Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

Jackson County Jail Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 28, 2020

Drive-in sleaze from the 1970s gets a cold slap across the face in 1976’s “Jackson County Jail,” which presents a more sobering understanding of injustice in America’s southland. Director Michael Miller (“Silent Rage,” “National Lampoon’s Class Reunion”) and screenwriter Donald E. Stewart are faced with the demands of exploitation cinema, and try to deliver some awfulness to sufficiently rile up viewers. However, the ultimate aim of “Jackson County Jail” is to manufacture a more character-based survival story, delving into broken people as they come up against an unthinkable future while on the run from the law.

Fed up with life in L.A., Dinah (Yvette Mimieux) is changing jobs, moving to New York City, electing to drive her way across the country. Along the journey, she’s assaulted by a pair of violent addicts, stripped of her car and wallet. Looking for help, Dinah only finds hell in a small southern town, attacked by a bar owner and soon raped by a cop. Managing to kill the lawman after the act, Dinah is led out into the wild by Coley (Tommy Lee Jones), a young felon trying to save the confused woman and prepare her for life as a fugitive on the run.

“Jackson County Jail” doesn’t take it easy in Dinah, with the advertising executive dismissed by a client when he refuses to accept a female-centric ad for a sanitary napkin. Feeling the need to escape from the west coast and return to the comfort of NYC, Dinah hits the road for a seemingly safe journey, only to encounter crooked diner employees, gun-toting junkies, a handsy bar owner, and a cop who elects to sexually assault her while she sleeps in her cell. In other hands, such disaster would be played lightly to encourage B-movie escapism, but Miller manages to keep things horrifying, and Mimieux does a fine job preserving the character’s spirit as she’s subjected to the worst elements of humanity.

Jackson County Jail Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) is sourced from an older scan of "Jackson Country Jail." Softness is present during the viewing experience, but textures are appreciable, offering decent looks at business and jail interiors, and close-ups retain skin particulars. Distances are reasonably dimensional. Colors are appreciable if a tad muted. Earth tones dominate the palette, with bolder hues found on period clothing and greenery. Skintones run a little hot at times, but remain withing the realm of natural. Delineation is adequate with some mild solidification. Grain is heavier but film-like. Source is in fine shape, with some speckling and a few scratches.

Jackson County Jail Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix doesn't reach very far, presenting the mono track with emphasis on dialogue exchanges, and performances register as intended, fighting slight muddiness at times. Scoring supports satisfactorily, with sharper harmonica highs. Sound effects carry a bit more snap as shoot-outs enter the feature.

Jackson County Jail Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features director Michael Miller, producer Jeff Begun, and cinematographer Bruce Logan.

• Interview (4:16, SD) is a short conversation between producer Roger Corman and critic Leonard Maltin. The success of "Jackson County Jail" is highlighted, with the feature becoming a financial and critical smash for Corman. The interviewee delves into the tone of the picture, and recaps the plot. Casting highlights are shared, including the addition of Tommy Lee Jones in one of his earliest big screen roles. Corman closes with a discussion of the 1978 television reworking of the film, titled "Outside Chance," and his plans for a remake for 1990s (eventually settling on 1997's "Macon County Line").

• Radio Spots (1:01) deliver two ads for the film.

• T.V. Spot (:23, SD) offers a single commercial for the movie.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:37, SD) is included.

Jackson County Jail Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Jackson County Jail" has its broader moments, with Miller fitting in some car chases, explosions, and a shoot-out during a Bicentennial parade. It provides enough jolts to pass, but it's more interesting as a study of doomed people scrambling to survive, leading to a chilling conclusion that's tonally brave considering the target demographic for the film. "Jackson County Jail" isn't a rousing sit, but it has a vision for something beyond cheap thrills, offering a layer of gloominess to go with its B-movie rampage.