7.4 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
A documentary crew sets out to unravel one of professional wrestling's most closely guarded secrets: is former champion "Mad Dog" Joe DeCurso now wrestling as The Mask?
Starring: Magic Schwarz, Marilyn Dodds Frank, Lydie Denier, Robert Glaudini, Bill Grant (IV)Sport | 100% |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
BDInfo
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Perhaps inspired by the cult success of “This Is Spinal Tap,” director Allan Holzman (“Forbidden World,” “Out of Control”) attempts to mount his own faux documentary with 1985’s “Grunt! The Wrestling Movie.” Instead of sending-up the world of heavy metal music and band dynamics, Holzman turns his attention to professional wrestling, itself a product of manufactured interactions and results. It’s somewhat bold to poke fun at something that isn’t exactly real, but Holzman aims to please with “Grunt! The Wrestling Movie,” working to bring a level of comedic insanity to the screen, pounding viewers with matches and personalities, holding the whole thing together with a story involving one filmmaker’s mission to find the truth in the midst of madness. It’s not especially funny, but the effort is snappily paced and highlights a special time in pro-wrestling when regional organizations were king, about to be demolished by the domination of the World Wrestling Federation, who debuted their “WrestleMania” extravaganza that very same year.
Billed as a "Brand new 2K scan from the original interpositive," "Grunt! The Wrestling Movie" is pulled from obscurity by Scorpion Releasing, who deliver a decent AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation. A low-budget endeavor shot primarily with quaky handheld camerawork, "Grunt" isn't pretty to look at, but modest amounts of detail come through, surveying angry crowds and sweaty wrestlers, some wearing textured makeup and masks. L.A. street scenes are passably dimensional, and wrestling sets are open for inspection. Costuming is also varied but not distinctly fibrous. Colors enjoy brighter primaries on outfits, showing off bright tights and capes. Skintones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Source has some wear and tear, with a few rough reel changes, speckling, and mild scratches. Judder is detected as well.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix tries to manage the inherent chaos of "Grunt! The Wrestling Movie," which is often overwhelmed by the tinny noise of crowd activity, triggering crackly highs during the listening event. Dialogue exchanges are acceptable, finding loud wrestlers intelligible, while the more frantic comedic beats of the picture are preserved. Scoring efforts are thin but acceptable, along with soundtrack selections, which emerge with clarity. Sound effects and atmospherics are blunt. Mild hiss is detected.
"Grunt! The Wrestling Movie" offers silliness as it goes, never taking itself completely serious, and while Holzman doesn't have a firm idea how to create a working "mockumentary," he does have access to enough oddballs and wrestling matches. He saves most of his energy for the final act, which covers the battle royal event, with characters such as Captain Carnage, American Starship Eagle, and The Golden Greek competing with The Mask to claim the belt and Los Angeles glory. Again, camerawork is exceptionally low budget, with Holzman staying outside the ring, letting things happens without interference, hoping to create proper chaos befitting a tale about the madness that is professional wrestling. There have been other pictures made about the industry, showing more interest in technical achievements and journalistic integrity, but "Grunt! The Wrestling Movie" has the advantage of being bizarre (soundtrack selections are all wrestling-themed) and completely of its time, presenting completists with an era-specific look at a boisterous corner of the business.
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