Caged Heat/Jackson County Jail Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

Caged Heat/Jackson County Jail Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 28, 2020

Shout Factory is in a Roger Corman mood, going into the vaults to release titles from the famous producer’s catalog of B-movies, with “Caged Heat” and “Jackson County Jail” offered as a double feature disc for maximum drive-in flavor.

Click here for a review of Caged Heat

Click here for a review of Jackson County Jail

Caged Heat/Jackson County Jail Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

See above for reviews.

Caged Heat/Jackson County Jail Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

See above for reviews.

Caged Heat/Jackson County Jail Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Caged Heat

• Commentary features director Jonathan Demme, cinematographer Tak Fujimoto, and actress Erica Gavin.

• Interview (4:58, SD) is a brief chat with producer Roger Corman, hosted by critic Leonard Maltin. The duo discusses marketing mischief at New World Pictures, with strong poster imagery and weird taglines helping to sell the features to the public. Corman recalls Jonathan Demme's interest in direction, ordering him to work on his women-in-prison tone and surprises to help his debut stand out from the pack. The casting of Barbara Steele is recalled, and Corman details the slow burn success of Demme's career, even invited to participate with cameos in "Philadelphia" and "The Silence of the Lambs."

• Image Gallery (1:46) collects poster art and lobby cards.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (3:05, HD) is included.

Jackson County Jail

• Commentary features director Michael Miller, producer Jeff Begun, and cinematographer Bruce Logan.

• Interview (4:16, SD) is a short conversation between producer Roger Corman and critic Leonard Maltin. The success of "Jackson County Jail" is highlighted, with the feature becoming a financial and critical smash for Corman. The interviewee delves into the tone of the picture, and recaps the plot. Casting highlights are shared, including the addition of Tommy Lee Jones in one of his earliest big screen roles. Corman closes with a discussion of the 1978 television reworking of the film, titled "Outside Chance," and his plans for a remake for 1990s (eventually settling on 1997's "Macon County Line").

• Radio Spots (1:01) deliver two ads for the film.

• T.V. Spot (:23, SD) offers a single commercial for the movie.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:37, SD) is included.

Caged Heat/Jackson County Jail Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The double feature is a little uneven when it comes to visual presentations, but the wildness of filmmaking in the 1970s is preserved, with "Caged Heat" and "Jackson County Jail" supported by decent supplements from previous home media releases, making for an informative and exploitation-y package.