The Octagon Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

The Octagon Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov September 21, 2026

Eric Karson's "The Octagon" (1980) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of 88 Films. The supplemental features on the release include archival audio commentary with the director; recent program with Art Hindle; recent program with Cynthia Rothrock and critic Nanni Cobretti; archival program about American Cinema Production; vintage trailer; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

If Eric Karson genuinely believed his directorial debut, The Octagon, was a big, eye-opening film about ninjas and their mystique, then it is only fair to conclude he wasn’t the right man to direct 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 included on this release, Karson tries 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 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 into tracking down the killers. At first, James rejects her transparent romantic game, but later, after learning that his childhood friend and rival Seikura (Yamashita) is involved with the terrorists, he 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 specifically the material where Norris eliminates his opponents. The rest, which features plenty of 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. For example, Van Cleef plays an anti-terrorist expert who has had and still has an important role in Norris’ life. However, the screenplay only legitimizes him as a quirky 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 by the equally attractive Carol Bagdasarian, who, after training with the ninjas, suddenly changes her mind and starts helping Norris.

The final twenty minutes legitimize The Octagon, but not as the type of serious film Karson describes. Here Norris begins engaging the ninjas dispatched to neutralize him and eventually meets Seikura, now established with 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 conisntently 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 in 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 88 Films.

In 2022, in America, Kino Lorber introduced a 2K restoration of The Octagon with this Blu-ray release. 88 Films' upcoming Blu-ray release will present the 2K restoration in the United Kingdom.

I revisited The Octagon very late last night. I still think that the 2K restoration is very solid. It gives the entire film a rock-solid organic appearance, and its management of all primary colors and supporting nuances is very good. Delineation, clarity, and depth are very pleasing, even in darker area, a few of which feature tricky nuances. I suspect that some of the most challenging nuance can be made to look slightly better, but there are no anomalies. Also, there are no traces of any problematic digital corrections. A few nicks and blemishes appear, and I think that they easily could have been removed, but there are no distracting large cuts, debris, warped or torn frames to report. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B 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 LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I can only echo the comments I left in our review of the American Blu-ray release of The Octagon several years ago. The lossless track is good. However, it retains limitations -- like obvious unevenness and even some 'thinning' -- which I believe modern technology can address. However, even if these limitations were to be addressed, meaningful improvements in the dynamic intensity of the original audio are extremely unlikely. The Octagon is an early '80s film with a very particular personality, and the absence of wide dynamic contrasts is part of it.

The Octagon Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary - 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 says because he actually describes an entirely different 'serious' film.

• Chuck's Secret Move -in this recent program, Art Hindle reveals how, many moons ago, he became tired of getting work only because he was a Canadian citizen -- because of a requirement instituted by the Canadian government -- and relocated with his girlfriend to America, only to discover that jobs for Canadians in Hollywood were scarce. After working hard to erase his Canadian accent, Hindle started getting parts in various films, and eventually made The Octagon with Chuck Norris. Hindle discusses in great detail his interactions with Norris. The program was produced by Eugenio Ercolani. In English, not subtitled. (26 min).

• The Man Behind the Mask - in this recent program, Cynthia Rothrock and Italian critic Nanni Cobretti reveal what made them fans of Australian actor Richard Norton and his work. Rothrock, who worked with Norton, also comments on his apparently great sense of humor, which made him enormously attractive to the ladies, as well as his martial art skills. The program was produced by Eugenio Ercolani. In English,not subtitled. (33 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. (41 min).

• How American Cinema Changed Hollywood Cinema Forever - this archival program takes a closer look at American Cinema Production, the independent film production and distribution company that greenlighted The Octagon and filed for bankruptcy in 1981. Included in it are clips from archival interviews with the company's president, Alan Belkin, head of production Jean Higgins, and Head of Distribution David Miller, among others. In English, not subtitled. (30 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. (41 min).

• Trailer - presented here is a remastered vintage trailer for The Octagon. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• TV Spot - presented here is a vintage TV spot for The Octagon. In English, not subtitled. (1 min).

• Cover - a reversible cover with alternate art for The Octagon.

The Octagon Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

After Chuck Norris passed away earlier this year, I pulled out all his films in my library for a two-week retrospective. The Hitman is the only big film that I am missing, and I would love to have a restored copy of Silent Rage. The rest, which are the films Chuck made during the 1970s and 1980s, I have wonderful, definitive releases of. The Octagon was restored in 2K several years ago, and this upcoming release will bring the restored version to the United Kingdom. It is a wonderful release, featuring several outstanding recent and archival programs as well. RECOMMENDED.