Rating summary

Movie		1.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Thinner Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 30, 2024

The business of Stephen King adaptations was booming in the 1990s, with the occasional box office success (“Misery”) and critical darling (“The Shawshank Redemption”) refreshing interest in the prolific author’s work. 1996’s “Thinner” is another one of the bunch, taking inspiration from a 1984 book written under King’s pseudonym, Richard Bachman, with the writer exploring the panic of an obese man dealing with a curse that forces him to shed weight at a nightmarish speed. The premise has potential for something cinematically interesting, providing a thorough creative challenge to manufacture such a distinct vision for body horror. “Thinner” is instead handed to co-writer/director Tom Holland (“Child’s Play,” “The Temp”), who goes the sledgehammer route with the movie, turning pages of detail and disturbing behavior into a cartoon exploration of desperation. Suspense is missing from the picture, along with a sense of the bizarre, as Holland goes for painful exaggeration with the endeavor. He’s also stuck with subpar makeup work for the central journey of an overweight man as he turns into a skeleton, with Hollywood magic missing the mark as star Robert John Burke has to physically work with an ill-fitting transformation in a supremely underwhelming effort.

Billy (Robert John Burke) is an overweight lawyer who’s exceptionally good at his job, putting his courtroom skills to the test, allowing gangster Richie (Joe Mantenga) to walk away from a murder charge. Billy also loves to eat, never sticking to a diet, which frustrates his wife, Heidi (Lucinda Jenney), who’s trying to get him to take his health seriously. While out on the town celebrating his courtroom win, Heidi elects to distract Billy with oral sex while he’s driving the couple home. In this fit of passion, Billy hits and kills a Romani woman, with her father, Tadzu (Michael Constantine), witnessing the disaster. Surrounded by his buddies, including Judge Cary (John Horton) and Chief Duncan (Daniel von Bargen), Billy is able to skip punishment for the crime, but Tadzu won’t rest, placing a “thinner” curse on the obese man. At first happy with his sudden weight loss, Billy quickly recognizes the danger he’s in, unable to stop dropping pounds, bringing him to the brink of death unless he can find Tadzu and reverse the curse.

For additional information and analysis, please read Jeffrey Kauffman’s 2012 Blu-ray review.

Thinner Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"Thinner" was previously released on Blu-ray in 2012, and returns to disc via Shout Factory. The company doesn't list a source for the AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation, but it appears to be a more recent scan than the Olive Release from 14 years ago. Detail captures skin particulars on this strange assortment of characters, including wounds and decay on the few of them. Makeup work is textured, following Billy's shrinking, showing off the production's work. Costuming is fibrous, and interiors are deep, exploring living spaces and courtrooms. Exteriors are dimensional. Color runs a little hot at times, with compelling primaries on fashion choices and decorative additions. Greenery is distinct. Skin tones are natural. Grain is capably resolved.

Thinner Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix provides a crisp understanding of dialogue exchanges, managing dramatic emphasis and heavy accent work without losing anything to unintelligibility. Scoring is sharp, supporting with clear instrumentation and position. Musical moods push out some, with surrounds mildly engaged. Atmospherics are present, providing movement and community bustle, especially with Romani activity. Low-end isn't challenged, but moments of violence carry some weight.

Thinner Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features producer Mitchell Galin and actor Joe Mantegna.

• Commentary #2 features film historian Lee Gambin and novelist Aaron Dries.

• Commentary #3 features director Tom Holland and actor Joe Mantegna.

• "Weight of the World" (16:39, HD) is an interview with director Tom Holland, who proudly declares his age (80 years old), lamenting how Hollywood now refuses to hire older talent out of fear of pop culture irrelevancy. Holland discusses his early interest in the book's themes and lack of genre entanglements, offering more of a psychological ride for viewers, blended with a little body horror. Stephen King's input is identified, including a cameo in the picture, and his literary influence is celebrated. Makeup effects are analyzed, overseeing a hardworking crew attempting to sell the visual of an overweight man wasting away. Producer interference is recalled, messing with the helmer's vision for the film, and the physical strain of the shoot provides a painful memory for the interviewee, who struggled with Bell's palsy right before cameras rolled. Holland is a fiery individual (his cranky attitude in interviews is an acquired taste), and he's not one to soften his thoughts on "Thinner," happy with how the feature turned out, but still mad at audiences who didn't like the ending, watching the endeavor develop a cult following over the last decade.

• "Thick and Thin" (13:08, HD) is an interview with actress Lucinda Jenney, who shares her casting story and her awareness of Stephen King, recalling his bright attitude while shooting his cameo. The interviewee details her working relationship with director Tom Holland and co-star Robert John Burke, who was constantly engaged with makeup and performance. Jenney also discusses time with Kari Wuhrer and Joe Mantegna. Ideas on story and characterization are offered, including a dissection of the ending. Convention talk is shared, joining husband Bill Moseley during appearances, often holding a slice of pie to delight fans of "Thinner."

• "The Incredible Shrinking Man" (14:57, HD) is an interview with special makeup effects artist Vincent Guastini. Originally hired to provide monster creations for "The Langoliers," Guastini impressed the production with his work, with Stephen King enjoying use of an initial creature model. Joining the team on "Thinner," run by Greg Cannom, the interviewee breaks down technical challenges to help sell the weight gain/loss look on actor Robert John Burke. Tasked with supervising Michael Constantine's makeup, Guastini was left with a hesitant actor, requiring some fast thinking to help break the ice. The artist was eventually put in charge of work on reshoots, becoming the boss, and he shares an unusual anecdote about his time on "Saturday Night Live," interacting with "Thinner" superfan, Norm Macdonald.

• "The Magic of Special Effects Makeup" (20:11, SD) is a 1997 featurette on the making of "Thinner" and its gruesome visuals, featuring interviews with special makeup effects creator Greg Cannom, director Tom Holland, specialty costume designer Linda Benavente- Notaro, costume supervisor Robert Eli Bodford, Jr., mechanical effects supervisor Larry Odien, and actors Robert John Burke and Michael Constantine.

• Image Gallery (4:09) collects film stills, BTS snaps, and poster and home video art.

• T.V. Spots (1:03, SD) offer two commercials for "Thinner."

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:42, SD) is included.

Thinner Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Thinner" has the makings for a decent study of corruption, as King creates a macabre situation of anguish, with Billy sent on an odyssey of self- reflection and self-preservation as he wastes away. Holland doesn't reach that far, electing to crank up performances to uncomfortable broadness, turning the journey into something borderline campy at times. Fat suit imagery isn't even close to realistic, which breaks the illusion the production is looking to sell, and keeps Burke mummified at times, diminishing his performance. "Thinner" is goofy, and Holland seems to be okay with silliness, afraid to really find his way into Billy's torment and denial, which leads to a terrible Li'l Stinker resolution for the character and ending for the film. Holland's directorial choices are baffling at times, and his technical achievements are lacking, making the feature feel like a missed opportunity to deliver some sophisticated dark magic, unable to bring a genuine fear factor to King World and its gruesome possibilities.