Hard Hunted Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Hard Hunted Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf March 31, 2020

In 1985, writer/director Andy Sidaris decided to create his own special universe of heroes and villains, using the ways of no-budget filmmaking to generate cheap thrills through the use of exotic locations, rough action, and nudity. “Malibu Express” wasn’t trying to alter the curve of exploitation cinema, but it did the trick for the VHS generation, inspiring Sidaris to keep churning out titles to meet demand, reusing actors and hot tubs as he built the Malibu Bay Films empire (joined by his wife, Arlene Sidaris). 1993’s “Hard Hunted” is the seventh installment of the loosely defined series, continuing the adventures of bikini-clad security agents as they defend America with their firepower, sleuthing, and distinct skills of seduction. There’s certainly a “if you’ve seen one of these things, you’ve seen them all” vibe to the picture, but to criticize Sidaris for his unrepentant recycling is missing the point of the Malibu Bay experience. “Hard Hunted” is an effort that leans especially hard on the formula of the franchise, though this chapter is a little more interested in outside activity, charming audiences with bright locales and performances, while Andy gradually loses interest in providing a workable story, making the movie more of a highlight reel of Malibu Bay delights than an escalating adventure concerning a mission to prevent the end of the world.

Arrogant criminal Kane (Geoffrey Moore) has acquired a jade Buddha statue, with the elegant tchotchke containing a Klystron Relay, capable of launching nuclear weapons. Looking to shift world order with the acquisition, Kane is faced with opposition from the Molokai Cargo crew, as agents Donna (Dona Spier) and Nicole (Roberta Vasquez) jump into the heat of battle to retrieve the doomsday button, with the mission led by Lucas (Tony Peck) and backed by Bruce (Bruce Penhall), Edy (Cynthia Brimhall), and KSXY radio host, Ava (Ava Cadell).

1993 was an especially busy time for Andy, who handled two Malibu Bay productions in a single year, issuing “Hard Hunted” and “Fit to Kill,” keeping video stores stocked with examples of Molokai Cargo heroism and bikini-clad acts of survival. Frankly, the pictures are basically the same, with Andy eager to recycle sets, jokes, and performers, loosely aiming to generate a one-two punch of excitement with the thinnest of dramatic connective tissue. “Hard Hunted” follows the rise of Kane, an aspiring master criminal getting his mitts on The Button, ready to position himself at the head of the table with his newfound power. He’s a Bond villain here, which is appropriate, as Moore is the son of ex-007 actor, the late, great Roger Moore.

Unfortunately for Kane, the Molokai Cargo team is eager to prevent such a swing of power, with the writing serving up secret agents, double- crosses, and light travel, with the action moving from yachts to Arizona to Hawaii (and a brief stop to Washington D.C.). Andy keeps things on the move and quite picturesque, with the agents taking a moment to frolic in creeks and speed through jungles and beaches, chased by baddies working with the latest in evil vehicles, including a gyrocopter attack and some nonsense involving a hovercraft. Of course, the hunt for Kane isn’t going to stop Andy’s exploitation interests, with the gang happy to take a break from the pressures of protection to enjoy softcore sex, with the Playmate cast doing their part to satisfy Malibu Bay fanatics, delivering sensuality and nudity between acts of blunt force violence.

Hard Hunted Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Offered as a "4K widescreen restoration," "Hard Hunted" makes its Blu-ray debut with an AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation. Being a more outdoorsy movie, the viewing experience preserves the open air feel Andy is aiming for, securing dimension with location tours, finding bigness with Arizona mountains and Hawaiian beaches. Detail also extends to the performers, with costuming maintaining all manner of sheerness and silkiness, and facial particulars are defined, offering an appreciation for makeup application. Clarity isn't threatened during the viewing experience, protecting the core appeal of the feature, and more metallic surfaces with weaponry and vehicles are open for study. Colors are a tad inconsistent, with reds sometimes running extraordinarily hot, while slight pinkishness creeps into view at times, disrupting natural skintones. Costuming offers varied hues, and greenery is especially strong, generating intended appeal with exotic locations. Delineation is acceptable. Grain levels fluctuate, but remain film- like. Source has some speckling, mild scratches, and brief chemical blotches.

Hard Hunted Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix offers a wider sense of frontal engagement, providing as immersive a listening event as a Malibu Bay Films production can deliver. Dialogue exchanges reach equipment limits at times, finding some fuzzier highs along the way. Intelligibility is safe, with disparate performance choices preserved. Scoring is mild but supportive, handling with defined synth support, giving the action as much power as it can muster. Sound effects deliver on gunshots and explosions, along with the roar of various specialized vehicles. Some mild hiss is detected.

Hard Hunted Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Intro (1:21, SD) features Andy Sidaris welcoming viewers to the "Hard Hunted" disc, soon joined by a topless Julie Strain and a performance from The Porcelain Twinz, who pop in dressed as cheerleaders.

• Commentary features writer/director Andy Sidaris and producer Arlene Sidaris.

• Behind the Scenes (40:53, SD) is a large collection of supplementary material from the Malibu Bay archives, introed by Strain and Andy, who are joined by The Porcelain Twinz. While Strain offers some t-shirt modeling, Andy shares technical advancements in Malibu Bay moviemaking. For "Hard Hunted," continuity camera footage is shared, with wardrobe efforts, explosions, scene construction, and prop handling surveyed, getting a good sense of the production in motion, offered with commentary from Andy and Arlene, who identify the sheer amount of labor required to put one of these features together. For "Return to Savage Beach," scene assembly is highlighted, offering numerous takes of certain moments from the picture, which stars Strain, Julie K. Smith, and Shae Marks. Time is also spent with actress Carrie Westcott, with Andy describing plans to shoot in Honolulu. Also of interest is a short film from Strain, who highlights Smith's daily bathroom ritual before offering a brief modeling show to the camera. Returning to "Hard Hunted," location work is surveyed, with the unit managing a day's work around an Arizona creek, also displaying crew camaraderie. A sex scene is deconstructed, along with squib placement, and performance beats. A visit to "Joe Bob's Drive-In Theater" is shared, with Andy and the host discussing the director's career intent, story repetition, and their shared love of female breasts.

• And a Trailer (1:06, HD) is presented.

Hard Hunted Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Hard Hunted" certainly has enough eye candy, with lovely locations helping to brighten up the viewing experience, and the cast is always game to go wherever Andy leads, even when he's periodically incapable of managing continuity. It's an entertaining movie with a few bolder plot turns than the average Malibu Bay effort, but there's not much consistency when it comes to suspense or salaciousness, with a weird flatness creeping into the feature every now and then. There's big action, something called "sextrology," and an unexpected amount of windsurfing, but in the grand scheme of things, "Hard Hunted" only manages intermittent delights, saving more delightful craziness for the second half of the Kane saga, "Fit to Kill."