Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Cloak & Dagger 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 28, 2022

1982 was a big year for actor Henry Thomas, who wowed the world with his marvelous performance in Steven Spielberg’s masterpiece, “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.” 1983 was a big year for director Richard Franklin, who managed to beat dismal expectations and provide a reasonable ride with “Psycho II,” immersing himself in Hitchcock fandom and technique, emerging with a surprise hit. 1984 paired Franklin and Thomas for “Cloak & Dagger,” which endeavored to merge spunky kid film fun with a Hitchcockian thriller, using the popular worlds of video games and unsupervised children to inspire a strange combination of juvenile antics and adult intensity. Franklin and screenwriter Tom Holland don’t seem to care about the target demographic for “Cloak & Dagger,” charging ahead with a collection of life-and-death moments, many of which involve an 11-year-old boy and the dangers of his imagination. It’s a tonal tightrope walk for the production, and while Franklin struggles a bit with pacing, he remains committed to a real sense of danger, giving the effort unusual tension.

Young Davey (Henry Thomas) lives in a world of video games and role-playing games, often joined by Jack Flack (Dabney Coleman), his imaginary superspy partner. Davey has retreated into fantasy to help him cope with losing his mother, adding stress to his father, Hal (Coleman), a military man losing patience with his son’s games. When Davey and his friend, Kim (Christina Nigra), visit a tech company to pick up plans for video game store owner Morris (Bill Forsythe), the boy is put into immediate jeopardy when he witnesses a murder, handed a “Cloak & Dagger” video game cartridge by the dying man. With Hal at work, Davey is pushed into spy mode by Jack Flack, who joins the boy on a mission to figure out what’s hidden in the game, and avoid contact with the malevolent spies on his trail.

Franklin and Holland remain in Hitchcock mode with this adaptation of a Cornell Woolrich story, playing with extraordinary circumstances featuring an innocent and overwhelmed character. Davey is a child, but he’s been toughened by life’s cruelties and trained by his games, living in his own spy world with Jack Flack, who’s something of a father figure for the boy. “Cloak & Dagger” respects this distorted reality with some decidedly ‘80s elements, including Davey’s love of missions, brandishing a realistic water pistol in public spaces, maintaining secret communication with Kim, who, amusingly, remains friends with the psychologically shattered kid because he “isn’t boring.” Murder kicks things off in “Cloak & Dagger,” with Davey witnessing a shooting that puts an Atari game cartridge (referred to as a “tape” in the film) into his hands, commencing a fresh contest of intrigue that plays to his obsessions, only the stakes are real, putting himself in harm’s way with an item he doesn’t understand.

“Cloak & Dagger” has the raw materials for a sustained nail-biter, but production isn’t that eager. Time is spent on Davey’s distance from Hal, with the characters unsure how to communicate anymore after suffering a terrible personal loss. The spy game is also slow cooked by Holland, who doesn’t invest in multiple set pieces, preferring a growing sense of danger as the bad guys increase the deadliness of their attacks, often pointing guns and brandishing knives at Davey in public to retrieve the cartridge. “Cloak & Dagger” doesn’t take it easy on the kids, with violence common, but it also doesn’t snowball into a more powerful understanding of danger. The film could use some editorial tightening, but Hitchcockian elements are defined, helping the feature dial up suspense as Davey interacts with cruel villains in this hard-PG world.

Cloak & Dagger 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screenshots are taken from the Blu-ray release.

The UHD release of "Cloak & Dagger" from Vinegar Syndrome returns the title to disc after its initial 2004 DVD, now listed as "fully restored from its 35mm camera negative." Obviously, this is a huge leap in quality from previous home entertainment releases of the picture, and the UHD viewing experience is wonderfully film-like, with heavy grain throughout. Detail is excellent, exploring facial surfaces and costuming, which remains fibrous, doing well with Jack Flack's thick leather gear. San Antonio locations are dimensional, and interiors are open for study, including mall shops and household decoration. Colors are pleasingly refreshed, with rich greenery and bright primaries. Costuming carries period hues, and the woodsy interiors of the game store are preserved. Highlights aren't overpowering, with crisper exteriors and explosions. Skintones are natural. Delineation is strong, preserving evening adventures. Source is in good condition.

Cloak & Dagger 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix provides sharp dialogue exchanges, with a wider sense of dramatic intensity and ideal intelligibility for quieter emotional moments. Scoring cues are crisply defined, delivering fresh support for suspense sequences with pronounced volume. Instrumentation is appreciable. Sound effects retain snap, and atmospherics secure crowd bustle and room tone.

Cloak & Dagger 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet (42 pages) contains an essay by Justin LaLiberty and an interview with writer Tom Holland.

• Commentary features writer Tom Holland.

• "Konami Codes & Cult Classics" (28:21, HD) is a making-of for "Cloak & Dagger," featuring interviews with writer Tom Holland, casting director Jackie Burch (audio only), second assistant director Alan B. Curtiss, and actors Michael Murphy and Tammy Hyler. Holland details his early career struggles, trying to find his way in Hollywood, eventually receiving a major break when he was hired to write "Psycho II," working with director Richard Franklin. The pair created an unlikely critical and commercial success, inspiring Universal Pictures to continue the partnership on "Cloak & Dagger." Memories of the helmer are shared, with Hyler actually employed as a babysitter for Franklin's kids, rewarded with a career boost when she needed it. Holland explores the writing process, tapping into video game culture and Hitchcock-ian thrills, and time in San Antonio is remembered, fighting the heat. Casting is celebrated, including Henry Thomas, fresh off his "E.T." success. Talk of Dabney Coleman is much more careful, suggesting the beloved actor didn't suffer fools during the shoot. The tone of "Cloak & Dagger" is analyzed, and the film's cult longevity is identified, becoming a big deal after it debuted on pay cable.

• "Loud and Clear" (14:19, HD) is an interview with actor Henry Thomas, who was thrust into fame after his global success with "E.T." Handed a five-picture deal with Universal Pictures, Thomas was positioned for "The Window," a Hitchcockian project that eventually became "Cloak & Dagger." Now a movie star, Thomas was shadowed by writers to capture his personality and interests as a 12-year-old boy, and part of the shoot took place in his hometown of San Antonio, making things fun for the actor. Stunt work is detailed, and co-stars are fondly recalled, with the interviewee recalling his growing pains when dealing with the crisp professionalism of Dabney Coleman.

• Interview (5:07, SD) is a chat with director Richard Franklin from a 1984 press event, conducted by seasoned junketeer Bobbie Wygant.

• Interview (13:35, SD) is a 2001 talk with director Richard Franklin.

• "Then & Now" (4:19, HD) is a split-screen comparison video for "Cloak & Dagger," matching scenes from the 1984 film with the San Antonio locations as they are today.

• "The Arcade Workshop Chronicles" (30:18, HD) is an episode of the YouTube show, with host Cassandra Chiles (aka "The Vintage Arcade Gal") exploring the history of Atari and movie tie-in games, also detailing her work to restore an original "Cloak & Dagger" arcade cabinet.

• Still Gallery (4:22) collects publicity stills, BTS snaps, and poster art.

• T.V. Spots (1:05, SD) offer two commercials for "Cloak & Dagger."

• A Theatrical Trailer isn't included on this release.

Cloak & Dagger 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Despite some sluggishness, "Cloak & Dagger" is very entertaining, with Thomas capably selling Davey's confusion and occasional bursts of spy activity, bringing needed feeling to the part. He's matched by Coleman, who gets to do something different here in a dual role, and Holland supports him with his examination of parental exasperation and heroic presence, adding to the mental health aspect of the writing. The overall insanity of the threats facing the characters plays very differently in 2022 than it did in 1984, but "Cloak & Dagger" maintains intriguing interest in creating authentic peril for the players in this dangerous game, giving the production a level of severity unusual to family entertainment, keeping things interesting.