Body Parts 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		0.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Body Parts 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov April 21, 2025

Eric Red's "Body Parts" (1991) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include archival audio commentary by Eric Red; archival program with editor Anthony Redman; archival program with Paul Ben-Victor; deleted footage with optional audio commentary; vintage promotional materials; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

What are you?

A lot of people rush to dismiss Eric Red’s Body Parts as an average at best B-film rehashing familiar material and producing visual treats that are not quite as exciting as they could have been. I am unsure if I agree. It is true that Body Parts does not do any of the things David Cronenberg’s chillers are famous for, but this is entirely by design. Indeed, despite being released in 1991, Body Parts was conceived to deliver mostly campy fun that was very popular during the 1980s, which is the very reason why Jeff Fahey was cast to be its star. A serious Cronenberg-esque chiller would have never tolerated Fahey because during the late 1980s and especially the 1990s, when he peaked, he had mastered a look and presence before the camera that were perfect for very particular genre films, all of which were B-films. Understanding this and accepting that B-film is not synonymous with mediocre film can make it much easier to see Body Parts from the right angle and appreciate what it does.

But I will concede that there is a valid reason why many people compare Body Parts to other similar, much bigger films and inevitably conclude that it could have been better. At least initially, Body Parts was promoted as a proper big studio film, so the expectations for it were different. Body Parts landed where it belonged only after it was released on VHS. Interestingly, but also not surprisingly, the other well-known similar genre film with Fahey that came after Body Parts, Brett Leonard’s The Lawnmower Man, had an identical fate.

While driving on the highway, criminal psychologist Bill Chrushank (Fahey) has a terrible accident that leaves him with a crushed arm. Chrushank is quickly transported to a nearby medical facility where Dr. Agatha Webb (Lindsay Duncan) convinces his wife, Karen (Kim Delaney), to approve an advanced, very risky transplant surgery that can provide him with a new arm. The removal of Crushank’s crushed arm and its replacement with a new arm are managed brilliantly by Dr. Webb, and soon after, a complex rehabilitation program, also overseen by her, is initiated. However, after completing the rehabilitation program, reuniting with his family, and resuming his teaching duties, Chrushank begins experiencing intense nightmares coupled with periods during which he loses control of his new arm. Initially perplexed and then concerned, Chrushank discovers that his new arm came from a convicted murderer, and while researching his history, his life spins out of control.

Body Parts is allergic to realism, but this is not a weakness its screenwriters could and should have avoided. The opposite is true. Body Parts could and should have been a more outlandish, more unrealistically graphic film, similar to Bill Lustig’s Maniac Cop, embracing its B-film identity, rather than attempting to blur it with a fair amount of conventional drama and restrained acting. Fahey is good as the terrified recipient of the evil arm, but there is a lot of material with him where he forces his character to behave as if he is in a bigger, more complex, and realistic film. I think that this is the source of all troubles in Body Parts because it prevents Red from switching and staying in an anything-goes mode that would have produced superior fireworks.

Red worked with Dutch-born cinematographer Theo van de Sande, who had recently lensed Steve De Jarnatt’s cult hit Miracle Mile. Even though Body Parts had a bigger budget, Miracle Mile is far more diverse, much better looking film.

Body Parts 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Kino Lorber's release of Body Parts is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. However, Body Parts is made available only on the 4K Blu-ray disc. The Blu-ray disc has only bonus features.

Please note that all screencaptures included with this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray and downscaled to 1080p. They do not accurately reflect the quality of the 4K content on the 4K Blu-ray.

Body Parts can be viewed with Dolby Vision and HDR grades. I chose to view it in its entirety with Dolby Vision and thought that the overall quality of its visuals was pretty spectacular. Many of these visuals are quite dark too, so there are some tricky areas that could have presented some challenges but looked fantastic on my system. Color reproduction and balance are terrific. I have a couple of older Blu-ray releases of the film in my library and did not pull them out to do comparisons because all primaries and supporting nuances were excellent everywhere I looked. Unsurprisingly, with the expanded color gamut of the 4K presentation, the dynamic range of the visuals is quite striking, too. I did not see any traces of compromising digital corrections or encoding anomalies. On my system, the entire film had a very attractive, very convincing and stable organic appearance.

Body Parts 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on the 4K Blu-ray: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

I viewed the entire film with the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. track. It is a great lossless track, consistently producing diverse dynamic movement and proper strength, allowing the action material to be as effective as possible. The dialog is always clear and easy to follow, too. I don't think there is room for any meaningful improvements on it.

Body Parts 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary - this audio commentary was recorded by co-writer and director Eric Red. I found it to be quite interesting for several different reasons. For example, it is very honest, highlighting some of the strengths and some of the weaknesses of Body Parts, and at the same time illuminating about the now gone old standards for horror/exploitation films in Hollywood. Also, Red explains that the original intent was to make the film very gory, which was surprising because I always felt that it could have gone much further with the excess. Red has great words for producer Frank Mancuso Jr., who was appropriately enthusiastic about the film and always welcomed new ideas.

BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary - this audio commentary was recorded by co-writer and director Eric Red. I found it to be quite interesting for several different reasons. For example, it is very honest, highlighting some of the strengths and some of the weaknesses of Body Parts, and at the same time illuminating about the now gone old standards for horror/exploitation films in Hollywood. Also, Red explains that the original intent was to make the film very gory, which was surprising because I always felt that it could have gone much further with the excess. Red has great words for producer Frank Mancuso Jr., who was appropriately enthusiastic about the film and always welcomed new ideas.

• Deleted Footage - presented here are two very gory scenes that did not make it to the final version of Body Parts. Eric Red explains why they were removed. In English, not subtitled. (10 min).

• Deleted Footage with Commentary - the same gory scenes that did not make it to the final version of Body Parts are presented here is with audio commentary by Eric Red. In English, not subtitled. (10 min).

• Interview with Eric Red - in this archival program, Eric Red explains how he fell in love with genre films, how he entered the film industry, and how Body Parts came to exist. Also, Red shares plenty of information about the pre-design and lensing of various sequences, as well as how the suspense was managed with specific framing choices throughout the entire film. In English, not subtitled. (53 min).

• Interview with Editor Anthony Redman - in this archival program, editor Anthony Redman discusses his background and work on Body Parts. Redman also reveals that during an early screening of the film, attended by studio execs, there were completely different takes on what worked and did not in it. In English, not subtitled. (23 min).

• Interview with Actor Paul Ben-Victor - in this archival program, Paul Ben-Victor reveals that he wanted to be a drummer while growing up, but ended up being an actor. Ben-Victor also recalls his involvement with Body Parts and comments on Eric Red's directing methods. In English, not subtitled. (14 min).

• Interview with Actor Peter Murnik - in this archival program, Peter Murnik explains how he learned to live with the reoccuring rejections he experienced in the film industry and discusses his contribution to Body Parts. Murnik also comments on Eric Red's directing methods. In English, not subtitled. (18 min).

• Stills Gallery - presenetd here is a collection of promotional stills from Body Parts. Silent. (3 min).

• Trailer - presenetd here is an original trailer for Body Parts. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• TV Spots - preseneted here are a couple of original TV spots for Body Parts. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

Body Parts 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Even though Body Parts was conceived with different expectations and shot with a substantially bigger budget, it is a B-film whose primary audience was the one that Maniac Cop targeted. I like it and think that it works well. However, I feel that it should have been a freer film with stronger exploitation genes. Kino Lorber's combo pack offers a great presentation of Body Parts on 4K Blu-ray, but the Blu-ray has only a nice selection of archival bonus features. Keep this in mind if you do not have a 4K system yet. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.