Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Handgun Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 10, 2024

In one of those weird trends that developed marketplace power during the 1970s and ‘80s, revenge stories involving sexual assault became a thing for producers looking to make a quick buck by focusing on female suffering. It’s an uncomfortable subgenre, with debatable empowerment claims, inspiring more than a few duds, but cash collected by movies such as “I Spit on Your Grave” and “Ms. 45” kept the pictures coming, including 1983’s “Deep in the Heart” (a.k.a. “Handgun,” which is the title on the Blu-ray presentation). Instead of going ugly with the endeavor, writer/director Tony Garnett approaches the horrors of violence from a different angle, and he’s not exclusively interested in tormenting his lead character as she’s emotionally and physically destroyed by a cruel male companion. “Deep in the Heart” has an appreciation of pain, but it’s also interested in Texas culture as it deals with gun ownership, fragile masculinity, and the mental illness. It’s fascinating feature for the most part, with Garnett genuinely doing something different with the material, creating a chilling snapshot of male insecurity and manipulation that remains frighteningly relevant today.

Moving from Massachusetts to Dallas, Texas, Kathleen (Karen Young) is a high school teacher happy with her life and job. She’s friends with colleague Nancy (Suzie Humphreys), who’s married to Chuck (Ben Jones), and he has an office pal in Larry (Clayton Day), a smooth-talking attorney interested in getting to know Kathleen. Larry starts slowly, looking to impress Kathleen with his knowledge of guns and Texas history, pushing for dates with the somewhat reluctant young woman. Kathleen just wants fun, but Larry demands a more sexual relationship, and one night he decides to take by force what he’s been refused. With no family to rely on, Kathleen is pushed through the law enforcement system, finding no help, and she gradually retreats from everyone, becoming angry and confused. Electing to strengthen herself, the teacher joins the local gun club, learning to handle and fire weapons, participating in the male-dominated hobby, with the organization also including Larry amongst their members. Sharpened into a killing machine, Kathleen has a special form of revenge in mind as she displays her training, turning to intimidation to make sure her attacker understands what’s coming for him if he chooses to reengage.

What’s immediately striking about “Deep in the Heart” is Garnett’s documentary-style filmmaking approach. He makes a spare feature here, and one that employs acting novices and public events to generate a feeling of normality to Kathleen’s new world in Texas. It’s an observational approach to the material, encouraging some level of reality for at least the first hour of the picture, which details the Boston native’s immersion in daily life and her relationships with friends. She’s homesick, making a call to her Catholic parents who share their love and support her return to weekly mass, but Kathleen is now on her own, finding friends in Nancy and Chuck, who are ready to facilitate a meeting between the teacher and Larry. It all seems casual at first, but “Deep in the Heart” doesn’t try to hide Larry’s salacious ways, as he volunteers to put on a gun history lesson for Kathleen’s classroom, arriving during a pep rally where he’s quick to lustfully gaze at cheerleaders and check out female students in the hallway.

Larry’s a strange guy, or perhaps he’s just an average Texan, quick to explain handgun history to his date, sharing his love for John Wayne and thoughts on the “frontier spirit” of the state, including his rejection of welfare. Garnett returns to this thinking throughout “Deep in the Heart,” also developing what becomes a one-sided relationship between Kathleen and Larry, with the teacher not interested in dating the lawyer after spending more time with him, including a gun-crazy outing at the Texas State Fair. Darkness comes for the feature, but Garnett has his detours, reinforcing rowdy male behavior and female sexualization during an extended trip to a “Foxy Boxing” show. Larry badgers Kathleen into time together, and he eventually sexually assaults her, waving a gun in the victim’s face to keep her submissive. Of course, it’s a disturbing, ugly scene, but Garnett doesn’t get carried away, keeping the situation understood without turning it into crude exploitation.

“Deep in the Heart” changes tone in its second half, following Katheleen as she deals with the horror of her attack and the general dismissal of law enforcement, who encourage her to stop pursuing an arrest. The church is worse, asking her to forgive Larry. Kathleen cuts off her hair and shuts down around others, finding an askew way to therapy by joining a gun club, learning about weapons and the men who love them. Again, Garnett goes nearly procedural with the subplot, giving it an unsettling atmosphere, and he returns to the unstable ways of the conspiracy-minded locals, including a knife salesman who warns his customer about an upcoming race war, trying to prepare her for battle.

Handgun Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Deep in the Heart" is sourced from a "new 4K restoration from its original 35mm camera negative." Detail is excellent during the viewing experience, doing very well with interiors, which carry all sorts of decorative additions to study as the story visits schools, gun shops, and living spaces. Exteriors are dimensional, exploring Dallas streets, the Texas State Fair, and the gun club range. Skin particulars are intact, and period costuming is fibrous. Colors are secure, with strong primaries on signage and style choices. Greenery is distinct. Skin tones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory, doing well with evening events. Grain is fine and film-like. Source is in good condition.

Handgun Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix delivers clean dialogue exchanges, maintaining balance with argumentative behavior and hushed threats. Scoring supports with clear instrumentation and dramatic emphasis. Sound effects are appreciable, and gun shots are distinct.

Handgun Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet (10 pages) contains an essay by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas.

• Commentary features film historians Erica Shultz and Chris O'Neill.

• Archival Interview (2:09, SD) is a brief discussion of "Deep in the Heart" with writer/director Tony Garnett. The interviewee recounts the plot and explores his exposure to American gun culture, remaining in a state of shock as a British visitor to the country.

• HBO Video Promo (2:32, SD) supplies a snippet from the opening of "Deep in the Heart," and shares lists of future releases from Thorn EMI Video, including "Horror of Frankenstein," "XTRO," and "Thomas Dolby: Live Wireless."

• Image Gallery (3:58) collects poster and home video art, film stills, press kit pages, and BTS snaps.

• And a Trailer (2:29, HD) is included.

Handgun Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Deep in the Heart" sets an eerie mood, and it's quite successful when exploring the psychological aspects of the attack and its aftermath. Gun club escalation is also fascinating to watch, as Kathleen starts to master weaponry around sexist, leering men, looking to emasculate one of the gang through a show of force. Garnett doesn't find his way to a satisfying resolution, going into cheap thriller mode when the film was previously content to deal with disturbing behavior in a matter-of-fact manner. It's a disappointing climax, but "Deep in the Heart" is a largely successful examination of despair and defense, remaining attentive to behavior and clear-eyed when it comes to the alien ways of Texas.