The Mechanic Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

The Mechanic Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov February 5, 2026

Michael Winner's "The Mechanic" (1972) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include archival program with screenwriter Lewis John Carlino; archival audio commentaries with author and critic Paul Talbot; archival audio commentary with director of photography Richard H. Kline; vintage trailer; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

Michael Winner and Charles Bronson made six films together. The fourth, Death Wish, will always be identified as the biggest and most influential, and for several legitimate reasons. However, the second, The Mechanic, is the best in the bunch. It is a lean, impeccably crafted action thriller, boasting an IQ none of the other five films possess.

Bronson is Arthur Bishop, a professional hitman who takes out targets on demand. When his services are needed, he gets a short phone call, followed by a large envelope containing photos and detailed information about his next target. Because he is a perfectionist, Bishop requires time to study his target and its environment, and then pick the ideal place where its execution will occur.

When Harry McKenna (Keenan Wynn), a close friend of Bishop’s late father, a founding member of The Organization, reaches out with a request for help -- concerning a problem inside The Organization that could ruin him -- Bishop immediately agrees to see him. However, a day later, a large envelope mailed by The Organization appears in Bishop’s mailbox, with the necessary information for McKenna’s execution. Despite having known McKenna for decades, Bishop then quickly plans his execution and kills him.

At McKenna’s funeral, Bishop talks to his son (Jan-Michael Vincent) and agrees to give him a ride home. However, a few hours later, the two end up before the young man’s suicidal girlfriend, as she initiates yet another attempt to end her life, and when he refuses to help her, Bishop becomes intrigued by his personality. In the days ahead, Bishop repeatedly sees McKenna’s son, who, after learning that he makes ends meet as a mechanic, eventually becomes his pupil. But, for not securing a permission to be his mentor, Bishop is confronted by The Organization.

Other films like The Mechanic construct a fast-evolving, deadly game, place their characters in it, and then provide evidence that the most pragmatic and intelligent amongst them can figure out a way to dominate it. In The Mechanic, Bishop’s profession is profiled strictly as a dirty business, where pragmatism and intelligence can provide only temporary protection, not the means and opportunities to dominate it.

Whether entirely accurate or not, this very clear deconstruction of Bishop’s profession accomplishes two things that transform The Mechanic into a special film. First, it frees the narrative from the mandatory, lengthy illuminating chatter about the dos and don’ts of Bishop’s profession, which anyone can tell are not universal. Second, it effectively humanizes Bishop and his pupil, and, in the process, makes their environment entirely believable. This simplification then allows The Mechanic to deliver indisputable evidence that the dirty business it has exposed is, in fact, defined by unpredictable dirty tricks.

The action material is very nicely staged and shot, but it is not of the flashy kind that Bronson’s films are typically famous for. It is simple and realistic.

Jill Ireland has a tiny part, playing a call-girl whom Bronson’s character sees whenever he feels lonely, which, before his pupil’s arrival, is often.

Winner’s director of photography was Richard H. Kline, who lensed several other big action films with Bronson. However, the sequences with the Italian locations were filmed by Robert Paynter.

The Mechanic 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, The Mechanic arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

The release introduces an exclusive new 4K restoration of The Mechanic. The 4K restoration is also made available on 4K Blu-ray in this combo pack.

If you have any of the previous Blu-ray releases of The Mechanic and wish to have the best presentation of the film in your library, you should consider an upgrade. The 4K restoration provides the entire film with a very healthy, attractive, and, most importantly, very convincing period appearance. I was particularly pleased with the various color improvements because they restore proper balance and, in the process, give all visuals a superior dynamic range. On my system, all comparisons I performed with previous releases easily revealed the new presentation as the most satisfying. Some of the outdoor footage, in particular, looked dramatically better. There are no traces of any compromising digital corrections. Grain exposure can be somewhat uneven, but all fluctuations are introduced by the original cinematography, which utilizes some quite unique lensing choices. There are no traces of any problematic digital corrections. Image stability is excellent. (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).

The Mechanic 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 lossless track is healthy. While viewing the film, I did not encounter any troubling age-related anomalies to report in our review. However, I would not have objected if this release had a new 5.1 track. In some areas of the film, where the action is pretty intense, like the footage from Italy, it just feels like there is barely enough oomph in peak moments to create any meaningful excitement. Obviously, this is an inherited limitation because it is present on other releases of the film I have as well. All dialogue is clear and easy to follow.

The Mechanic Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary One - this archival audio commentary was recorded by Paul Talbot, author of the Bronson's Loose! books, whom I consider the ultimate authority on all things related to Charles Bronson. As usual, Talbot shares plenty of interesting, factual information about the production of The Mechanic and the conditions in which it was shot, as well as Bronson's relationship with Michael Winner, his career, and the characters he played. If you enjoy Bronson's work, not just The Mechanic, find the time to listen to this commentary in its entirety.

• Commentary Two - this archival audio commentary was recorded by director of photography Richard H. Kline, and is moderated by critic Nick Redman. Kline shares comments on many of the locations that were selected for The Mechanic and how certain segments of it were lensed. Kline also shares some instructions he was given and recalls his interactions with Michael Winner and Charles Bronson. (The Mechanic was the first of several films Kline made with Winner).

• Commentary Three - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critics Steve Mitchell and Troy Howarth. The commentators, both huge fans of The Mechanic and Charles Bronson, discuss a lot of the film's qualities and its reputation.

• John Carlino - this archival program with screenwriter Lewis John Carlino initially appeared on Scorpion Releasing's release of The Mechanic. Carino discusses the evolution of the screenplay he penned for The Mechanic and highlights a few interesting details that did not make it to what he considered its ideal version. In English, not subtitled. (14 min).

• Trailer - presented here is a vintage trailer for The Mechanic. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Cover - a reverisble cover with vintage poster art for The Mechanic.

The Mechanic Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Michael Winner and Charles Bronson made six films together. The fourth, Death Wish, will always be identified as the biggest and most influential, and for several legitimate reasons. However, the second, The Mechanic, is the best in the bunch. I think it is a minor masterpiece, and certainly one of the greatest action films of the 1970s. Kino Lorber's Blu-ray release brings an exclusive new 4K restoration that met all expectations I had, so for me, it will be the definitive home video release of The Mechanic. The 4K restoration is also made available on 4K Blu-ray in this combo pack. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.