Terminal Island 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Terminal Island 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 25, 2021

Director of “The Student Nurses” and “The Working Girls,” Stephanie Rothman is tasked with making an exploitation film with 1973’s “Terminal Island,” only she has limited interest in the traditional extremity of the subgenre. Also co-scripting the endeavor with Charles S. Swartz and James Barnett, Rothman strives to keep her distance from pure ugliness, more interested in the psychological weariness of the characters as they manage an impossible situation of imprisonment. This creative approach splits “Terminal Island” into two moods, as Rothman labors to make something passably meaningful with the premise, while the other side of the feature plays B-movie games of violence and revenge, content to recycle scenes of confrontation.

The death penalty has been abolished in California, with the legal system putting extreme criminals on Terminal Island, where they’re forced to survive on their own. The latest arrival, Carmen (Ena Hartman), cautiously makes her way inland, only to be trapped by the island’s ruler, Bobby (Sean Kenney), who maintains female enslavement to keep order with the men. Carmen soon learns about the cruelty of life on Terminal Island, joined by veterans Lee (Marta Kristen) and Joy (Phyllis Davis), who navigate the wrath of enforcer Monk (Roger E. Mosley) and encounter the strange benevolence of Dr. Norman (Tom Selleck).

“Terminal Island” provides a great idea for drive-in cinema, visiting a place where the worst of the worst are sent to die off, observing the creation and maintenance of this society of the disturbed. Rothman does an excellent job with introductions, generating a reality to the concept with some person-on-the-street T.V. interviews before following Carmen into Terminal Island, where she quickly learns it’s not a place for trusting people. “Terminal Island” examines male authority, with females turned into cattle for work and prostitutes for reward, giving Carmen a brutal education in the ways of Bobby’s rule. This aggression also plays into standard exploitation entertainment, though Rothman pulls back on the rough stuff, showing a refreshing hesitance when it comes to sexual violence.

“Terminal Island” often struggles to find things to do after Carmen settles into the hellhole. The script goes into characterization, getting to understand the prisoners and their crimes, but there are too many faces to really get deep with anyone, finding Dr. Norman and his mercy killing mistake the only backstory that provides dramatic potential. Rothman casts well, securing decent performances for this type of escapism, but “Terminal Island” is caught between an actor’s showcase and grindhouse amusement, as the film takes plenty of breaks to deal with male rage, which repeatedly results in clumsy mano a mano showdowns where no fight choreography is provided. Action grows repetitious, but a slight detour is found at the midway point, where an opposing faction arrives, creating a war scenario that takes some time to build to.

Terminal Island 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screencaps are taken from the "Terminal Island" Blu-ray.

The 4K image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Terminal Island" is sourced from a 35mm original camera negative. Detail is exact throughout the viewing experience, picking up on creased facial surfaces and fine hairs, while full body shots are equally direct. Costuming is fibrous, largely dealing with rougher denim and polyester outfits. Island particulars are defined to satisfaction, surveying forests and beaches, with muddier, wetter elements at times. Dimension is ideal as the characters tour the area. Colors are crisp and inviting, with opening scenes showcasing period fashion, with heavy emphasis on orange, while island residents are primarily dressed in various shades of blue. Greenery is precise. Skintones are natural. Highlights are tasteful, with more pronounced sunlight. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is fine and film-like. Source is in excellent condition.

Terminal Island 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix preserves performance choices during "Terminal Island," with a wide range of acting styles and abilities on display. Dialogue exchanges are clear, reaching the limits of the sound equipment. Scoring cues support with confidence, providing some acoustic and funkier moods, and soundtrack selections are crisp, leading with a heavier country swagger. Sound effects are basic but effective.

Terminal Island 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "The Rothmanaissance: Rediscovering the Work of Stephanie Rothman" (30:55, HD) is an appreciation featurette on the director, with media studies professor Dr. Alicia Kozma and film programmer Heidi Honeycutt offering their thoughts on the helmer and her unusual career. Topics include Rothman's relationship with writer Charles S. Swartz, her time with Dimension Pictures, her years with Roger Corman, and her efforts to work around the demands of exploitation cinema, aiming to reach higher with her endeavors. Rothman's experiences as a feminist are highlighted, trying to hire women in crew positions, only to find so few trained for the industry, and some information about "Terminal Island" is shared, including difficult shooting conditions and the creative struggle to get the movie away from the "women in prison" routine. Ignored during her time in Hollywood, the interviewees share hope for a rediscovery of Rothman's career achievements.

• "From Hartman to Carmen" (19:51, HD) is an interview with actress Ena Hartman, who recalls her formative years growing up Arkansas, maintaining a dream of becoming a movie star. In New York City, Hartman made her way into the restaurant business before trying her luck with modeling, eventually finding herself under contract with NBC. For "Terminal Island," the interviewee offers her memories of co- stars and director Stephanie Rothman. She also details an on-set injury she suffered, which left her unable to continue making "Terminal Island," watching as her leading character was replaced with someone else. This situation proved to be the last for Hartman, who quit acting to try other things, and she shares her thoughts on the picture, revisiting it for the first time in decades for the interview.

• "Crash Landing on 'Terminal Island'" (27:50, HD) is a dual interview with actors Marta Kristen and Sean Kenney. They both trace their early career ambitions, with Kristen moving from life in an orphanage to time on "Lost in Space," even encountering Stanley Kubrick along the way. Kenney pursued a dream of stage acting to Hollywood, landing a spot on "Star Trek." Shooting conditions on "Terminal Island" are remembered, with cold weather making the work challenging. Co-star camaraderie is recalled, and time with director Stephanie Rothman is highlighted, with Kristen especially surprised to be working with a female filmmaker. Life after "Terminal Island" is detailed, and the feminist approach of the production is analyzed.

• "Why Be a Man, When You Can Be a Rothman?" (31:23, HD) is an interview with director Stephanie Rothman, who examines her early career with Roger Corman, working her way up with the producer before she was offered films to direct. Making the move to Dimension Pictures, Rothman was tasked with creating a women in prison movie, challenging her to get away from the formula and do something different. Story beats, characterizations, and performances are detailed, and the difficult outdoor shoot for "Terminal Island" is remembered, with the production fighting rain and whales(!) while trying to make their days, never taking time off.

• Still Gallery (2:09) collects poster art, film stills, publicity shots, BTS snaps, and press kit pages.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:33, HD) is included.

Terminal Island 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Terminal Island" ultimately gets around to explosions and barbarity, but Rothman almost seems reluctant to indulge such theatrics, which distance her from a grand attempt to generate gamesmanship among the prisoners in the build up to war. There are scenes where the material is laser-focused on doing something subversive, and there are moments when the feature looks like a big backyard production, watching actors figure out what to do with limited resources. "Terminal Island" is uneven work, but it deserves credit for the few times it aims higher than the competition.