Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		2.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		2.5

Beyond the Mat Blu-ray Movie Review

It's still real to me, dammit.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III December 22, 2023

Perhaps the biggest "smart mark" documentary of its kind and the first released to theaters, Barry Blaustein's Beyond the Mat emerged at the zenith of American pro wrestling's popularity. I was lucky enough to catch it on the big screen in 1999 and it left a big impression, but the film received much more recognition with three later DVDs from Universal. Previously only available separately, Via Vision's new Blu-ray -- which marks Beyond the Mat's HD debut, technically -- includes both the 1.85:1 Theatrical Cut and the open-matte 1.33:1 Director's Cut on a single disc, with key differences detailed in the "Video Quality" section below. The differences in actual content between both versions aren't staggering, but those interested in the specifics can read more at the ever-reliable Movie Censorship database.

Does the film hold up almost 25 years later? What was once touted as a shocking exposé about the dark underbelly of American pro wrestling -- which, at the time, basically included the WWF (during the first years of its popular "Attitude Era"), its then-competitor WCW, and cagey upstart ECW -- now feels more like a quaint time capsule, given the glut of similar "behind the curtain" content produced for YouTube and other platforms. But Beyond the Mat is no less essential now than it was in 1999 as it captures a very specific moment in time when the industry was at a crossroads, similar to the WWF steroid controversy of the 1980s or, well, any other sport undergoing sudden growth or change.

Blaustein's film exaggerates a few elements for dramatic effect but offers a front-row seat for events typically hidden behind closed doors, away from cameras, or even on the pages of a script. Focal points vary, with Beyond the Mat's main narrative following three well-established wrestlers at different stages of their career: perpetually retiring human punching bag Terry Funk, drug-dependent 80s legend Jake "The Snake" Roberts, and comparatively upstart Mick Foley, performing under his "Mankind" gimmick and taking extreme punishment to the crowd's delight. Narrative threads are weaved throughout each one, such as Jake's turbulent relationship with his daughter and Mick Foley's infamous match with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson where things don't quite go according to plan while his family watches in the front row. Other interesting detours are taken, such as the exploits of new WWF wrestler Darren Drozdov (above, and who would be paralyzed before the film's release), the debut of ECW's notorious first pay-per-view event "Barely Legal", young hopefuls Tony Jones and Michael Modest trying to earn a WWF development deal, and more.

Filmed and edited over a three-year period, one could say that director Blaustein just happened to get extremely lucky with Beyond the Mat by being at the right place at the right time. That same observation could also apply to a more well-regarded film like Hoop Dreams, which is obviously more in-depth and made with a more skillful, objective touch. But that doesn't change the reality that Beyond the Mat is also an invaluable slice of sports history, one that documents important events and does so in an often dramatically effective and engaging way. Those new to the documentary -- or the sport, for that matter -- may find themselves lost among a few names that are now closer to footnotes, but its highest (and lowest) points still make Beyond the Mat worth watching more than a quarter-century later.

NOTE: Although marketed as a Region B locked disc, Beyond the Mat loaded successfully in both my region-unlocked LG BP165 Blu-ray player and my Region A-only Sony UBP-X700 4K player.

Beyond the Mat Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Beyond the Mat has never been a good-looking film, but large portions of Via Vision's 1080p transfer -- which mostly apply to the Theatrical Cut -- are ugly in a new and different kind of a way, and possibly more of a sidestep from older DVD editions. Presented in a matted 1.85:1 aspect ratio, the zooming and cropping of low-grade video is obviously only going to make things worse: scuzzy, noisy, and generally soft visuals are pushed to their absolute breaking point during many stretches, rife with heavy macro blocking, occasional combing, and other anomalies that may be baked into the low-res source, with black levels showing regular crush and heavy noise that often overtake darker compositions. In all honesty, this video presentation likely looks worse than you remember because the last time you probably watched Beyond the Mat was on a 25" tube TV that hid most of these faults. Without going into further specifics, the 1.85:1 screenshots in this review (12 total) should give you a good idea of what you're in for, and it ain't pretty.

In contrast, the 1.33:1 open-matte Director's Cut, soft and unremarkable as it is, looks more agreeable on the whole: not only do the compositions have quite a bit more room to breathe, but many of the anomalies described above are less noticeable (and in some cases, not apparent at all). Only one or two 1.33:1 screenshots of this cut (again, 12 total) overlap with the theatrical version so, as before, just trust that they offer a reasonably good representation of what this better-faring but still pretty gnarly visual presentation brings to the table... er, squared circle.

Beyond the Mat Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The generally unremarkable but serviceable stereo track gets a courtesy bump to LPCM 2.0, yielding slight sonic improvements over the DVD's lossy counterpart. Obviously this is a very straightforward presentation with a mostly narrow soundstage and occasional widening in certain settings like crowded arenas or when background music gets a chance to shine. Dialogue is mostly intelligible but, due to source material limitations (some of which seem to be a bit rougher on the Director's Cut, even in scenes shared with the theatrical version), like the visuals it's not always a polished and pretty effort. This is still about as good as Beyond the Mat will ever sound, for what it's worth.

Optional English (SDH) subtitles are included during the Theatrical Cut only, not the Director's Cut. This is somewhat disappointing though, to be fair, previous home video editions didn't include them either.

Beyond the Mat Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This one-disc release ships in a keepcase with a matching glossy slipbox, a deluxe treatment that makes me wish they'd spent the money on commissioning a better-looking cover instead. The interior print simply advertises other Via Vision releases and the disc sits by itself on an interior hub. The bonus features, while entertaining, are limited to a few legacy extras from Universal's 2004 "Ringside Special Edition" DVD, but unfortunately one is missing: a second audio commentary with director Barry Blaustein and wrestler Mick Foley with contributions by Jesse Ventura.

• Audio Commentary - This lone remaining commentary pairs up director Barry Blaustein and wrestler Terry Funk, who provides a lot of interesting information about his life and career, some of which contrast what is seen during the film. From personal memories to candid comments about other featured performers and events, his contributions prove valuable and Blaustein wisely steps back into more of a moderator role for the bulk of this track, occasionally lightly prodding information out of Funk during a few slower moments.

• Dinner With the Guys (16:17) - Presumably taken from the same session as that missing second audio commentary track, this short video interview features Blaustein flanked by legendary wrestlers Mick Foley and then-Governor Jesse Ventura, who similarly provide insight about various stories told in the film as well as their personal lives and careers in general. Like the above commentary, it's well worth a once-over.

• Theatrical Trailer (2:23) - A trailer for the Director's Cut, also available here.

Beyond the Mat Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Barry Blaustein's Beyond the Mat was, at the time of its release, a fairly eye-opening and provocative pro wrestling documentary made near the pinnacle of this sport's unparalleled popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s. I was lucky enough to see it in theaters during the original run and, quite simply, it left a pretty strong impression thanks to no shortage of unforgettable moments. Today it plays more like a quaint time capsule, yet one that's no less valuable because so many in the industry are in much different places now than in 1999... and in several cases, have passed away or long since retired. Hard to believe it's taken more than two decades for this film to reach HD, but unfortunately Via Vision's Blu-ray -- which presents both the Theatrical and Director's Cuts on one disc -- is something of a letdown, as its barely-better A/V merits and incomplete collection of bonus features make this import more of a sidestep than a replacement for earlier DVD editions. Perhaps only worth it for Beyond the Mat's most die-hard fans.