In the Cold of the Night Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

In the Cold of the Night Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf March 24, 2019

Two months ago, I reviewed “Blind Date,” a 1984 thriller from director Nico Mastorakis. The plot concerned a young man who lost his sight, regaining it through help from electronic equipment, but also inheriting an ability to see horrible visions of murder. For 1990’s “In the Cold of the Night,” Mastorakis returns to a similar plot, exploring the mental breakdown of a man who’s cursed with visions of homicide, setting out to decode exactly why he’s experiencing such horrors. For the prolific helmer, such recycling is to be expected, but with a return to a familiar premise comes less adventurousness, as Mastorakis is aiming “In the Cold of the Night” in an erotic chiller direction, striving to pack in as much sex and nudity as possible (the picture is rated NC-17), with thrills and spills a lesser priority for the production. Mastorakis isn’t a refined cinema architect, leaving polish and dramatic consideration a pipe dream, but for those who prefer plenty of skin to go with mild suspense, this feature delivers, showing more enthusiasm for bedroom antics than anything else it covers.

A wildly successful photographer, Scott (Jeff Lester) is at the top of his game with his own California studio, mastering the art of posing swimsuit- clad models. One such talent is Lena (Shannon Tweed), who’s ready to engage in casual sex with Scott, only to experience his recent issues with sleep, waking up with his hand around her throat. Haunted by POV visions of murder, all targeting a mystery woman, Scott can’t cope or find rest, taking his concerns to his therapist, Dr. Friedberg (David Soul), who assures the man he’s fine. However, Scott can’t figure out his problem, growing obsessed with the image of the female he’s killing. Miraculously, Scott finds his dream woman in Kimberly (Adrienne Sachs), moving from nightmare to fantasy, ending up in a sexual relationship with his object of obsession, only to find there’s more to the union than meets the eye.

Scott is a strange character, but “In the Cold of the Night” is a strange movie. We’re introduced to the man in his element, snapping away with a camera as a parade of models strut their stuff, with Lena mixed in with the line-up. Scott’s apparently very good at what he does (his studio space is huge, with examples of the campaigns he’s worked on plastered everywhere), but he’s not above mixing business with pleasure. Lena makes it clear she’d like extra attention, and the pair are soon rolling around Scott’s glowing (no, really) waterproof bed, where the man, in the midst of thrusting, decides to take a moment and tell feminist jokes to the partner he’s currently pleasuring(?). Sex isn’t enough for Scott the Stud, he’s going to turn the evening into a stand-up comedy show.

Mastorakis isn’t paying much attention to a likability factor in “In the Cold of the Night,” going more for raw sexuality, keeping Scott more interested in his satisfaction than others. The screenplay has no clue how to concoct a female character (after Lena is nearly choked to death by Scott’s nocturnal aggression, she claims it nearly brought her to climax), so it primarily sticks with the lothario photographer, and he’s having a particularly bad week. When activated, Scott believes he’s seeing himself murder Kimberly in various gruesome ways, setting out to find the mystery victim, which requires amateur sleuthing, including an encounter with a T-shirt vendor on a beach who once sold a shirt with her image on it. Scott finally meets with Kimberly, and it doesn’t take long for the two to sleep with each other and, oddly, have lunch with Kimberly’s mother (played by Tippi Hedren -- and yes, there’s a joke referencing “The Birds”).

Obsession is a theme of “In the Cold of the Night,” with Mastorakis making it clear he’s trying to craft a Hitchcockian/DePalma-esque thriller, keeping weirdness coming for Scott, who can’t clear his head while falling in love with Kimberly. There’s a large amount of sex to pad the endeavor, hitting some softcore highlights with the lead actors. However, true sensuality seems to elude Mastorakis’s vision, who grosses viewers out with close-ups of wet food being sucked on by the lovers, and there’s a mid-movie pass at kink where Scott, no joke, pours a dish of marbles over Kimberly, who reacts with comic ecstasy to such an absurd offering of sensorial delight.

Marbles, dude. Marbles.

In the Cold of the Night Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"Newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 35mm original camera negative," Vinegar Syndrome gives "In the Cold of the Night" the royal treatment for its Blu-ray debut. The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation looks sharp and fresh, with distinct details across any given frame. Skin particulars are defined, picking up on facial features and ample nudity. Costuming is fibrous, showcasing period outfits that range from crisp cotton to silkier bedroom attire. Distances are defined, delivering beach vistas and cityscapes. Interiors also show off all sorts of decoration (Scott's studio is covered with photos to peruse) and expanse. Colors enjoy '90s amplification, with heavy emphasis on blues and whites, while clothing invites a more varied palette. Greenery is ideal, capturing the beach setting. Skintones are natural. Delineation is strong, doing well with shadowy cinematography. Source is in healthy shape.

In the Cold of the Night Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD sound mix isn't something that wows with dimensionality, but its frontal presence is wonderfully defined. Dialogue exchanges are exact, securing performances of all skill levels, keeping excitement measured, with nothing slipping into distortion. Soundtrack selections offer depth, delivering heavier beats to deliver some low-end activity, and instrumentation is crisp. Scoring selections are just as appealing, sharing a fuller synth wave to carry the action. Surrounds aren't commanding, but atmospherics are secured, with beach visits most active. Sound effects are satisfactory, sharpening gun shots and murderous visions.

In the Cold of the Night Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Archival Behind the Scenes (4:24, SD) is a short recap of production achievements on "In the Cold of the Night," with Nico Mastorakis narrating the clip, sharing his memories from the shoot. Some BTS footage is included, but the helmer mostly sticks with film clips, describing his battles with the MPAA over sex scenes, who gifted the picture an NC-17 rating for sexual positions. Mastorakis claims he's the first to receive the rating. Also included is an overview of a problematic car chase.

• Archival Image Gallery (2:49) includes publicity stills.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (3:16, HD) is included.

In the Cold of the Night Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"In the Cold of the Night" is ridiculous, and grows more so when explanations for Scott's visions are offered. Mastorakis doesn't flinch with absurdities, sticking to the B-movie handbook with additions of shootouts and car chases, eventually leading to a conclusion that pays tribute to "Casablanca." It's impossible to hate a feature that includes laserdisc technology as a plot point, and Marc Singer makes a late-inning appearance to spice up the casting, but "In the Cold of the Night" isn't nearly as fun as a could be, laboring through an uninteresting story with an uncomfortably dim protagonist. There's plenty of eye candy, as the film couldn't look more 1990 if it tried, but such distractions are fleeting, with the picture quickly returning to the plight of Scott and his uncanny ability to get caught up in easily avoidable danger.