Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		2.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.5

Shadows in an Empty Room Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 11, 2016

Supercop cinema heads to the Great White North in “Shadows in an Empty Room,” a 1976 production directed by Alberto De Martino (“The Pumaman”). Taking intrigue and murder to the rough streets of Quebec, the picture has a certain cultural point of view to keep it engaging, offering a mystery populated with restrained, almost polite participants. The helmer strives to keep the feature eventful and, at times, horrific, and for those who enjoy their police adventures with real bite, “Shadows in an Empty Room” supplies an enormous amount of crashing and smashing to fill up its run time, with De Martino more committed to the essentials of bodily harm than the nuances of a whodunit. And thank goodness for that.

A hard-charging cop, Capt. Saitta (Stuart Whitman) flings himself into action when criminal activity comes to Quebec, always turning to blunt violence to keep the streets safe. However, he’s unable to protect Louise (Carole Laure), his younger sister, who dies in the presence of her peers and Dr. Tracer (Martin Landau), an older man she was carrying on an affair with. Turning his attention to the case, joined by partner Matthews (John Saxon), Saitta begins a relentless search for the killer, keeping a close eye on Tracer while his interacts with suspicious types and his sibling’s close friends, with the deceased’s blind roommate, Julie (Tisa Farrow), particularly vulnerable to the wicked interests of malicious outsiders. Left with limited leads, Saitta amplifies his investigation, making life hell for possible suspects, while the presence of a valuable necklace in one of Louise’s pictures feeds the cop’s curiosity and impatience with the investigation.

Instead of meeting up with Saitta’s fury right off the bat, “Shadows in an Empty Room” does what a proper mystery should do: portion out relationship unrest in small, enigmatic bits. In the opening, we spy discord between Louise and Tracer, who argue in a local park, with her ex, Fred (Jean LeClerc) nearby, ready to swoop in and provide comfort. Louise eventually wants to contact Saitta, but the cop is on the case, racing to the scene of a violent bank robbery, tasked with catching the elusive suspects. Characterizations aren’t clear in the early going, but for this style of entertainment, it’s impressive to find such attention to personality, giving Louise’s eventual death more weight, especially with Saitta, who represents the law and family, motivating him to clean up the case and arrest the real killer.

Just who the murderer is remains obscured throughout much of “Shadows in an Empty Room,” but the screenplay has fun creating a roster of suspects and suspicious acquaintances, each marked with a memorable personal attribute to help identify vulnerabilities and threat. One young man has a mangled foot, Julie is blind, etc. However, early blame falls on Tracer, with confusion over pills given to Louise putting him behind bars while the investigative particulars are sorted out. Yet, that’s not nearly enough for “Shadows in an Empty Room,” which expands to the whereabouts of a special necklace, adding another layer of questioning to the story, keeping Saitta busy with police work and revelations, slowly emerging after intense questioning and the pursuit of questionable individuals.

If the case at the core of “Shadows in an Empty Room” doesn’t grab you, De Martino makes sure the picture has a wealth of violence to share. The chases in the effort are outstanding, utilizing rough stunt work to ornament foot (an extended hunt sprints into the bowels of a train station) and car pursuits throughout Quebec, with Saitta making sure to cause as much destruction as possible. There are several surprising encounters, with a mid-movie car chase highlighting zooming, flying, and smashing automobiles, giving the feature a giant burst of adrenaline. Oddity also comes into play, watching Saitta attempt to interview three transgendered women in the midst of primping for a night on the town. The moment turns into a wild brawl with bodies hurled through sliding glass doors and Saitta putting an end to one suspect’s aggression by shoving a hot curling iron up her rectum. Now there’s a finishing move one doesn’t encounter very often. “Shadows in an Empty Room” is quite rough at times, offering a graphic look at a body chewed up by a rock crusher, and the line of good taste is officially crossed as De Martino delights in tormenting Julie, while the climax finds the baddie threatening a newborn with a switchblade. It’s all fun and games until the helpless are targeted, but, mercifully, more screen time is devoted to pounding deserving brutes.

Shadows in an Empty Room Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation pulls the 1976 feature out of obscurity and gives it reasonable purpose on Blu-ray. Source shows some extended wear and tear, finding scratches a common sight, but damage is limited to short disruptions. Detail is generally acceptable for the softly-shot effort, managing to find textures on thespian close-ups, costuming, and locations, and streetwise distances are preserved. Colors are low-key but nicely refreshed, pushing out greenery and female costuming. Delineation isn't troubling, reaching as far as the original cinematography goes. Grain is filmic.

Shadows in an Empty Room Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix doesn't offer secure support, working through aged elements that provide constant hiss and pops, with periodic surges in intensity. Dialogue exchanges aren't completely disturbed, with basic intelligibility supplied, making it easy enough to track the performances. Music also lacks precision, but changes in musical mood are understood. Sound effects are blunt, delivering loud gunshots and car crashes, amplifying the action. Sync issues arrive on occasion, though with these B-movie productions, it's always difficult to tell if this is an inherent limitation.

Shadows in an Empty Room Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A Theatrical Trailer (3:33, SD) is included.

Shadows in an Empty Room Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Shadows in an Empty Room" is a peculiar film, never successful as a procedural thriller. It's more interested in exploitation highlights, sticking with scowling cops hunting after cowardly suspects, adding a personal mission for Saitta to help amplify the urgency of the case. The working parts of the mystery never take hold (the ending is more of a shoulder-shrug than a stunner), but De Martino is careful to protect the shock value of his picture, filling it with aggressive behavior and dogged pursuits, allowing the screenplay to take a rest while pure cinema takes over. "Shadows in an Empty Room" is an engaging effort, just not a dramatically tight one. It's ideal for those in a smashmouth mood, ready to let De Martino take over and transform the entire picture into a production that values the art of the stunt and the glee of sudden impact.