Lost Faith Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		2.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		3.5

Lost Faith Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 29, 2023

In the 1990s, Joel D. Wynkoop wanted to become a prolific moviemaker. He made his helming debut with 1985’s “Twisted Illusions,” but really aimed to make his mark years later, soon delivering an enormous number of movies for the home video market. 1992’s “Lost Faith” is the first shot fired, with Wynkoop overseeing a feature that transforms him into an action hero, with lengthy martial arts showdowns and women to save, delivering a celebration of all things Joel D. Wynkoop. Unfortunately, film wasn’t the future for the writer/director/star, who selects a shot-on-video approach for the endeavor, which contributes to the overall sloppiness of the picture, and it quickly becomes painfully ridiculous. “Lost Faith” is a mess of ideas, with Wynkoop struggling to make storytelling decisions, often too distracted by his own awesomeness to really care about anything else.

Steve (Joel D. Wynkoop) is a man of action, dedicated to his martial arts training, but most of his time is devoted to his wife, Donna (Christine Seisler), who’s looking to become a major fashion model. Steve is growing weary of supporting such ambition, permitting her to attend a shoot on her own one afternoon, where she’s promptly kidnapped by a gang posing as photographers. Steve is shocked by the news, confronted with the reality of inept cops on the case, with Detective Shields (Bill Simms) assuring the worried husband that his wife will be found. Refusing to accept help, Steve decides to track the clues leading to Donna’s whereabouts, struggling with various people electing to get in the lethal weapon’s way. In the woods, Donna is being held captive by The Master (David Bardsley), a man of power and authority in charge of halfwit soldiers, with Barnes (David Lurry), his top moron, handed the responsibility of keeping track of the models they’ve taken, with plans to hand the females over to a mystery crime boss.

“Lost Faith” isn’t too concerned with pace, as the film opens with a display of martial art skill from Steve, who trains in his backyard, and there’s plenty of driving sequences, helping to pad out the picture while adding some musical mood courtesy of a local radio station. Wynkoop doesn’t crank up suspense, setting a casual atmosphere of everyday troubles, including the shuttling of Donna to her modeling jobs. Steve wants a movie night with his wife (clearing out all the Chuck Norris titles from the local video store), and Donna wants to achieve her dreams, managing to get kidnapped in the process. “Lost Faith” should launch into action mode at this point, with Steve going one-man-army after dealing with idiot cops, but Wynkoop always resists the urge to make something truly exciting.

While Steve crosses the community to find his wife, “Lost Faith” spends a great deal of screentime with The Master, a gang leader eager to collect young women, sending his minions to take care of retrieval and imprisonment. Of course, this invites lengthy scenes of females struggling against male aggressors, which comes close to turning “Lost Faith” into a fetish film for Wynkoop and his love of watching endangered and submissive women. Banter is absolutely atrocious between The Master and right-hand man Barnes, with the pair trying to become a comedy duo from the 1930s, complete with questionable depictions of black characters, which joins Asian stereotypes found later in the film. Wynkoop aims for fun (I guess), but misses repeatedly, with the backyard nature of the production not helping abysmal writing and performances.

Lost Faith Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation deals with a SOV production, with the viewing experience more about recognizing frame elements than dealing with fine detail. The basics in movement and character are appreciable, remaining in line with similar productions. Color is limited but acceptable, primarily handling extensive greenery and brighter clothing choices. Source has age on it, but no major stretches of damage.

Lost Faith Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA provides a simple listening event, with reasonably clear dialogue exchanges throughout, though the actors do compete with technical limitations and background noise. Scoring supports with a passable synth rhythm.

Lost Faith Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Introduction (6:51, SD) offers welcoming words from director Joel D. Wynkoop.

• Original VHS Cut of "Lost Faith" is included, with optional commentary by director Joel D. Wynkoop and assistant director Sean McCarthy.

• Dailies and BTS Footage (93:06, SD) offers a look at the creation of takes for "Lost Faith," highlighting cast and crew camaraderie.

• "Nekoda" (32:34, SD) is a 2018 short film starring Joel D. Wynkoop and directed by Marcus Kempton, which is something of a sequel to "Lost Faith."

• "The Set-Up" (8:24, SD) is a 1979 Super 8 film from director Joel D. Wynkoop.

• Archival T.V. News Interviews (49:04, SD) follows Joel D. Wynkoop around as he promotes his movies at local stations.

• "Stay Hungry" (61:22, SD) is the making-of for "Lost Faith," with host Lee Pinder providing an understanding of the Floridian production. The documentary features interviews with cast and crew, lots of extended takes and flubs, and there's extensive BTS footage that highlights how the picture was put together, often with more professionalism than expected.

• "Screamfest 2007" (19:00, SD) visits a horror convention where Joel D. Wynkoop is appearing. This is actually a fun watch for horror fans, as cameras tour the celebrity area, meeting up with Troma honcho Lloyd Kaufman, composer Harry Manfredini, makeup master Tom Savini, and actors Gunner Hansen, Michael Berryman, Danielle Harris, Shawnee Smith, Bill Hinzman (in full zombie makeup), and William Forsythe. Wynkoop proves to be an animated host, trying to have a good time with the convention crowds.

• Audition Reel (20:17, SD) offers a look at Joel D. Wynkoop's many thespian speeds.

• Alternate Opening (2:11, SD) and Alternate Ending (1:44, SD) for "Lost Faith" are provided, identifying a different flashback structure for the movie.

• A T.V. Spot (:25, SD) is offered, promoting a rare theatrical showing.

• And a Trailer (1:22, SD) is included.

Lost Faith Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Wynkoop offers his Norris-ian ways in the final act of "Lost Faith," creating opportunities to battle easily toppled baddies, which turns the film into a video game as new bosses are revealed. Such aggression is expected, but there's something of a faith-based element to the endeavor, with Steve finding the power of God to help with his mission. The point of such a journey isn't worked out in the writing, just conveniently dropped into the tale, confusing the overall message of the picture. Is "Lost Faith" about taking lives or saving them? Wynkoop can't make up his mind, and the audience is left to endure such indecision as random ideas and encounters get in the way of basic B-movie ambition.