Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Stone Cold Dead Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 29, 2017

1979’s “Stone Cold Dead” is an adaptation of Hugh Garner novel, and writer/director George Mendeluk (“Bitter Harvest,” “Meatballs III: Summer Job”) doesn’t know what to do with it. It’s a suspense piece about a Jack the Ripper-style murderer prowling the streets, armed with a sniper rifle, but subplots are also dedicated to heroin abuse and trafficking, kinks in the prostitution game, dirty cops, and the elaborate feeding of fish. It’s everything but really nothing, as the production is often pulled in different directions, and none of them are particularly interesting. It’s Mendeluk’s helming debut, and it shows, as “Stone Cold Dead” has moments of ambition that appear to be taking plot developments in the right direction, only to have the whole thing repeatedly undone by poor dramatic management.

In the big city, a black-gloved killer is taking aim at local prostitutes with a sniper rifle fitted with a camera to capture the moment of death on film. Bodies are piling up quickly, and Sgt. Boyd (Richard Crenna) is fed up with the case, trying desperately to piece together the clues and prevent another murder. However, the case is complicated by a number of participants, including Kurtz (Paul Williams), a pimp and drug dealer who trying to move a massive amount of heroin around town, feeding addictions, including one possessed by his mistress, Bernice (Andree Cousineau), who’s losing the war with substance abuse. Bernice’s confidant is Monica (Linda Sorensen), a high-class escort who kicked her bad habits long ago, targeted by Boyd for inside information. And there’s Sandy (Belinda Montgomery), an undercover cop working the streets who aids Boyd, coming into contact with vicious personalities and untrustworthy colleagues.

While the story seems to be set in New York City, and a few shots include local life and landmarks, “Stone Cold Dead” is actually shot in Toronto, with Canadian touches all over the production, including a local pronunciation of “homicide.” It’s difficult to understand what Mendeluk is attempting to do by merging two distinct cities to create one chilly den of sin, and such geographical weirdness is the first of many questions triggered by the viewing experience. Another one? Why is Boyd such a terrible cop?

Striving to generate a cesspool of immorality and bodily abuse while sticking close to Garner’s plot, Mendeluk doesn’t have the experience to triumphantly manage an overly stuffed story with the basics in exploitation. The sniper scare is effective because it’s so bizarre, with the killer making sure the Canon brand name is clearly visible on the camera (I can’t imagine the company was happy with this product placement, but who knows), gearing up to murder and create a portrait of death at the same time, managing psychosis in a dark room filled with ghastly images. There’s enough in the serial killer story to sustain an entire feature, but the helmer doesn’t concentrate on his most marketable element. Instead, “Stone Cold Dead” tries to be a character piece with unpleasant personalities, though Williams does make the most of his time as Kurtz, a particularly troubled sleazebag who’s disappointed in his junkie lover while contributing to the ills of the world. Monica is bit of an enigma, presented as a practiced lady of the evening with daughter problems in Olivia (Alberta Watson), but she’s also a love interest of sorts for Boyd, who takes time out of his manhunt to go ice skating with a lady connected to local troublemaking.

As for Boyd, he’s the driven type but not a supercop (though he’s committed to law enforcement that does away what all that “civil liberties crap”), frustrated with a lack of investigative opportunities in the sniper case, ignoring a great number of other crimes, including the dismissal of a pedophile priest, just to get his man. There could be more nobility to the man and still create a complex character, but the script never gets around it. There’s more attention placed on his fish-feeding method (he calls a special phone number, and the ringing shakes a can of fish food hanging over his aquarium) than his stymied quest for justice, with “Stone Cold Dead” depicting the lead character of the movie as an easily distracted man with little to no instincts when it comes to detective work. In fact, most of the supporting characters make all the revelations for him. It’s a bizarre choice, but one Mendeluk sticks with, perhaps too busy dealing with everything else to concern himself with a lackluster cop in the driver’s seat. There’s even a moment set aside to enjoy Sandy’s singing audition as a blues club, because that’s what one does when there’s a sniper on the loose.

Stone Cold Dead Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation generally captures the chilly murder mystery mood of "Stone Cold Dead." Colors are nicely managed, preserving a frostier palette that's cut by hotter street signage and red nightclub interiors. Costuming offer various hues as well, showing stability and distinction. Skintones are natural. Detail is consistent, identifying pained facial reactions from the cast, and locations are dimensional, enjoying busy street life that should have many Canadian viewers taking a time machine back to Toronto in the late 1970s, with urban life passably pauseable. Delineation is acceptable. Grain is filmic. Source is in fine shape.

Stone Cold Dead Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix offers a straightforward presentation of elements, leading with acceptable dialogue exchanges. There's no distortion, and volume remains steady. Musical moods are set, handling deep synth stings and slow blues and jazz offering with decent instrumentation. Atmospherics are agreeable, bringing out a sense of street life. Some mild hiss is detected.

Stone Cold Dead Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historians Howard S. Berger and Nathaniel Thompson.

• Interview (9:05, HD) with writer/director George Mendeluk covers the basics of the "Stone Cold Dead" production experience, identifying its literary origin, tax shelter financing, and the helmer's desire to create his own urban environment by merging New York City with Toronto. Mendeluk identifies "Blow-Up" as a creative inspiration, and shares an anecdote about his love of urinating in public alleyways while making the movie, almost getting busted by the cops. Casting and soundtrack choices are also covered, and Mendeluk is relatively candid about the feature, appreciating it as the filmmaking education it was.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:27, SD) is included.

Stone Cold Dead Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

A little normal behavior wouldn't kill the movie, allowing a feel for pulp novel types as they interact in a dangerous city (one that apparently offers sex clubs and cookie emporiums on the same block), with the sniper's sinister plan of attack creating a defined pressure point. There are moments when this type of film threatens to break out, but Mendeluk doesn't follow through with any procedural horror. "Stone Cold Dead" is messy and tedious, disappointing with its inability to stand up and proceed confidently as exploitative shlock or even as a decent cop thriller. There's too much time spent wandering, dealing with a community of half-realized characters. There's a killer who shoots people while taking pictures of the gruesome event, and Mendeluk doesn't treasure the illness of the crime. His reach for personality and depth is admirable, but priorities, man. Priorities. Less Crenna on skates, more Crenna cracking skulls.