Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

Nowhere to Run Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov February 19, 2021

Robert Harmon's "Nowhere to Run" (1993) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors 88 Films. The supplemental features on it include new video interview with second unit director Peter MacDonald and vintage trailer for the film. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

The cousin from Quebec

Before you sit down to revisit Robert Harmon’s Nowhere to Run, pull out your DVD copy of Walter Hill’s Another 48 Hrs. and go straight to the bus sequence. (Sorry, Paramount still hasn’t produced a Blu-ray release of this very fine film, so you will have to dig up your DVD release). Now, focus on the camera movement inside and outside of the bus. Remember how the camera positions itself for the close-ups of Eddie Murphy’s face. Also, remember how it first sees the bikers and then precisely how it chooses to observe the crashing bus. Now, go straight to the opening sequence in Nowhere to Run and analyze the camera movement again. What do you think? Would you say that the many similarities are coincidental? Or would you say that someone was a big fan of Another 48 Hours and borrowed a few ideas from it? I think that the second scenario is very, very likely, and I am quite certain I know exactly why. The logical pick would be Harmon because he should have the final say on how the entire film ought to look, but I believe that he shot the opening sequence after it was carefully described to him by Joe Eszterhas and Richard Marquand. These guys produced the original story for Nowhere to Run and the former also worked on the screenplay that was handed to Harmon. More importantly, however, a few years earlier they also worked together on Jagged Edge, which Marquand shot with cinematographer Matthew F. Leonetti. And guess who was Hill’s man behind the camera on Another 48 Hours? Yep, it was Leonetti again. Bingo. Now it is pretty easy to tell why the bus sequences in Nowhere to Run and Another 48 Hours look so similar.

But this is where the similarities between Nowhere to Run and Another 48 Hours end. After the bus crashes, Sam (Jean-Claude Van Damme), a thief who has spent a couple of years in jail after he refused to rat out his partner, emerges from it and then hides in a rural area which a nasty land developer (Joss Ackland) plans to dramatically transform. Some preliminary construction work is already in progress, but the developer faces resistance from a couple of farmers that are unwilling to sell their land to his company, which is a serious problem because he is running out of time and is about to lose his permit. To help them change their minds, the developer asks a nasty character (Ted Levine) to intervene, but when he goes to work, he bumps into Sam, who is secretly camping on the property of his biggest target (Rosanna Arquette).

Nowhere to Run quickly heads down a very familiar path, so it is up to its stars to produce a special kind of chemistry that can make it interesting and attractive. The action pretty much takes care of the latter. The Muscles from Brussels quickly and effectively demolishes his opponents and there is one long and very nicely shot chase sequence, so there are enough attractive visuals for this particular type of action film. Unfortunately, there isn’t a whole lot of interesting material. Van Damme becomes close with the children of Arquette’s character, a lonely and frustrated widow, and eventually ends up in her bedroom, but their relationship remains dull. The children like him and she wants him to stay, but a jealous sheriff (Edward Blatchford) and the crooked developer want him gone -- either on his new bike or in a body bag. So, the romantic relationship is essentially a pretext for Van Damme to reveal a more humane side of the thief, and once you realize that it is so his interactions with the children and the widow begin to look quite trivial.

Once the final credits appear on your screen, however, I don’t think that you will feel disappointed with this film. Why? Well, because it cannot be any more transparent. If you see its title, read its synopsis, and see Van Damme's name attached to it, then you should know exactly what type of entertainment to expect from it -- and the film delivers. It is like a softer and less ambitious version of Road House but without Jeff Healey and his band rocking your speakers.

Nowhere to Run 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, Nowhere to Run arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of 88 Films.

The release is sourced from an older master that was supplied by Sony Pictures. It is a decent master that is free of problematic digital work, but it has some predictable limitations. For example, during darker footage the grain becomes a bit noisy, plus shadow definition isn't optimal, especially in areas where the cinematography introduces unique ranges of nuances. As a result, even if you don't project you will recognize that delineation and depth are not optimal (see screencaptures #15, 16, and 17). During daylight footage you will notice that highlights struggle a bit as well. I think that this is one of the key areas that will see notable improvements if the film is ever redone in 4K. The color scheme is stable. However, saturation and overall balance can be improved. A new grading job should eliminate the light crushing that pops up in darker areas as well. Image stability is very good. A few dirt spots can be seen, but there are no large distracting cut, debris, damage marks, warped or torn frames to report. So, this master is fine. It has decent organic qualities, but its age shows and on a larger screen some of its limitations become rather easy to spot. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Nowhere to Run Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

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

There are no technical issues to report in our review. Sharpness, clarity, depth, and stability are excellent. The bus sequence as well as the chase produce some quite strong dynamic nuances as well. During the individual fights, like the one at the barn towards the end I wanted to hear a bit more oomph, but I am fairly certain that this is precisely how the original mix was finalized. Perhaps only some minor adjustments are needed to bring up the existing ranges of dynamics a bit more. The dialog is clean and very easy to follow.

Nowhere to Run Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - vintage trailer for Nowhere to Run. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Interview with Peter MacDonald - in this new video interview, second unit director Peter MacDonald discusses the extra action footage he shot for Nowhere to Run as well as some disagreements that existed between Robert Harmon and the top people at Columbia/Sony Pictures that funded the film. There are also some interesting comments about Mr. MacDonald's working relationship with Jean-Claude Van Damme. The interview was conducted exclusively for 88 Films. In English, not subtitled. (9 min).

• Cards - four lobby cards. (See photos).

• Poster - mini-replica of the original theatrical poster for Nowhere to Run.

Nowhere to Run Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

With slightly edgier material and a vastly different, harder soundtrack Nowhere to Run probably would have been a great rival of Road House. From time to time it reveals a similar attitude and personality, but ultimately it chooses to remain a lot more civilized. On the other hand, it is such a transparent film that I think it is impossible to be disappointed by it. If you see promotional materials for it and they inspire you to find ninety minutes to spend with it, I guarantee your expectations will be met. RECOMMENDED.