Stone Cold Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Stone Cold Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov June 10, 2023

Craig Baxley's "Stone Cold" (1991) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include new program with Brian Bosworth; new program with Lance Henriksen; new program with Sam McMurray; new audio commentary by critics Mike Leeder and Arne Venema; vintage promotional materials for the film; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

The Boz

In 2020, Jonathan Mostow did a very interesting program in which he discusses the genesis of Breakdown, arguably his best film. In this program, Mostow reveals that years ago he was forced to shoot a very bizarre prologue which he was able to junk only after an early screening of Breakdown that made the obvious painfully obvious -- the material in the prologue was ludicrous and utterly incompatible with the rest of his film. Mostow’s description of the entire situation -- from the moment he was told to do the prologue to the moment the people that wanted it done realized that it was ludicrous -- is fascinating because it makes it clear that he and several studio execs were looking at Breakdown and seeing a completely different film. (The program and bits of the prologue Mostow shot and junked can be seen on Australian label Via Vision Entertainment’s release of Breakdown, which is listed here).

Kino Lorber’s Blu-ray release of Craig Baxley’s film Stone Cold has another very interesting new program with Brian Bosworth in which he describes a similar prologue that could have completely altered the personality of the film. According to Bosworth, this prologue would have revealed crucial material about the father of his character, also a cop, and his clash with the brutal bikers, which should have had lasting ripple effects on the drama and action in the rest of the film. Bosworth liked this prologue so much that to this day he remains convinced that with it Stone Cold would have been a vastly superior film. Unfortunately, Baxley, who was not the first director that was contracted to do Stone Cold, and the producers of the film did not agree with Bosworth.

It is impossible to know whether Bosworth might be right without seeing at least a few bits of this prologue, but it is very easy to conclude that with it Stone Cold would have been a very different film. In the program, Bosworth repeatedly suggests that the drama could have had a different resonance, which instantly would have altered the nature of the relationships in Stone Cold. This implies that Bosworth would have liked Stone Cold to be a more realistic film -- not a realistic film, but a more realistic film.

Before I sat down to write this article, I thought quite a bit about Bosworth’s revelations, and I am going to respectfully disagree with him. To be clear, I do not think that while shooting Stone Cold Bosworth was seeing a completely different film, like the studio execs that forced Mostow to do the prologue for Breakdown. Bosworth was very much on the same page with Baxley and some of the best material in Stone Cold was done with him making great suggestions. I gather that Bosworth would have been happier with a much longer film in which the evolution of his character was far more complex.

The crucial problem with the superior film Bosworth wanted to see made is that it would have struggled to legitimize all of the over-the-top behavior and flashy action that are in the current version of Stone Cold. Also, the screenplay would have required a serious makeover because the current story that emerges from it is too thin. This is not a weakness in an unapologetic genre film that takes its action far more seriously than its drama, but a key element of its identity.

As shot, Stone Cold might be the ultimate macho action film. Bosworth plays a suspended Alabama cop that is forced by the FBI to infiltrate The Brotherhood, a brutal biker gang operating in Mississippi, and destroy it from within. His reward is having the suspension terminated. In other words, the cop does not get any opportunities to be the complex character that Bosworth describes.

Bosworth’s main opponents are played by Lance Henriksen and William Forsythe, both looking as authentic as the real bikers that were hired to appear in the film. In another outstanding new program, Henriksen reveals that Forsythe was so much into his character that while they were shooting he stopped showering and slept with his clothes on.

Stone Cold 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, Stone Cold arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

In 2015, Stone Cold made its high-definition debut via this release from Olive Films, which was sourced from an even older and quite weak master. Kio Lorber's release is sourced from an exclusive new 2K master that has been struck from an interpositive and offers the best technical presentation of the film that I have seen to date.

However, while looking much more vibrant and healthier, Stone Cold could have a superior organic appearance. Indeed, there are quite a few areas of the new presentation where delineation and depth are not optimal. In darker areas, you will see crushing and even sporadic flatness. There are even a few areas where the grain begins to collapse into noise. So, the larger your screen is, the easier it will be for you to observe minor fluctuations and inherited limitations. (Some older or not particularly well-kept interpositives reveal precisely the limitations you will notice on this presentation). Color balance is very good. In fact, it might be the most significant improvement. Some darker supporting nuances can be even more impressive but now the film has the proper vibrant appearance it has always had. (A native 4K presentation of it would be a visual stunner). Image stability is good. I notice several small blemishes and dark spots popping up, but there are no large cuts, warped, or torn frames to report. (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).

Stone Cold Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

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

The high-octane action sounded great on my system. In terms of dynamic potency, I do not think that there is any room for significant improvements. There may be room for minor rebalancing work in a couple of areas where the rock music becomes prominent, but it is difficult to tell how the soundtrack might have been finalized. The upper register is very healthy. The dialog is always easy to follow.

Stone Cold Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• The Boz Goes Hollywood - in this exclusive new program, Brian Bosworth discusses the end of his NFL career and transition to the film industry, the production of Stone Cold, a prologue he wanted to see kept in the final version of the film, and several experiences he had with Lance Henriksen, William Forsythe, and other cast members. In English, not subtitled. (19 min).

• The Brotherhood - in this exclusive new program, Lance Henriksen recalls his contribution to Stone Cold, how he was able to convince real bikers/outlaws to participate in it, his interactions with Brian Bosworth and William Forsythe, some of the extremely dangerous work that was done in Arkansas, etc. Also, Henriksen has some great comments about the macho attitude and personality of Stone Cold. In English, not subtitled. (12 min).

• Breaking Free - in this exclusive new program, Arabella Holzbog recalls how she was cast to play her character in Stone Cold, what it was like to be around real bikers/outlaws, the shooting of the violent footage in key sequences, and her experience of viewing the final version of the film for the very first time with friends. In English, not subtitled. (14 min).

• Breaking Free - in this exclusive new program, Sam McMurray recalls his time in the South during the shooting of Stone Cold (where picked up a great truck that was sent back to LA), how he prepared and played his comic character, how some of the wild action footage was shot, etc. In English, not subtitled. (9 min).

• TV Spots - presented here are several vintage TV spots for Stone Cold. In English, not subtitled. (4 min).

• Promotional Material - presented here are VHS release and VHS trailer for Stone Cold. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Additional Promotional Material - presented here is an archival 1-900 challenge contest TV piece promoting Stone Cold. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Trailers - two vintage trailers for Stone Cold.
  
  1. Trailer One. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).
  2. Trailer Two. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Commentary - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critics Mike Leeder and Arne Venema. These gentlemen have recorded numerous audio commentaries for various cult and beloved action films -- many of them Hong Kong action films -- and they usually follow the same format. So, you should expect to hear a lot of interesting observations about the genesis of Stone Cold, cinematic and cultural trends at the time of its production, the careers of its stars and the quality of their performances, the evolution of action films, etc.

• Cover - reversible cover with vintage poster art for Stone Cold.

Stone Cold Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

In the summer of 1991, Skid Row released their classic album Slave to the Grind, which ruled the charts and changed perceptions about mainstream hard rock. I have often wondered how Stone Cold would have been received if its soundtrack had a couple of tracks from Skid Row's album, like The Threat and Riot Act, because the film and the album ooze almost identical pure macho energy. In an exclusive new program, Brian Bosworth also wonders how Stone Cold would have turned out if its producers and director Craig Baxley had kept a prologue he really liked. With this prologue, Stone Cold definitely would have been a very different film, but not the superior film Bosworth describes. Despite some obvious flaws, I have always liked it and kept a copy of it in my library next to Larry Ferguson's Beyond the Law. Kino Lorber's Blu-ray release is sourced from a good exclusive new 2K master and has an outstanding selection of new bonus features. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.