F/X2 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

F/X2 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 2 Blu-ray review of that edition provides a plot recap, list of supplements and Michael's reaction to the technical presentation.

F/X2 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

F/X 2 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.

Again judging by the completely nonscientific method of screenshot comparison, this appears to be substantially similar to the Region A Kino Lorber release in terms of overall color timing, but as with Arrow's version of F/X, this sequel also looks somewhat darker to me than the old Kino Lorber release, for what that's worth. The palette is very nicely suffused for the most part (as Michael mentions, the bizarre orange-red clown hair is a real standout), and detail levels are also commendable throughout, at least in closer framings when there's not a ton of action in the frame. I noticed very little age related wear and/or tear, and so again assume that perhaps part of R3Store's regimen was to remove such problems. Grain resolves without any issues.

F/X2 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

F/X 2 features an LPCM 2.0 track that as with the first film I suspect is very similar to the Kino Lorber's DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 offering. One way or the other, to continue my probably dated early stereo technology references (see my F/X Blu-ray review for "part one"), there is a kind of "Enoch Light" sound design here, with ping ponging effects and some fairly wide imaging. The big effects scenes play very well and can also offer at least bursts of lower frequency explosions and the like. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.

F/X2 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentary by Dan Martin and Jen Handorf


• Art and Illusion (HD; 16:50) is a 2024 interview with special make-up effects artist Eric Allard.


• F/X Magic (HD; 12:10) is a visual essay by Heather Wixson.


• The Australian Invasion (HD; 14:02) is a visual essay by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas.


• The Making of F/X 2 (HD; 6:32) is an archival EPK.


• Behind the Scenes (HD; 3:03) is more archival EPK material.


• Inside Eric Allard's Workshop (HD; 9:50) offers some never before seen material.


• Trailers

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




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

• Image Gallery (HD)

F/X2 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It's probably unsurprising that this sequel struggles at times to provide the same concatenation of conspiracy and a "particular set of skills", but the more prominent pairing of Brown and Dennehy in this effort goes a surprisingly long way on its own. Technical merits are generally solid and as usual Arrow has aggregated some appealing on disc supplements. Recommended.