Off Balance Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Off Balance Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov June 7, 2025

Ruggero Deodato's "Off Balance" a.k.a. "Phantom of Death" (1988) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Cauldron Films. The supplemental features on the release include exclusive new program with Ruggero Deodato; new audio commentary by critics Troy Howarth and Eugenio Ercolani; and vintage trailers. In English or Italian, with optional English and English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

They say that death is God's biggest joke.

Off Balance and Thinner make a perfect double bill. And, guess what? If you do end up viewing both on the same night, you will almost certainly conclude that the former, which is not well known, is undoubtedly the superior film.

In Italy, following a successful recital, the famous pianist Robert Dominici (Michael York) is informed that his girlfriend has been viciously murdered. Inspector Datti (Donald Pleasence) begins working on the case, but there is very little that he and his men can use to determine where to look for the killer. Meanwhile, fashion designer Helene Martell (Edwige Fenech), a very close friend of Dominici, confesses that she has always loved him and is ready to pursue a serious romantic relationship. However, Dominici politely turns her down, explaining that it is not the right time, and, shortly after, travels to Venice, where his elderly mother resides. Several months later, looking worn out and, according to his mother, like a much older man, Dominici packs his bags and disappears. When he reappears, Dominici engages Inspector Datti in a bloody cat-and-mouse game, now looking very much like a sick elderly man who has little time left to live.

The first twenty minutes of Off Balance easily create the impression that Ruggero Deodato will work hard to impress with the same old tricks that all Italian gialli used during the late ‘70s and ‘80s. Unsurprisingly, there are a couple of very graphic murders, complemented by spooky dark footage that all gialli always needed to produce and sustain their famous atmosphere. However, Off Balance does not hide the killer’s identity until the final sequence. After the first twenty minutes, it reveals that it is Dominici and quickly makes his misery the main attraction.

This rather unusual reset makes Off Balance a most interesting genre film. Indeed, the atmosphere and drama are right for a giallo, but the stars handle their parts as if they are right for a serious crime drama, and this unmissable disconnect makes the over-the-top material, which is quite a lot, oddly attractive. Admittedly, the attractive has a distinct Italian quality, so a viewer who does not appreciate it will undoubtedly have a different take on the unmissable disconnect. However, this is essentially what prevents Off Balance from becoming an entirely predictable, one-dimensional film, so watching the stars doing what they do is quite a treat.

There is something else that is unmissable, too. Off Balance is covered with beautiful music composed by Pino Donaggio, who scored several of Brian De Palma’s legendary thrillers. As a result, even though Deodato cannot transform over-the-top or kitschy material into eye candy like De Palma regularly does, certain areas of Off Balance still look very good. (For example, the graphic murder at the train station easily could have been extracted from a De Palma film).

Off Balance can be viewed with original English and Italian audio tracks. Virtually all actors utter their lines in English. However, both tracks feature original overdubbing. The English track, which is preferable, can be pretty wild at times.

Off Balance Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.67:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Off Balance arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Cauldron Films.

The release introduces a new 2K restoration sourced from the original camera negative. I would describe the restoration and its presentation as good, but there are areas where various improvements could have been made. For example, while delineation, clarity, and depth remain pleasing throughout the entire film, in some darker areas fine nuances are not always as convincing as they should be. Also, again in darker areas, occasionally grain becomes a tad noisy. While color balance is fine, color reproduction reveals inconsistencies as well. As a result, there are a few spots where less-than-ideal saturation levels impact the dynamic range of select visuals and make them appear unconvincing. The good news is that the restoration still gives the film an attractive, healthy organic appearance, which is also the best it has ever had on a home video release. My score is 3.75/5.00 (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).

Off Balance Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the English track. The Italian track has English subtitles, but they are forced.

I viewed the entire film with the English track. It is a good track that handles Pino Donaggio's score quite well. However, it features overdubbing that comes with some inherited limitations. For example, early into the film, there is obvious dynamic unevenness that has an effect on clarity as well. The upper register is healthy, but if you turn up the volume enough, you will eventually notice that the audio does not have that consistent fullness and roundness that are present on proper studio tracks that were finalized in America at the same time.

Off Balance Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• An Uncommon Director - in this exclusive program, director Rugerro Deodato explains why the '70s were such a great period to create genre films, even though the '80s were fantastic for his career. Deodato also reveals how the opportunity to direct Off Balance came along, and why he did not "put much passion into this film, but the result was solid nonetheless." Also, there are some very interesting comments about the drama surrounding Edwige Fenech and her former partner, director Sergio Martino, and Deodato's fondness of beautiful women and the parts they had in his films, as well as Donald Pleasence's enigmatic presence before the camera. The program was produced by Eugenio Ercolani. In Italian, with English subtitles. (33 min).

• Commentary - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critics Troy Howarth and Eugenio Ercolani. The most interesting comments address the production and style of Off Balance, the cast that was assembled for it, and Ruggero Deodato's legacy.

• Trailer One - a remastered vintage international trailer for Off Balance. In English, not subtitled. (4 min).

• Trailer Two - a remastered vintage Italian trailer for Off Balance. In Italian, with English subtitles. (4 min).

• Cover - a reversible cover with vintage Italian poster art for Off Balance.

Off Balance Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Ruggero Deodato confesses that Off Balance was not a film he cared for, but somehow, despite his indifference, turned out very well. I agree, it is an odd but good film. In fact, it is not difficult to argue that it might be one of the best in Deodato's oeuvre, which has several notoriously graphic, pretty mediocre films that, for some reason, are considered genre masterpieces. Had Brian De Palma, not Deodato, directed Off Balance, I guarantee it would have turned out a legitimate cult film. It works with interesting material, it unites several wonderful character actors, and De Palma's frequent collaborator Pino Donaggio floods it with gorgeous music. RECOMMENDED.