Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

Double Exposure Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 24, 2017

1983’s “Double Exposure” attempts to cash in on the rise of sexually-minded thrillers, following the lead of Brian De Palma’s work from the era, though writer/director William Byron Hillman doesn’t share the same flair for screen style and gonzo plotting. While the feature is far from tasteful, there’s a certain stability to the effort that doesn’t boost its desire to be a chiller that toys with psychological fracture and ghoulish murder sequences, with Hillman holding most of his attention on tepid characterization, which doesn’t unleash frights. “Double Exposure” is best appreciated in select scenes where insanity takes over, watching Hillman attempt to visualize oddball plans for homicide, and there’s a defined exploitation atmosphere to the picture that keeps it salacious enough to pass. However, when considering what Hillman is trying to accomplish here, it’s bizarre to watch the endeavor slow down to smell the roses when there’s significant B-movie work to be done.

Adrian (Michael Callan) is a freelance photographer who lives to work with comely models, making a name for himself for stylish, consistent work, and his pushy way with subjects, getting them to do what’s necessary for the moment. Adrian is having trouble maintaining his sanity lately, fearing that his dreams, where he viciously murders the women he’s shooting, are becoming a reality, with a serial killer on the loose in L.A. Unable to find help from his therapist (Seymour Cassel), Adrian seeks comfort with brother B.J. (James Stacy), a stunt man who’s regained his confidence after an accident took an arm and a leg. Adrian and B.J. have a deep love for women, spending their nights flirting and enjoying affairs, but when Mindy (Joanna Pettet) enters the photographer’s life, he can’t shake her, falling in love while he begins to fear his own actions. On the case are cops Fontain (Pamela Hensley) and Buckhold (David Young), who lost one of their own to the killer, working with their hostile police chief (Cleavon Little) to tighten investigative efforts.

Appreciating the many moods of Adrian takes considerable work in “Double Exposure.” He’s not the most complicated character, and his moodiness tries patience. It’s difficult to grasp what Hillman was hoping to achieve with the photographer, who is rather oily around women, especially the models who work for him, with his pushy attitude and tricks of manipulation displayed throughout the film, along with his obsession with flirtations, knocking on every door imaginable knowing that some poor lady will eventually answer. It’s difficult to buy Adrian as a sex machine, but Hillman keeps the middle-aged man busy in bed throughout “Double Exposure,” giving the feature enough nudity to qualify as a late night cable staple, but there are moments where his magnetism is hard to believe, including his initial meeting with Mindy, where he literally begs her for a date. That she agrees to go out with this badgering stranger technically classifies the picture as sci-fi.

“Double Exposure” is really two different movies stitched together, with the dominate story remaining with Adrian and B.J., two brothers trying to decode their bond during a stressful period of both their lives. The screenplay spends a lot of time on the relationship, with Hillman trying to find a level of intimacy that might secure the effort’s weird scenes of violence. Performances are meaty and obvious, but Stacy is certainly trying to remain present, while Callan receives the more theatrical part, ranting and raving between bedroom sessions, and one scene is specifically designed to give the actor his moment in the sun, playing a Gollum-like moment where Adrian referees an argument between his dual personalities. The slasher elements of “Double Exposure” are more cartoonish, with Hillman sweating to keep up with genre standards by imagining goofy ways for models to die. One water-wary victim clad in lingerie is improbably harpooned by a pool skimmer, while another, slightly more aware lady is tricked into putting her head into a garbage bag, soon joined by a venomous snake. Other, more primitive deaths are encountered during the endeavor, preserving the only mystery of the piece: why wouldn’t this lady just pull the garbage bag off her head? Er, I mean, who’s actually doing the killing? Adrian is just one of many suspects to choose from.

Star power is lacking throughout “Double Exposure,” but Little does his best with next to nothing as the police chief, spending his screen time screaming at the weirdly thick cops, giving some loudness to a subplot that’s not a priority to Hillman. Cassel and former “Saturday Night Live” cast member Victoria Jackson appear briefly as well. Most curious is an appearance by Sally Kirkland, who portrays a highly motivated prostitute the unseen killer slaughters in the shadows. Aspiring actors, please keep this in mind: Kirkland went from playing a panty-exposing hooker with a back alley as her “office” to an Oscar nomination for a lead performance (for 1987’s “Anna”) in just four years. Don’t give up on your dreams.

Double Exposure Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"Newly scanned and restored in 2K from 35mm original camera negative," "Double Exposure" arrives on Blu-ray with an AVC encoded image (2.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation. Offering a clean and clear look at the feature (with cinematographic limitations), Vinegar Syndrome preserves a healthy amount of detail, with skin particulars especially vivid here, delivering a full read of frequently nude performers, while exteriors retain deep distances, securing urban decoration and community park expanse. Colors are refreshed superbly, finding most inspiration with period clothing, which handles with tasteful primaries and wilder disco hues. Greenery is precise, along with skintones. Delineation is secure, refusing solidification. Grain is fine and filmic. Source is in ideal shape, without distracting points of damage.

Double Exposure Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 1.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix provides a smooth listening event for "Double Exposure," leading with Jack Goga's surprisingly advanced score, which supports the action and conjures mood through crisp instrumentation, balanced well with dramatic elements. Dialogue exchanges are tight, handling age well as emotional surges fail to fuzz out and softer sexual moments retain their intended purr. Atmospherics are satisfactory, and sound effects retain snap.

Double Exposure Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features writer/director William Byron Hillman.

• Isolated Score Track includes music from composer Jack Goga.

• "Exposing 'Double Exposure'" (29:27, HD) is a lengthy conversation with cinematographer R. Michael Stringer, who delves deeply into his early career, highlighting his rise in the industry and his work on "Double Exposure." Stringer attempts to remain positive about the movie, but it's clear a few technical limitations still bother him.

• "Staying on Task" (19:21, HD) features script supervisor Sally Stringer, who also discusses her early years working Off-Broadway and her initial visits to Los Angeles, where she met and married R. Michael. Stringer explains what a script supervisor does and shares memories of working with Orson Welles, also offering some anecdotes about the making of "Double Exposure."

• Promotional Still Gallery presents 14 images (including newspaper ads) from the feature's initial theatrical release.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:50, HD) is included.

Double Exposure Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Double Exposure" isn't an effective fright film, but there are other elements to celebrate while suspense sputters. Amazingly, for a movie from 1983, there's a pronounced disco ambiance, with Adrian and B.J. prowling for females at a local club, content to harass these poor women and boogie the night away. And there's a mud wrestling sequence, with B.J. going up against the female champion. Period ornamentation is amusing, and keeps the feature moving along as it figures out what to do with the central mystery. "Double Exposure" ends up more deflated than disastrous, but it's seldom boring, as Hillman has a vague notion of what a picture of this temperament requires to hold viewer attention.