Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Deadline Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 1, 2020

While the marketing for 1980’s “Deadline” promises a ghoulish time with nightmare cinema, the actual feature isn’t really about scares at all, at least the genre kind. Writers Richard Oleksiak and Mario Azzopardi (who also directs) aim to take the material into place of psychological horror and commentary, creating a criticism of the scary movie business while they, in a slight way, participate in it. “Deadline” is a fascinating picture, at least when it works up the energy to deliver a challenging assessment of media influence and artistic bankruptcy, creating a grim tale of a slow breakdown endured by a man who’s spent his career inventing torturous situations for others. Overt frights aren’t here, but something interesting is, even if Azzopardi has difficulty keeping the whole thing together at times.

Steven (Stephen Young) is a successful horror novelist who’s also found fame as a screenwriter, adapting his own work, which always pushes the limits on sadistic violence. He’s a parent to three kids he barely has time to enjoy, and a husband to Elizabeth (Sharon Masters), who recognizes the distance between them, gradually pushing away from their marriage. Under pressure from movie producer Burt (Marvin Goldhar), Steven is pushed into coming up with fresh ways to murder characters, but finds his latest work, “Mr. Vampire,” beneath him, looking to explore his creative potential in new ways, away from scary stories. Stuck with writer’s block and feeling stress from all sides, Steven threatens to crack under pressure, soon coming into contact with a tragic event born from his own imagination, changing his life forever.

Steven is a character capable of coming up with incredibly nasty scenes of carnage, and “Deadline” inserts highlights from his career throughout the picture. They’re examples of his limitless imagination for suffering, cooking up a shower of blood for one bather, a fetal suicide scene during a tense delivery for a new mother, and a feeding ritual for a group of cannibalistic nuns. Perhaps the most memorable sequence is found with a punk rock band experimenting with a special frequency that causes human innards to bursts, using a collection of homeless men to practice on. These slices of scariness and extreme gore represent the horror content of “Deadline,” with the audience treated to examples of Steven’s creativity, which has brought him wealth and fame, but also destroyed his spirit and family life, with the rush to deliver greater bodily harm causing him to flame out, threatening his livelihood.

There’s extremity to “Deadline,” but only intermittently. The rest of the story examines his domestic experience, dealing with kids he doesn’t have time to parent, while Elizabeth has turned to drugs to calm her screaming mind, enduring domestic abuses and neglect from Steven, causing a mental snap. All this is compelling if a bit familiar, but the screenplay starts to do something different when Steven visits the college he used to teach at to accept an award. Expecting glory, he receives condemnation from the students, who blast the former professor, arguing his fascination with a macabre is detrimental to society. It’s not a long debate, but it’s enough to add a level of awareness to “Deadline” that keeps it complex, following Steven as he deals with such criticism, even receiving a shot of his own medicine that takes him down a dark path of guilt and shame.

Deadline Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

An introductory note from Vinegar Syndrome shares the news that the "Deadline" Blu-ray was actually sourced from producer Henry Less's personal 35mm print, as the original negative is lost. The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation certainly shows signs of wear and tear, with Vinegar Syndrome electing to keep some of the more severe points of damage instead of offering an artifact-riddled viewing experience. A wise choice. Scratches, speckling, judder are detected, but nothing distracts from the movie, which looks aged but keeps a satisfactory level of detail. Gruesome encounters with horror events retain potency, exploring achievements in special effects and set design. Domestic interiors are displayed, and facial surfaces register as intended. Colors are a tad muted, with slight pinkishness at times, but primaries are compelling, as is the autumnal mood of the effort, which uses lots of grays and browns. Bloody, melted Crayon-like reds are vivid. Delineation is acceptable.

Deadline Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is also challenged by source materials, offering slightly muted and fuzzier dialogue exchanges. Performance choices remain open for inspection, with nothing lost along the way. Scoring cues aren't sharp, but instrumentation is appreciable, and position is respectful, surging during suspense scenes. Atmospherics for classroom and party encounters delivers a feel for group activity. Sound effects are acceptable, amplified for shock value.

Deadline Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "Produce Something Horrific" (12:43, HD) is a chat with producer Henry Less, who describes "Deadline" as an "anti-horror" feature. Less recounts his career, starting off with a company specializing in industrial movies, meeting director Mario Azzopardi in the process, with the young helmer from Malta begging for an opportunity to prove his work ethic. Collecting tax shelter money, Less launched "Deadline," with the script put together in three weeks, while the shoot in Toronto was just as speedy. Less shares how Azzopardi was after subtext with the project, while the producer was trying to pull off messy special effects, also out to hire the band Rough Trade to play the intestine-bursting punk group, confessing his crush on the lead singer. The relationship between Less and Azzopardi was severed during the editing phase, with commercial interests taking over the shaping of the picture, though both men managed to bring the endeavor to the Cannes Film Festival in 1981, where it was promptly ignored. The interviewee is candid about the educational experience of the production, also detailing his career highlights.

• "Embracing the Horror" (14:11, HD) is a calm interview with cinematographer Manfred Guthe, who recounts his early career in Canadian television, eventually switching over to documentaries, helping him advance to the position of cinematographer. His first gig was "The Pit," soon showing interest in "Deadline" and its themes, relating to the material. Stylistic choices are highlighted, and Guthe is candid about the freedom he experienced back in the day, making his own choices in a way that's not allowed in today's digital world. Guthe closes with a discussion of his move to still photography, retrieving control over his images.

• A Trailer isn't included.

Deadline Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Deadline" doesn't take its provocative ideas all the way, getting caught up in Steven's downward spiral after being hit with absolute horror. The feature peters out some before reaching its natural conclusion, keeping the effort away from a truly ideal third act. However, the production doesn't fall apart, with Azzopardi getting competent performances out of his cast, increasing the dramatic potential of the endeavor. And he does well communicating mental anguish, with the screenplay reaching some dark areas as Steven is confronted with his own literary influence and level of responsibility. "Deadline" isn't a scary movie in the traditional sense, digging a little deeper to come up with a tale of horror that's mindful of the most troubling aspects of the genre.