Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.0

Murphy's Law Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov February 23, 2022

J. Lee Thompson's "Murphy's Law" (1986) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the disc include new program with actor Robert F. Lyons; archival audio commentary recorded by actress Kathleen Wilhoite and critic Nick Redman; and vintage promotional materials. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

The cop

I would have preferred to have Peter Yates’ Murphy's War finally given the high-definition treatment in North America as it is a vastly superior film, but at least for now I would have to settle for a reissue of J. Lee Thompson’s Murphy’s Law. The latter isn’t a bad film, but it introduces an obviously aged and tired Charles Bronson that does not feel right for the part that he was asked to play. This is essentially its biggest flaw as well. By the mid-1980s, Bronson already could not carry a film as he did in the 1970s and the early 1980s, so his struggle to keep up with his duties before the camera is frequently distracting.

Immediately after she is released from prison, Joan Freeman (Carrie Snodgress) vows to destroy the life of veteran cop Jack Murphy (Bronson), who more than a decade ago put her there. A couple of days later, Freeman follows Murphy to a gentlemen’s club, where his estranged wife makes ends meet as a dancer, and figures out how to initiate his misery. When Murphy’s wife is found murdered with his gun, he instantly becomes a prime suspect, and eventually gets locked behind bars. In the local jailhouse, Murphy is then handcuffed to bubbly thief Arabella McGee (Kathleen Wilhoite), so when he manages to escape, she is forced to follow him around. At first, the two can barely stand each other, but as the police and Freeman begin tracking them down, they realize that it is better to assist each other if they are to stay free and alive.

Thompson directed Murphy’s Law for The Cannon Group while working with a pretty good budget to make it look a lot more ambitious than it really was. So, as far as its visuals are concerned, Murphy’s Law is quite easy to compare to some of the legitimately big and expensive genre films the 1980s produced.

But because in Murphy’s Law Bronson is expected to lead as if he is at least ten, possibly twenty years younger there is a lot that quite simply does not work as it could have. For example, a big chunk of the drama is supposed to be fueled by the anger boiling inside Bronson’s alcoholic cop, but once he is united with Wilhoite he actually begins to look like a jaded dad who has to endure a range of caprices while trying to take out a killer. In other words, the chemistry isn’t right, so a lot of the intimate and intense material looks off in very odd ways.

The story is disappointingly predictable as well, so there are hardly any opportunities for Bronson to do anything else with his character other than have him set on autopilot until his inevitable encounter with Snodgress. He turns down a romantic advance, loses an old friend, and settles a score with one of his nasty coworkers. All of this is filler material, pretty boring too.

Some of the action looks fresher now, but only because back in the 1980s it was still possible to shoot content without fear of showing more that may offend or disturb a particular party. When placed in the proper period context, however, this isn’t impressive content either.

Gail Morgan Hickman’s screenplay is probably his least impressive work as well. Wilhoite’s ‘funny’ lines, in particular, are so ineffective that it is hard to imagine that no one objected to have them uttered as they appear in the film.

Murphy's Law Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Murphy's Law arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

The release is sourced from an older master that was supplied by MGM. This master isn't plagued by problematic digital corrections, but it isn't too convincing. Its main weakness is the darker content where a lot of the grain begins to look mushy and as a result native details and nuances struggle to appear as they should. Some highlights could be much better balanced as well. The good news is that the visuals are still quite pleasing, so even on a larger screen they hold up nicely. Yes, you will quickly conclude that the film can look fresher and lusher, but I don't think that the technical presentation will disappoint you. Image stability is good. There are no distracting age-related imperfections to report. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Murphy's Law Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

Older master that emerge from MGM's vaults usually have strong audio and this is the case with Murphy's Law. I had the volume on my system turned up quite a bit and liked the clarity and dynamic balance of the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track quite a lot. Can the audio sound better? I don't know. I did not encounter any signs of ageing, so if any improvements are made they will likely turn out to be minor.

Murphy's Law Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - a vintage trailer for Murphy's Law. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Radio Spots - a couple of vintage radio spots for Murphy's Law. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Lyon's Law: The Cannon Years - in this new program, actor Robert F. Lyons (Art Penney) recalls how he used to get offers to do different parts, his initial encounter with producers Yoram Globus and Menahem Golan, and involvement with Murphy's Law. The program was produced for 88 Films in 2021. In English, not subtitled. (20 min).

• Commentary - this archival audio commentary was recorded by actress Kathleen Wilhoite and critic Nick Redman.

Murphy's Law Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Murphy's Law is one of the least impressive Charles Bronson films. He looks old and tired in it, and often times it is actually quite easy to tell that he struggles with his part. I don't think that Kathleen Wilhoite, who plays his younger partner, is particularly good either. However, like most films the Cannon Group produced during the '80s, Murphy's Law could be a decent nostalgia fix if, and I always like to underscore this bit, it is seen at the right time. For me, this is usually the wee hours of the night, but as we all know well everyone is different. Kino Lorber's release is sourced from an old but decent master that was supplied by MGM. It has a very interesting new program with actor Robert F. Lyons, who shares plenty of interesting information about the film's production history as well as the legendary producers Yoram Globus and Menahem Golan. RECOMMENDED, but only to the fans.