Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

The Octagon Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov August 20, 2022

Eric Karson's "The Octagon" (1980) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include archival audio commentary with the director; exclusive new audio commentary by critics Brandon Bentley and Mike Leeder; archival documentary on the making of the film; and vintage promotional materials. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

If Eric Karson genuinely believed that his directorial debut, The Octagon, was a big, eye-opening film about ninjas and the mystique surrounding them, then it is only fair to conclude that he was not the right man to do it. I am sorry, but I find it pretty bizarre that anyone can take The Octagon seriously because it functions in precisely the same way Menahem Golan’s The Delta Force does. These are silly action films parading Chuck Norris and they are entertaining precisely because they are silly and unbelievable. The ‘80s produced a gazillion such genre films, which is why they were such a fun decade, so how is this not painfully obvious? And yet, in an archival audio commentary that is included on this release, Karson tries really hard to sell The Octagon as an entirely different, very serious film. Fortunately, when Karson began shooting The Octagon in the early ‘80s, he was clearly not on the same page with Norris, Lee Van Cleef, Tadashi Yamashita, Art Hindle, Richard Norton, and the rest of the actors that were brought in to work with him. Indeed, before the camera, all of these people act in the exact opposite kind of film Karson describes in the archival audio commentary, which is about colorful cinematic characters engaging in transparent rivalries that produce conventional fireworks.

The fun begins in Paris, France, where a couple of terrorists execute an outspoken ambassador, forcing his daughter (Karen Carlson) in Los Angeles to try to seduce Scott James (Norris) and trick him to track down the killers. Initially, James rejects her transparent romantic game, but later on, after learning that his childhood friend and competitor Seikura (Yamashita) is involved with the terrorists goes on the warpath. At a secret training camp, James then confronts Seikura and a small army of ninjas.

The main attraction in The Octagon is the action, and especially the material where Norris is seen eliminating his opponents. The rest, plenty of which features Norris again, is classic ‘80s filler material that is instantly forgettable.

Rather predictably, the key relationships and their evolution are incredibly easy to critique and ultimately dismiss as unbelievable as well. For example, Van Cleef plays an anti-terrorist expert who has had and still has an important role in Norris’ life, but the best the screenplay can do is treat him as something of a contemporary Zen master who loves making intelligent statements. Fortunately for Norris, he still runs a unit of mercenaries that are as good as the ninjas he faces. Also, at the right time, the sexy Carlson is replaced with the equally attractive Carol Bagdasarian, who after training with the ninjas suddenly changes her mind and begins helping Norris.

The final twenty or so minutes are what legitimize The Octagon, but not as the type of serious film Karson describes. Here Norris begins engaging the ninjas that are dispatched to neutralize him and eventually meets Seikura, now established by a series of flashbacks as his ultimate nemesis. The action footage isn’t flashy and occasionally even looks a bit cheap, but it is still very attractive. Why? Because despite the shaky material the energy of the fireworks is good.

Ultimately, The Octagon is neither a great ‘80s action film nor one of Norris’ best films. But it is entertaining because its silliness feels sincere and every single one of its frames oozes the ‘80s. In other words, it is a fine nostalgia fix, especially if seen at the right time and with the right state of mind.

*In the United States, The Octagon was frequently screened theatrically in double bills with Paul Aaron’s A Force of One. Both films were recently restored in 2K and are now available on Blu-ray via Kino Lorber.

The Octagon 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 Octagon arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

The release is sourced from a good new 2K master that gives the film a solid organic appearance. For example, despite minor density fluctuations, delineation and depth are usually very pleasing. Clarity and sharpness are good, too. I quite liked how darker/nighttime areas looked as well because black crush never becomes an issue. Yes, there are a few areas that could reveal slightly better nuances, but this master handles shadow detail very well. Color balance is very good. The primaries are stable and healthy, never appearing boosted or anemic. The supporting nuances are set very nicely and look equally healthy. The dynamic range of the visuals could be a bit better, which isn't surprising, but everything still looks very good. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections. Image stability is good. A few nicks, tiny black marks, and blemishes can be spotted, but there are no large cuts, damage marks, warped or torn frames to report in our review. (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 Octagon 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 dialog is clear and easy to follow. However, there are quite a few areas with minor unevenness and even what appears to be sporadic dynamic instability. I think that these are primarily inherited limitations because the audio remains clear and there are no obvious signs of aging. On the other hand, with the right resources and digital equipment, these fluctuations can be easily addressed. The bottom line is this: you won't have to worry about any anomalies that will affect your viewing experience, but there is an excellent chance that you will notice the unevenness that is mentioned above.

The Octagon Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailers - a couple of vintage trailers for The Octagon. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• TV Spots - a couple of vintage TV spots for The Octagon. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Radio Spots - a couple of vintage radio spots for The Octagon. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• The Octagon/A Force of One TV spot - a vintage double bill TV spot. In English, not subtitled. (1 min).

• The Making of The Octagon - an archival program with raw footage from the making of The Octagon as well as cast and crew interviews. In English, not subtitled. (40 min).

• Commentary One - in this archival audio commentary director Eric Karson spends plenty of time describing the plot of The Octagon, but also has some interesting comments about the conception of the film and its message. I found myself disagreeing with practically everything he saya because he actually describes an entirely different 'serious' film.

• Commentary Two - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critics Brandon Bentley and Mike Leeder.

• Cover - reversible cover with vintage poster art for The Octagon.

The Octagon Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Octagon quite easily could have been produced by the Cannon Group, so director Eric Karson's description of it as a serious, eye-opening film is pretty strange. I enjoy it precisely because it is a bit silly and very sincere about the type of entertainment it offers. Back in the days, The Octagon was frequently paired with A Force of One, so if you see and enjoy one of these films, there is an excellent chance that you will have the same experience with the other. Kino Lorber's release is sourced from a very nice exclusive new 2K master. RECOMMENDED.