F/X Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

F/X Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman June 3, 2025

Note: This version of this film is available on Blu-ray as part of Arrow's F/X & F/X 2: The Grande Illusion set.

There have been any number of both small screen and feature film properties wherein some unusual civilian type is somehow secretly conscripted to work for (sometimes shadowy) governmental coteries, since the Everyday Joe (and/or Jill) has a "particular set of skills" that will come in handy for whatever is on tap. In that regard, the "high concept" of both F/X films might be thought of as a weird combo platter of elements from a television series like It Takes a Thief and what might be called (perhaps semi-appropriately given the foregoing use of "platter") the "flip side" of Argo. The first part of this "recipe", namely the old Robert Wagner show, is relevant since Wagner's character Alexander Mundy was in fact a thief who went to work for the government, utilizing his burglary skills in any number of Mission: Impossible adventures, certainly a seemingly unlikely partnership based on a very unique skill set. Something at least a bit similar is on hand with regard to the first F/X film, though instead of a thief, "officials" want to hire a special effects wizard to help them fake the "murder" of a mobster who has turned informant. That aspect may then offer a bit of a mirror image of Argo, which of course offered a bunch of undercover operatives posing as a film crew, with this film reversing that and making focal character and film crew specialist Rollie Tyler (Bryan Brown) into a quasi-spy, once he finds out his original task was something of a setup. The second film may frankly struggle a bit to recapture the "magic" (special effects or otherwise) of a very specific setup, but it has its own pleasures, including an arguably more central teaming of Bryan Brown and Brian Dennehy than the first film offered.

F/X had a Region A release courtesy of Kino Lorber around a decade ago, and Michael Reuben's F/X Blu-ray review of that edition provides a plot recap, list of supplements and Michael's reaction to the technical presentation.

F/X Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

F/X is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. Arrow's insert booklet lumps both films together on the page devoted to the presentations:

F/X and F/X 2 are presented in their original 1.85:1 aspect ratio with original stereo audio.

The high definition feature masters were supplied by MGM via Park Circus.

Additional picture restoration was completed by R3Store Studios.

Michael was generally well pleased with the old Region A Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, but he did mention some issues with minor age related wear and tear, and I suspect part of R3Store's efforts may have been to ameliorate some of those issues, as I noticed very few blemishes throughout the presentation. The palette is reasonably vivid, though as Michael mentions in his review, the production design here including cinematography isn't especially "showy" despite a presumed "effects extravaganza" subtext. There are certainly moments of significant if transitory pop, as in the big parking lot explosion scene. Detail levels are generally very good throughout. Based solely on screenshots (always risky, I know), it does look like this Arrow presentation is somewhat darker than the Kino Lorber, but I didn't really notice any huge deficits in shadow detail. Grain can be a little "swarmy" looking at times, but resolves without any major issues.

F/X Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

F/X features an LPCM 2.0 track that I suspect is very similar to the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track Kino Lorber offered on their 1080 release for Region A. As Michael mentions in his review, stereo imaging is certainly not at (to allude to an early stereo LP pioneer) "Enoch Light" levels, but there is discernable separation at least intermittently. Despite the lack of super wide imaging, the track offers secure fidelity, with both sound effects and Bill Conti's enjoyable underscore resonating perfectly well. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.

F/X Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentaries

Mike White




Daniel Martin and Jennifer Handorf

• The F/X of F/X (HD; 15:11) is a 2024 interview with special make-up effects supervisor Carl Fullerton.


• F/X Illusions (HD; 12:22) is a visual essay by Heather Wixson.


• Murder by Illusion (HD; 13:51) is an archival interview with director Robert Mandel.


• The Making of F/X (HD; 14:11) is an archival EPK.


• Trailers

F/X: Murder by Illusion (HD; 2:36)




F/X 2: The Deadly Art of Illusion (HD; 1:52)

• Original Production Notes (HD)


• Original Sales Sheet (HD)


• Image Gallery (HD)

F/X Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

F/X is frankly kind of ludicrous and exciting in equal measure, but it has an economy of presentation that benefits its "high concept" immensely, and the twists and turns are in their own way rather like an updated version of The Sting. Technical merits are generally solid and as usual Arrow has aggregated some appealing on disc supplements. Recommended.