Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

Rad Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman March 11, 2021

Mill Creek has released the cult favorite 80s BMX bike film 'Rad' to Blu-ray. The film was previously released to Blu-ray through Vinegar Syndrome; that disc was well reviewed but was printed in limited quantities. It is now sold out and only available for exorbitantly high prices on the secondhand market. I did not review, nor do I have access to, a copy of that disc and cannot make direct comparisons. This review simply offers fresh video and audio reviews as they specifically pertain to the Mill Creek disc. Several bonus features are also included, though this disc's quantity of extras pale in comparison to the extra large assortment included on the Vinegar disc.

The small community of Cochrane is hosting the "Helltrack" bike race, put on by the President of the Mongoose bike company, Duke Best (Jack Weston). A grand prize of $100,000 and a new Corvette will bring all of the best factory bike riders to the city, putting it on the map for good. But the city's denizens are concerned that its own youth won't be able to qualify for the race. In response, Best puts up another $10,000 for any local youth who qualifies for the race. Local biker Cru Jones (Bill Allen) is good on the bike -- maybe better than anyone in the world -- and the race is his chance to prove it. But he will have to compete with the best riders who ride under the best sponsors, including hotshot Bart Taylor (Bart Conner). If Bart wins the race, it's sure to help Best sell more bikes and make more money. When Best realizes that Cru is a serious contender to win Helltrack, he stops at nothing to prevent him from entering the race. Meanwhile, Cru finds himself drawn to a female rider, Christian (Lori Loughlin).

For a full film review, please click here.

Rad Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Rad looks, well, rad on Blu-ray. As noted above, I cannot confirm whether this is the same transfer from the Vinegar Syndrome disc, but after examining the screenshots there's certainly not much of a departure, if there is one at all. Mill Creek's presentation is excellent, easily one of the best the studio has released, especially in recent memory. The picture begins with an inauspicious opening title sequence, which is soft and sloppy and full of splotches and speckles, but the image quickly tightens and holds steady to a very pleasing and authentic film-like appearance for the duration. Grain is thick but natural, complimenting beautiful fine detailing on skin and clothes, not to mention bikes and the rugged terrain where the race takes place at film's end. Urban accents -- storefronts and shop interiors, pavement, and the like -- enjoy fruitful texturing as well. The movie looks gorgeous through and through and colors are likewise exceptionally bold and brilliant. There's no shortage of vivid and vibrant tonal output throughout the film. Reds are particularly and notably bold but the entire palette brings out the best of bold greens, blues, every other color imaginable. It's loud but tasteful, bold but not overstated. Skin tones are healthy and black levels are fine. The picture does suffer from mild compression issues in a handful of the most challenging scenes and the odd splotch and spot remain, but even so this is a terrifically authentic picture that fans are going to love.

Rad Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Rad pedals onto Blu-ray with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The 80s score is lively along the front, featuring good foundational detail and a modest surround support element, as well as clearly defined and center positioned lyrics and a quality subwoofer component to bring it home. Music is the track's lifeblood (and sets the mood for maybe the best sequence in the movie when Cru and Christian "dance" on their bikes to Real Life's Send Me An Angel in a darkened gymnasium). The track offers well defined atmospherics around town or out in the country. There is some positive reverb to the race call during the big race at the end, playing with fine spacing and immersion. Dialogue is generally clear and center focused, though some muddiness is apparent in a few places, such as when Cru and his mother fight over his racing and SATs at the 51-minute mark. Otherwise, this one's good to go.

Rad Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This Mill Creek Blu-ray release of Rad contains several supplements, though hardly the same quantity, or quality, of the prodigious assortment of supplements included with the sold out Vinegar Syndrome release. Below are what's included here but be sure to check out the review of the VS disc to see what all is absent here. A MovieSpree digital copy code is included with purchase.

• Rad Q&A Session (1080i, 40:59): Featured are Screenwriter Sam Bernard and cast members Bill Allen, Talia Shire, and Bart Conner. The panel is moderated by Jorma Taccone.
• Archival Video Interviews with Cast and Crew (480i, 4x3, 10:47): Bart Conner, Lori Loughlin, and Bill Allen are featured.
• Original Behind-the-Scenes Featurette (480i, 4x3, 5:00): A history of bikes quickly gives way to a look at the 80s biking scene and bringing it to the screen in Rad.
• "Break the Ice" Music Video (480i, 4x3, 3:34).

This release also ships exclusively in SteelBook packaging. It's part of the "Mondo" series, labeled as the 46th in the line. The SteelBook ships inside a transparent plastic slipcover. On the front is film's title scrawled in white, just left of center. The Mondo logo runs vertically bottom left and a small red box appears top left with Blu-ray and digital copy logos. The spines are blank. The rear panel includes the usual cluster of content: the UPC barcode, a blurb, special features listings, still photos, a billing block, tech specs, and legalese.

The SteelBook proper is not completely matte and not completely glossy. The front panel features Cru on his bike, which is practically vertical. He's standing on the pedals and gripping the handlebars, which are pulled to the side, leaving his left arm vertical and his right arm across his chest. He's wearing a helmet, a visor, and a red uniform. A blue background with a metallic orange sun appears behind him. The rear panel is similarly designed, featuring Bart Taylor in his yellow and blue riding outfit on his bike, standing on the pedals, filling much of the left-hand side. A trio of riders appear in silhouette on the right. There's a blue terrain, running at a slightly slope center, with an orange sky above. The spine is an orange color with some darker streaks running more or less horizontally here and there. The film's title in white is center. The Mondo "M" and the number 46 appear top and the SteelBook logo appears at the bottom.

Inside, the digital copy code is tucked under the left-hand side tabs. The inner print is a two-panel spread that depicts four additional riders, two fully on the left, one intersecting the right and left panels, and one fully right. There is sloping red terrain with a white streak on top and a blue sky above.

Rad Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Rad is a surprisingly good film even as it's made of mostly generic story beats. At its center is a film reminiscent of The Karate Kid, here taking place on bikes rather than in a dojo. But a terrific soundtrack, awesome displays of bike riding prowess, some good acting, decent writing, and solid pacing and editing elevate this to one of the better underrated gems from the 80s. Mill Creek's Blu-ray looks and sounds terrific. It is unfortunately lacking the exhaustive supplemental section found on the now out of print Vinegar Syndrome disc, but it does ship in a radical SteelBook. Highly recommended, especially to those who missed out on the Vinegar release.