Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

The Passing Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 7, 2019

1984’s “The Passing” is a patchwork quilt production from co-writer/director/star John Huckert. Here was a young man determined to making his helming dreams a reality, and beginning in the mid-1970s, he elected to develop his first short into a feature, hoping to expand on a sci-fi idea wrapped up tight in themes of friendship and mortality. Dealing with countless issues, including the death of one of his actors, Huckert still managed to craft something worth releasing, delivering a supremely strange viewing experience with “The Passing.”

“The Passing” initially offers two tales of confusion. One side of the film explores the relationship between aging WWII vets Ernie (James Carroll Plaster) and Rose (Welton Benjamin Johnson), with the pair remaining close friends as they work through extreme poverty and mounting medical issues. The other half of “The Passing” explores Wade (Huckert), a man who murdered his wife’s rapist, only to find himself on death row. These two stories eventually intersect, but Huckert is in no hurry to get there, leaving the opening 50 minutes of the picture to observation, casually experiences these lives, sometimes in real time. For anyone who doesn’t understand that the screenplay (co-written by Mary Maruca) is headed somewhere, this introductory period may feel like a prank, as little occurs to help hook viewers into these separate worlds, making for a long journey into the wilds of leisurely editing.

The Passing Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Vinegar Syndrome has provided a note explaining that the AVC encoded image (1.33:1 aspect ratio) presentation is collected from "surviving film elements." "The Passing" looks rough, but far from unappealing, retaining decent texture throughout, delivering detail on house interiors and rural exteriors, while the more sci-fi settings of the story retain expanse. Skin surfaces are preserved, showcasing aging and emotional ruin. Colors are tastefully refreshed, offering appealing primaries with period clothing, and greenery is satisfactory. Delineation is comfortable. Source is battered in spots, with debris, scratches, and mild warping detected.

The Passing Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 1.0 DTS-HD MA mix is working with a specific sound design on "The Passing," which makes use of electronic tones to sell some of the story's pressure points. Sound effects register as intended, along with scoring cues and soundtrack cuts, delivered with acceptable sharpness. Dialogue exchanges are preserved, detailing amateur performances with reasonable clarity. Some mild damage is periodically encountered.

The Passing Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features co-writer/director John Huckert.

• "Water Under the Bridge" (15:55, HD) discusses "The Passage" with co-writer Mary Maruca, who, in the 1970s, was working at a college where Huckert was a student. The senior requested help with his writing, giving Maruca an opportunity to expand her professional horizons, soon collaborating on the material as it experienced a seven-year-long gestation period. Maruca enjoyed a movie education courtesy of Huckert, and she praises the director for his patience and tenacity, working himself to the bone in pursuit of his first feature film. Songwriting challenges and Maruca's deleted appearance in the picture (much to her relief) are also discussed.

• "Passing Time" (22:31, HD) sits down with cinematographer Richard Chisholm, who recounts his initial steps toward a future in filmmaking. Anecdotes are shared about the making of "The Passage," along with a full understanding of the shoot's numerous challenges and setbacks. Chisholm closes with curiosity concerning the feature's future reception now that it's available to the public again.

• Still Gallery (2:00) collects newspaper articles and reviews, premiere art, and provides a production timeline for "The Passing," which is a big help when trying to understand the many iterations of the feature and appreciate Huckert's incredible bad luck while trying to make the movie.

• Shorts (HD) include "The Water That is Passed" (27:50, 1976), "Quack" (24:21, 1976), "Einmal" (9:06, 1979), and "Ernie & Rose" (28:48, 1982).

• A Trailer has not been included.

The Passing Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Passage" eventually arrives at a point, turning to weird science to help escalate problems for the three men. Huckert goes all in on psychedelic visuals and psychological probing, but suspense isn't the goal of the picture. Huckert tries to land the effort in mournful terrain, giving the endeavor more of a "Twilight Zone" tempo. For fans of the odd and champions of pure screen behavior, "The Passage" while likely scratch a few itches, remaining just offbeat enough to enjoy. However, it's a long sit before anything of note happens.