Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Hanging Heart Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 3, 2023

Writer/director James Lee makes his filmmaking debut with 1989’s “Hanging Heart.” He’s attempting to create a surreal thriller with giallo touches, leaning heavily on homoerotic imagery and bits of unreality to give his feature some unusual energy as it offers a routine overview of a killer on the loose. Lee has some help with technical achievements, giving the endeavor a professional look, but his storytelling abilities leave much to be desired. “Hanging Heart” doesn’t offer tension, just confusion as characters causally walk in and out of the tale, while an overall sense of desperation is lost to underwhelming performances, with the actors seemingly unsure what kind of movie they’re making as Lee teases a campy direction for the effort, only to take the whole thing quite seriously in the end.

Denny (Barry Wyatt) is an actor preparing to star in a stage play that could boost his sagging career. He’s sleeping with his co-star, Cathy (Debra Robinson), also involved with lawyer Elliot (Jake Henry), who seems to tolerate his lover’s wandering eye, doing his best to love him from afar. When Cathy is strangled by an mysterious killer, Denny takes the fall for the crime, soon pursued by Detective McGill (Dan Zukovic), who’s determined to nail the young man for the murder. Denny doesn’t know what’s going on, unable to stay in his reality as people care for him, losing the battle with sanity. When another body is discovered, Denny is sent to prison, inspiring Elliot to fight to free his great love, while Richard (John Stevens), an acting rival, unleashes his unstable side, determined to claim Denny’s part.

There’s a lot going on in “Hanging Heart,” but clarity doesn’t come easily. Lee hopes to set up something of a mystery with the saga of Denny and his connection to crime scenes, but information about the character is portioned out slowly, along with everyone else in the screenplay. The production hopes to trigger interest in strange, violent events, but the final cut mostly inspires confusion, especially with relationships, as Denny seems to be sleeping with most of Los Angeles, with Elliot his most lovesick fan. Instead of examining this bisexuality, Lee tends to focus on homosexual activity and charged imagery, pursuing a sense of menace that’s never properly resolved. There’s something traumatic in Denny’s past that fuels his bewilderment, but that only cover a portion of tale, with the rest of the endeavor maintaining a frustrating distance from character exploration.

The mystery at the core of “Hanging Heart” is dull, with obvious red herrings and a limited feel for horrific encounters. The victims are dispatched with pantyhose, permitting Lee to replicate some Italian cinema moves, but the rest of the feature doesn’t really go anywhere. There’s Denny in a courtroom, trying to avoid imprisonment with Elliot as his lawyer. And there’s Denny in prison, facing angry cellmates trying to sexually assault him, soon transferred to a psychiatric ward where the head doctor does her rounds in a crop top. The cops and prosecutor want Denny to fry, and there’s Julie (Francine Lapensee), a fellow thespian who kinda-sorta becomes the lead character in the final act of “Hanging Heart.”

Hanging Heart Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is sourced from a 4K scan of the original camera negative. The results are excellent with a nice look at fine detail, exploring skin particulars, fine hairs, and fibrous clothing. Interior decoration is open for exploration, and exteriors preserve Los Angeles tours. Color is vibrant, doing well with stylish lighting choices, and primaries deliver throughout the viewing experience, favoring deep reds and blues. Greenery is distinct, along with cooler prison events. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is fine and film-like. Source is in good condition.

Hanging Heart Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix secures clear dialogue exchanges, balancing moments with screaming human suffering and slightly softer confessional scenes. Scoring supports with a defined synth presence, preserving stabs at mood and suspense. Soundtrack selections are equally active. Atmospherics are appreciable, and sound effects are defined.

Hanging Heart Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "Directing from the Heart" (23:06, HD) is an interview with writer/director Jimmy Lee, who originally pursued acting while at UCLA, eventually abandoning such a life, aiming to become a director instead, educated at Columbia College. Setting out to make his first movie, Lee encountered troubles with financing, especially with a script detailing the gay experience, eventually using his own money to get the project made. The interviewee details a learning experience with a dubious distributor, and he identifies his attachment to the "fiction-ary" story, wishing he injected a little more horror into the feature. Technical achievements are celebrated and L.A. locations are noted, with Lee offering his memories of the shoot, including management of tone. Lee closes with some information on his follow-up film, 2004's "Close Call."

• "Music is Where the Heart Is" (8:57, HD) is an interview with composer Erik Ekstrand, who explores his lifelong interest in music, mastering various instruments over the years. Making a connection to writer/director Jimmy Lee through his wife, Ekstrand was hired, dealing with the helmer's demands. The interviewee has never seen "Hanging Heart," but he certainly has opinions about the feature, also discussing the addition of a second composer to give Lee what he was looking for. Losing interest in the business, Ekstrand decided to form his own band, preferring the live music experience over studio time.

• "Hanging with Ingrid" (6:47, HD) is an interview with actress Ingrid Vold, who shares her entrance into the business, taking advice from Dustin Hoffman. Vold shares her memories of writer/director Jimmy Lee, also examining her character and time inside a hospital location.

• "A Hero Who Kicks" (17:18, HD) is an interview with actor Dan Zukovic, who charts his early interest in music (participating in the punk scene) and acting, making his way to Los Angeles to study the artform, eventually finding his way to "Hanging Heart." Some character work was attempted, getting Zukovic in cop mode, and locations are recalled. An assessment of writer/director Jimmy Lee is provided, with the production working through a 35mm, low-budget shoot, dealing with periodic setbacks. First impressions are provided after an industry screening some time after production was completed.

• "The Many Hats of Mr. White" (11:30, HD) is an interview with producer Michael White, who followed his interest in filmmaking to Columbia College, where he met Jimmy Lee, with the pair becoming friends. Working with Lee on various projects, White was hired to help bring "Hanging Heart" to life, handling various roles, including the overseeing of post-production work. Locations for the feature are highlighted, and distribution headaches are revealed, keeping the picture from achieving success on the home video market.

• Image Gallery (1:11) collects BTS snaps.

• A Video Trailer (2:20, SD) and a 2015 Trailer (1:00, SD) are included.

Hanging Heart Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Lee tries to juice things up by adding threatening sexuality and Christian imagery to the feature, also making time for a few softcore sequences. Tired nightmare fake-out shocks are present as well, along with some "Naked Gun"-esque moments with Elliot's accident-prone elderly father. Again, "Hanging Heart" doesn't look like a typical B-movie, with cinematographer Silvio Santini working to make everything visually interesting, but he can only get so far with Lee's directorial clumsiness, which increases in intensity as the story unfolds. He's unable to craft a satisfying mystery to keep "Hanging Heart" involving, pursuing a sense of disorientation that holds no appeal when handled this ridiculously.