Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

The Chain Reaction Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov January 4, 2019

Ian Barry's "The Chain Reaction" (1980) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Umbrella Entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include original trailers for the film; extended interviews with cast and crew members; additional recent interviews; deleted and extended scenes; and more. In English, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Gotta go, pal.

Even if for some extremely odd reason the producers of The Chain Reaction had used some sort of an alias to hide George Miller’s identity, it would have been only a matter of time before various people would have figured out that he did contribute to the film. The chase footage is that edgy and eye-catching, and the similarities with the amazing work that Miller did in Mad Max are just too obvious. This isn’t to imply that this footage is the only reason to see the film, but it definitely adds a very special type of energy to it.

The plot of The Chain Reaction, however, was undoubtedly inspired by another film that emerged in the same year that Mad Max did, The China Syndrome, In fact, the main difference between these disaster films is the manner in which they choose to deliver their urgent message -- The China Syndrome does a lot of very particular things to appear as legit as a documentary feature while The Chain Reaction mixes comic action, romance, and sci-fi and then rather nonchalantly makes its key points. Needless to say, each film offers a drastically different viewing experience.

The action kicks off at a secluded nuclear storage facility somewhere deep into the heart of the Australian Outback. On a stormy night, a series of powerful tremors cause some giant pipes to crack and soon after a massive amount of radioactive waste begins to enter the groundwater. The only engineer at the facility, Heinrich Schmidt (Ross Thompson), attempts to contain the deadly spill, but suffers serious injuries and then barely manages to get out of the facility alive.

A few hours later, while medical specialists gather around his bed, Heinrich warns that urgent actions are needed to prevent an even bigger catastrophe, but his boss concludes that it will be best to dispatch his men to quietly clean up the area and seal off the facility. Realizing that a massive cover up has been greenlighted, Heinrich escapes and tries to get in touch with an old friend and likeminded colleague that could relate his information to the proper authorities. But the radiation that he has absorbed weakens his body and begins wiping out his memories, and soon after he collapses at a secluded cabin where mechanic Larry Stilson (Steve Bisley) and his wife Carmel (Anna-Maria Winchester) are trying to have a romantic weekend. As the couple attempt to help the strange visitor recover, a team of ‘exterminators’ begins looking for him.

Director Ian Barry apparently had some trouble securing the right budget for his directorial debut and at one point some of the producers he was working with even insisted that it would have been better to finalize as a TV production, but at the end it all worked out fine and he got it made. In fact, it is pretty difficult to tell that any compromises were made because the story is very nicely developed and the overall atmosphere is terrific.

What is particularly interesting is that the rougher material that decades ago some folks in Australia were not enthusiastic about now emerges as the key characteristic of the film’s stylistic identity. Together with the high-octane action it produces unusual contrasts that perhaps would have been appropriate for some sort of a low-budget local ‘kitchen sink’ drama, and yet Barry uses them to head in a completely different direction and delivers a uniquely Australian shocker that also manages to make a lot of sense. (As odd as it may sound, this film actually looks a lot more legit now than The China Syndrome precisely because it isn’t clogged up with a wide range of Hollywood clichés).

Bisley is perfectly cast as the random bloke who gets in a lot of trouble while not fully understanding what is happening around him. There is a casualness in his appearance that is very convincing. Winchester is good without leaving a lasting impression. Thompson has a few scenes where he slightly overplays his amnesia, but also does a good job with his character.

Mel Gibson pops up in the beginning of the film, playing a laidback mechanic, but a lot of people will probably miss his cameo. It is just way too quick and meaningless.

The Chain Reaction 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, Ian Barry's The Chain Reaction arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Umbrella Entertainment.

I don't have any technical credits to share in our review, but this film has been fully remastered and looks lovely in high-definition. In fact, it looks so healthy and has such strong organic qualities that I am convinced that the remaster was prepared fairly recently, not during the early stages of the DVD era. There are a few segments where density fluctuations emerge, but these are the type of fluctuations that are introduced by specific lensing choices, not problematic digital work. Also, there are no traces of degraining or sharpening adjustments, though I must mention that with some minor encoding optimizations and having the bonus features on a separate disc grain exposure would have been even more convincing. The color grading is wonderful. There are very solid and healthy primaries and supporting nuances that look equally natural. Image stability is outstanding. I noticed a couple of minor specks, but there are no large distracting debris, scratches, cuts, marks, or other imperfections to report. Wonderful presentation. My score is 4.75/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

The Chain Reaction 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 subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The chase footage sounds outstanding -- there is terrific depth and wonderful oomph for a period film of this nature. Balance is also good, but I am thankful that optional subtitles are provided because a few times I had trouble understanding all of the chatter with the thick accents and had to use them. The music, especially in the beginning, sound lovely.

The Chain Reaction Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

NOTE: All of the supplemental features on this Blu-ray release are perfectly playable on North American Blu-ray players, including the PS3.

• Extended 'Not Quite Hollywood' Interviews - presented here three extended interviews conducted by director Mark Hartley for his documentary Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation! in 2008. Stars Steve Bisley and Ana-Maria Winchester, director Ian Barry, and associate producer Ross Matthews discuss in great detail the development of The Chain Reaction, the style that the film acquired after George Miller became involved with, its message, the lovemaking footage, and its reception. There are also some very interesting comments about Glen Davis, the location in New South Wales where large parts of the film were shot, which apparently is one incredibly spooky place. In English, not subtitled. (75 min, 720p).

• Thrills & Nuclear Spills - in this program, director Ian Barry, star Steve Bisley, and producer David Elfick explain how The Chain Reaction came to exist, and discuss the blending of different genre elements that occurs in it, the relevance of its message(s), and the socio-cultural environment in which the film emerged as well as some of the unique trends in Australian cinema at the time. In English, not subtitled. (33 min, 720p).

• The Sparks Obituary (1978) - this short sci-fi film marked the beginning of director Ian Barry's relationship with with producer David Elfick. It is presented here with a filmed introduction by the director. In English, not subtitled. (25 min, 720p).

• Deleted and Extended Scenes - a collection of deleted and extended scenes. In English, not subtitled. (9 min, 720p).

• The Man at the Edge of the Freeway: Early Cut - presented here is a rough cut of The Chain Reaction, which was initially titled The Man at the Edge of the Freeway. It is sourced from an analog master. 1.33:1 aspect ratio. In English, not subtitled. (94 min, 720p).

• Trailer - presented here is a remastered vintage trailer for The Chain Reaction. In English, not subtitled. (4 min, 720p).

• VHS Trailer - a vintage VHS trailer for The Chain Reaction. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 720p).

• TV Spot - a vintage TV Spot for The Chain Reaction. In English, not subtitled. (1 min, 720p).

• Cover - reversible cover with vintage poster art.

The Chain Reaction Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

What Ian Barry's directorial debut lacked, which was the polished appearance of a Hollywood genre picture, is precisely what now makes it look so stylish and fresh. Basically, what you should expect from The Chain Reaction is a big dose of gonzo film-making mixed up with an equal dose of pure Aussie atmosphere, plus a very relevant warning that nuclear waste storage facilities can never be as safe as the engineers that build them claim they are. I really enjoyed this film, and as odd as it may sound, I think that it actually looks more authentic than The China Syndrome. Umbrella Entertainment's release is sourced from another very solid exclusive remaster and is Region-Free. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.