Danger USA Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

Danger USA Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov February 23, 2020

Eames Demetrios's " Mind Trap" (1989) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Massacre Video. There are no supplemental features on the disc. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

My first attempt to get to the end of Eames Demetrios’ film occurred a week ago, rather late at night, while my mind was slowly drifting away and my body was giving me signs to let me know that enough is enough and I had to go to bed. So, I did give up on it and decided to see it again a few days later. My second viewing of the film happened this weekend, but once again, about forty or so minutes into it, I felt lost and could not quite tell what was going on. So, for a second time I concluded that it would be best to see it at a different time.

Today, I had my third viewing of the film, and this time I stayed with it until the final credits popped up on my screen. Now I have a pretty good idea what takes place in the film, or at least I think I do, but I am also convinced that it does not matter much if any of the details that I apparently keep missing remained unclear. Here’s why:

First, Massacre Video’s release promotes the film as Danger USA, but after my multiple experiences with it I think that the other title that Demetrios, or some of the producers, attached to it back in the late ‘80s when it emerged is a lot more appropriate: Mind Trap. It is obvious why, right? Because this film definitely pushed my mind into a trap that I had to work extra hard to get out of.

Second, I am beginning to think that the film was in fact conceived as a mental puzzle or trap that is supposed to do things to the mind, not just temporarily pull it out of its reality. No, this film isn’t one of those intellectual mind-benders that are so smart that at the end you walk away from it with a headache, but it plays with your perception of time and other things and this game creates quite a surreal atmosphere.

The film’s story involves actors and illusions as well, so in a way it is about the art of selling a giant play. At the center of it is action star Shana (Martha Kincare) who becomes a target for an unknown assassin and then somehow falls into a mind trap of her own where the real and the unreal begin overlapping in some pretty bizarre ways. Now, here’s the crucial detail that transforms the film into the puzzle that it is: Shana actually possesses important information about some ‘Dream Room’ that her father, a renowned scientist, was experimenting with, and there are foreign agents and terrorist trying to reach it because it may hold the key to immortality. While Shanna faces these unfriendly characters, her reality begins to look a lot like the films she has appeared in.

How does the above description sound to you? Intriguing? Incoherent? Silly? Well, this is exactly what makes the film so difficult to figure out – it could be all three, but there is always something else happening that will make it awfully difficult for you to decide. Suffice to say, this isn’t a wild experimental film that simply pulls in different directions at the same time and then calls it a day. No, there is structure and a mystery element that keeps the action appear meaningful.

The production qualities are very modest, which makes it easy to tell that Demetrios had a small budget to work with, but the film is edited well and for the most part looks rather good.

Alan DerMarderosian, who worked on the genre favorite Willard, apparently created the soundtrack for the film.

Danger USA Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.33:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Mind Trap arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Massacre Video.

I had never seen this film before, so I don't know what its intended aspect ratio is supposed to be. All I can say is that it looks very good in the current 1.33:1 ratio. The entire film was also remastered, so it looks healthy and very stable. There are no traces of compromising digital work and as result the visuals have a pleasing organic appearance. The source that was used to produce the new master does have some minor limitations -- primarily in terms of density and delineation -- but there is nothing that would negatively affect your viewing experience. So, as it is I think that the current presentation makes it quite easy to enjoy, or as it was in my case get lost in, the film.

Danger USA Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The audio is clear and easy to follow. It is very clean too. From to time some small unevenness is pops up here and there, but it is not distracting. The audio could be slightly better rounded and even fuller, but I think that it was transferred simply as it is on the existing elements.

Danger USA Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There are no special features.

Danger USA Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Eames Demetrios' Danger U.S.A. a.k.a. Mind Trap appears on this double-feature release together with David DeCoteau's American Rampage, and it is one of the strangest films that I have seen in quite some time. I can't say yet that I liked it because I am not convinced that I get the meaning of all of its tiny twists, but I had a pretty good time with it. It is crazier than I initially thought, funnier too, so if you have a soft spot for low-budget oddities as I do, give it a try. RECOMMENDED.