Steel and Lace Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Steel and Lace Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 26, 2021

1991’s “Steel and Lace” hopes to offer a more dramatic side to exploitation entertainment, mixing some serious emotion with the pure thrill of revenge cinema. It’s an uneven blend of the real and unreal, but director Ernest Farino doesn’t blink when it comes to the wilder aspects of the journey, making sure scenes of comeuppance register with full bloodshed. “Steel and Lace” deals with some intense situations concerning sexual assault and the failure of the justice system, offering just enough texture to help the production get past cheap thrills, elevating the material beyond simplistic acts of bodily harm.

When Gaily (Clare Wren) commits suicide after her rapist, Daniel (Michael Cerveris) is set free, her brother, scientist Albert (Bruce Davison), decides to resurrect his sibling as a killer cyborg. Sending Gaily back out into the world to seek revenge on Daniel and the men who lied to protect him, Albert tries to reclaim justice. However, his plan is noticed by courtroom artist Alison (Stacy Haiduk) and cop Dunn (David Naughton), who try to comprehend the impossible as Gaily takes down her attackers in increasingly vicious ways.

It's not easy to get behind “Steel and Lace,” which initially offers coarse scenes of sexual violence and courtroom outrage to set the mood of the picture. The writing eventually gets on track after Gaily’s resurrection, but “Steel and Lace” breaks down into two subplots, following the cyborg’s path of revenge and Alison’s awareness that something strange is happening to Daniel’s goons, piecing together the clues. She’s in a relationship with Dunn, which provides most of the dramatic meat of the endeavor, but once Gaily gets going, exposing her mechanical abilities to destroy others, the feature becomes a lot more compelling. Farino rides the line of bad taste with surprising skill, making sure the effort is grotesque, but also perceptive when it comes to deep feelings of loss and anger.

Steel and Lace Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image presentation is sourced from a 2K scan of the 35mm interpositive. For "Steel and Lace," two aspect ratios are provided, with 1.33:1 representing the intended look of the movie. Detail is a tad soft, but facial surfaces and fibrous costuming with business attire and period outfits comes through. Building interiors are also open for inspection. Colors are distinct, offering a cooler palette for nighttime activity, which is usually accompanied by deep red blood. Skintones are natural. Grain is heavy but film-like. Delineation is satisfactory. Source is in good condition.

Steel and Lace Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix delivers decent dialogue exchanges, though music tends to offer a bit more power. Instrumentation is clear and suspense moods are supported. Sound effects also show authority, highlighting buzzing death machines and laser powers.

Steel and Lace Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features director Ernest Marino.

• "Iron, Carbon, Anger: The Elements of 'Steel and Lace'" (57:52, HD) is a making-of documentary featuring interviews with director Ernest Farino, writers Joseph Dougherty and Dave Edison, producer John Schouweiler, casting director Ira Belgrade, special effects artist Roy Knyrim, editor Christopher Roth, composer John Massari, cinematographer Thomas Callaway, and actors David Naughton, Paul Lieber, John Demita, Hank Garrett, and Stacy Haiduk. Early directorial dreams from Farino are shared, along with the original version of the "Steel and Lace" script, which was titled "Lady Lazarus." Development of the material is analyzed, with the team hammering ideas into place. Casting triumphs are shared, with the actors detailing their commitment to character and preparation. The crew is celebrated for the low-budget shoot, and special effects are explored, sharing how certain tricks were pulled off. The post-production journey closes out the documentary, highlighting scoring and editing efforts.

• Photo Gallery (20:19) collects film stills, publicity shots, BTS snaps, hair & wardrobe reference pictures, makeup tests, and newspaper ads.

• A Trailer has not been included on this release.

Steel and Lace Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Steel and Lace" isn't a powerful look at grief, but an effort was made to understand characters and do something with personalities, keeping the effort away from becoming a one-note bloodbath. The writing also deserves credit for an appropriately bleak conclusion, supplying a natural resolution to this sci-fi story that keeps the picture tonally brave and satisfying overall.