Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Blind Date Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 17, 2019

1984’s “Blind Date” (not to be confused with the 1987 Blake Edwards feature) attempts to pull off a giallo-style atmosphere in the tight confines of Greece, with writer/director Nick Mastorakis liberally lifting from the Italians while setting up a playground of big screen sex and murder is his own backyard. The change is location is interesting but a little awkward, as is much of “Blind Date,” which tries to be a techno-thriller without aiming high enough when it comes to sci-fi devices, and the serial killer side of things isn’t particularly planned out in full. Mastorakis has an idea for a suitable chiller and he’s determined to see it through, masterminding a whodunit that has no defined protagonist, just a pool of morally bankrupt people chasing each other around Athens, with one pushing mental illness into acts of barbarity. It’s an odd movie, and one that’s intermittently entertaining for those who are willing submit to Mastorakis’s dented imagination for cutting-edge terror.

Jonathon (Joseph Bottoms) is an American advertising executive who’s relocated to Athens for a fresh start, carrying on an affair with his secretary, Claire (Kirstie Alley). Jonathon’s life is turned upside down by the possible reemergence of Rachel (Lana Clarkson), a woman from his past who was sexually assaulted while he was forced to watch, unable to shake the image out of his head. Instead of reconnecting with Rachel, Jonathon elects to stalk her, watching the woman in her apartment as she goes about her nightly business. During one peeping mission, Jonathon is discovered and chased into the woods, slamming his face against a tree. Waking up from unconsciousness, Jonathon no longer has working eyesight, forcing him to live life as a blind man, which he can’t deal with. Electing to undergo an experimental procedure from Dr. Steiger (Keir Dullea), Jonathon is fitted for a sonar ocular implant, giving him CompuVision, which permits him to see the world electronically with help from a Sony Walkman. Frying his brain while playing video games, Jonathan is soon able to achieve a heightened sense of the world, picking up on evil plans from a serial killer who uses a scalpel to dice up female victims.

The plot for “Blind Date” is scattered and the screenplay does a poor job juggling ideas, with the whole Rachel ordeal only lightly sketched out despite being a major part of the story. Something awful happened to the woman years ago, with Jonathon unable to stop it, but she’s back in his life as a swimsuit model in Athens, though Mastorakis initially hints that her presence may be some type of hallucination (this potentially intriguing twist is quickly dismissed). It’s the first of many confusing directions for the tale, which eventually moves from a serial killer saga into a tech-savvy thriller, and one with a “hero” who acts reprehensibly. Jonathon spends his evenings peeping on others, mocking a few he finds, excited to find nudity where he goes. He’s in romantic relationship with Claire, who supports her boyfriend no matter what, yet he’s quick to push her aside and stalk Rachel. He’s not even smart with equipment, told by Dr. Steiger to play it cool with his new implants, and one of the first things he does is plug his Atari 2600 into his brain, with “Super Breakout” triggering a seizure.

The CompuVision scenes are the big draw of “Blind Date,” gifting Jonathon a chance to see the world, albeit in vague images tied to the processing power of a Walkman, recording his world on cassette tapes. It’s pure fantasy, and Mastorakis tries to sell the stuffing out of it, tracking Jonathon’s movement as he lusts after Rachel and stumbles into evidence of upcoming murders, even ending up at the top of a tall building, threatening to walk off the roof. It’s certainly entertaining to watch “Blind Date” deal with CompuVision, which empowers the lead character to battle bullies with a lead cane and expand his memory (another idea only loosely defined in the writing). Less enchanting are the murder sequences, and while Mastorakis whips out some Argento colors and tinkers with style, the feature grows repetitive with numerous scenes of the scalpel-wielding monster preparing whimpering women (including Marina Sirtis, from “Star Trek: The Next Generation”) for the kill.

Blind Date Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Billed as a "Brand new 4K scan of the original negative of the director's cut supervised by the director," "Blind Date" offers a AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation. I'm sure this is the finest the feature has looked since its theatrical debut, but there are a few limitations to the viewing event. There's some softness to contend with, but detail is comfortable, capturing facial surfaces and nuances of bared skin. The Greek locations offer dimension when necessary, and costuming retains texture and sheerness. Colors are comfortably refreshed, with emphasis on golden skintones and greenery, which retains natural vibrancy. Local signage and decoration also handle with varied hues. Delineation is adequate. Some mild banding is detected along the way.

Blind Date Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix is lively for a track with some age to it. Dialogue exchanges are intact, securing performance choices, never slipping into distortive extremes with violent encounters. Scoring needs are met, offering a louder synth flow to the suspense of the effort, while soundtrack selections are clear and commanding, sold with agreeable instrumentation. Surrounds aren't aggressive, but some circular activity is present, and a few panning effects keep frontal movement fluid. Low-end is sparse. Sound effects, including chirping video games and brain seizures, are intentionally overwhelming, doing so without painful volume surges. Mild hiss is encountered along the way.

Blind Date Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Theatrical Cut (104:24, SD) is offered.

• Music Videos (6:26, SD) include "Theme Song" by John Kongos and "Main Theme" by Stanley Myers.

• "The Films of Nico Mastorakis" (56:05, SD) is a chance for the helmer to share BTS stories (or "fairy tales" as he calls them) about the pictures he co-created during his career. Mastorakis promises some level of dirt and generally delivers, sharing hardships while making low-budget B-movies, dealing with short schedules and dirty money, with 1982's "Bloodtide" financed via a scam to separate senior citizens from their life savings. Mastorakis doesn't seem too broken up about that revelation. He mentions a brief stint developing projects at Paramount Pictures (where Don Simpson trashed John Carpenter), but mostly remains with his Greek career, including an overview of "Blind Date," revealing that Shannon Tweed was originally cast as Claire, Marina Sirtis was a last-minute replacement for another actress, and a teenage Valeria Golino was hungry for the camera, appearing in the feature's opening swimsuit modeling scene. Mastorakis also includes before-and-after shots of the CompuVision effect, and extended dailies from Kirstie Alley's nude scene.

• Still Gallery (5:33) displays numerous publicity shots and a special Playboy spread celebrating the women of "Blind Date."

• A Theatrical Trailer (1:37, SD), Video Trailer #1 (2:33, SD), and Video Trailer #2 (1:24, SD) are included.

Blind Date Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Blind Date" has the benefit of being European, which helps to cover many issues with the feature. However, the movie isn't paced with any urgency, creating a long journey to an unsatisfying conclusion. "Blind Date" is more enjoyable during certain scenes of prime make-em-up technology and delightful in its quest to make the Atari 2600 some type of extraordinary device capable of mental expansion. With "Adventure," maybe. But not "Super Breakout."