a large criminal organization and is getting ready to bring under its umbrella some of the area’s biggest drug distributors. Palmer is connected to even bigger international players, so if he seals the deal, he would effectively take over LA’s drug business. While Palmer is negotiating, Sam and her partner begin digging for additional information and in the process attract his attention. Soon after, they become targets and Sam loses her partner -- and then multiple replacements that her boss at the local police departments approves. Fed up with police protocol as well as Palmer’s ability to play the system and continue to expand his organization, Sam goes on the warpath and shortly after all hell breaks loose.

American Rampage is a typical mid-80s B-grade action thriller that routinely appears a lot more interested in examining naked female bodies than following shady characters with twitchy fingers. But this is how these films were made back then, so DeCoteau basically uses the classic blueprint that everyone else did without taking any risks.

What glues the contrasting parts of the film together and delivers all the fun is DeCoteau’s sense of humor, which is very similar to Sidaris’s. What does this mean? Well, for example there is a ton of macho talk that is so out of sync with the situations where it is left to flourish that it frequently feels like you are viewing a bad film noir on steroids. (All of Sidaris’ films are like that -- macho, fast and edgy, but at the same time quite hilarious). Of course, neither the bad nor the good guys ever notice, so they just keep rolling with the program. Also, virtually all of the action material always has at least one performer that gets uncharacteristically passionate about his part, so there are a lot of hilarious moments that add even more to the fun.

Jane has the right look for the part that DeCoteau gave her and does a pretty good job with it, but it is hard to imagine that she could have had a future in the industry. She probably figured it out as well because this was the one and only film that she apparently made. There a few actors that popped up in other small budget films that could still be tracked down on DVD, but they had short career paths as well.

Bob Mamet’s soundtrack overflows with typical for the ‘80s synth-pop harmonies that feel perfect for the low-budget action. He is the secret connection to Sidaris, who a year earlier had used his services on Picasso Trigger.

American Rampage Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, American Rampage arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Massacre Video.

The film was apparently remastered in 2K from an original element, but I don't know if it was an interpositive or 35mm print of some sort. If I had to guess, I would say that it is the latter because the density levels and extremely fine nuances in backgrounds have the qualities that I would expect to see when a master is struck from a 35mm print. Regardless, I think that the film looks fine in high-definition and has a pleasing consistent organic appearance that an old DVD master would have a difficult time producing. Obviously, source limitations are still noticeable. For example, in darker footage depth isn't optimal and can fluctuate a bit. Also, some color nuances are not as nicely expanded as they should be. But the visuals do not appear dated, and even more importantly there are no traces of digital anomalies. In other words, even though there is some room for meaningful improvements, this is a fine organic presentation that makes it very easy to enjoy the film. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

American Rampage Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The audio has that consistent solid quality that freshly, and properly, remastered audio files do. In fact, I was quite surprised how great the '80s soundtrack and action sound because this film was obviously made with a small budget. So, if you turn up the volume of your system, you will get a very solid dose of '80s atmosphere. There are no technical anomalies to report.

American Rampage Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Deleted Scene - this deleted scene, which is actually a rather long sequence, was previously exclusive to the French VHS release of American Rampage. In English, not subtitled. (10 min, 1080p).

• Commentary - in this exclusive new audio commentary, director David DeCoteau and producer Raj Mehrotra go down memory lane and recall how American Rampage was put together. DeCoteau also shares some entertaining stories about his career and the film business during the '80s. The commentary was recorded exclusively for Massacre Video.

• Additional Trailers - additional trailers for the following releases from Massacre Video's Blu-ray catalog:
  
  1. Final Stab
  2. The Devil
  

American Rampage Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

According to David DeCoteau the original idea for American Rampage was to be a low-budget Lethal Weapon, which I can assure you it is not. It is a B-grade G-string action thriller of the type that Andy Sidaris mastered to perfection. This is actually the reason why I would have loved to see these two guys do a project together during the '80s -- they would have done some crazy things to impress. Anyhow, if you have a soft spot for the low-budget fun that Sidaris' films offer, consider picking up a copy of American Rampage for your library. It is included in this release from Massacre Video together with Eames Demetrios' Mind Trap a.k.a. Danger U.S.A.. RECOMMENDED.