Vice Squad Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Vice Squad Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 2, 2019

Director Gary Sherman is hoping to make something incredibly gritty and real with 1982’s “Vice Squad.” It’s a film about the seedy underbelly of Hollywood Boulevard during the early 1980s, where the police struggle to maintain order as pimps and prostitutes take over the streets, offering services to a never-ending stream of disturbed johns. The feature even promises authenticity with an opening card that identifies cooperation with the LAPD, making it clear all the details in the picture are accurate. Sherman’s push to make something heavy with “Vice Squad” is commendable and frequently effective, but he’s not above constructing a cartoon for mass acceptance, making sure co-star Wings Hauser goes hog wild as the villain of the piece, keeping the effort in a cops-n-crooks mood while it surveys an oppressive parade of sin.

The streets of Los Angeles are overrun with predators and those desperate to survive, with Princess (Season Hubley) a single mother trying to make fast money as a streetwalker, saving up to get out of town with her young daughter. On the prowl is Ramrod (Wings Hauser), a merciless pimp who’s murdered one of Princess’s associates, leaving her in a state of shock. On the case is Tom (Gary Swanson), a vice cop who’s seen too much, ready to use Princess as a way to lure Ramrod out into the open, hoping to bust a monster who’s not easy to catch.

Sherman remains close to Hollywood, but far from glamour with “Vice Squad,” setting the feature around Hollywood Boulevard, using the natural chaos of the area to his advantage, providing an atmospheric overview of community interactions. However, this is no documentary, with the story following Princess’s immersion into the world of hooking, meeting all sorts of weirdos and oversexed types as she works the streets, trying to stay out of the police view. “Vice Squad” creates drama with Princess and her horror with Ramrod’s actions, as the pimp enjoys performing genital mutilation a few times in the movie, and she wants revenge, urged into undercover work as Tom hopes to collect enough evidence to put the ghoul in prison for the rest of his life.

“Vice Squad” spends time with the case, but it’s also fascinating with kinks, as Princess meets johns interested in all sorts of sex play, including golden showers and foot worship, also finding herself made up for a wedding day with a man dressed as a corpse. The lurid nature of these asides isn’t always played with the utmost seriousness, providing chapter breaks for the police hunt which dominates the rest of the screenplay. “Vice Squad” is mostly a pursuit picture, with Tom determined to bring Ramrod down, only to find the killer pimp repeatedly slipping out of custody, gearing up for his own revenge on Princess with help from underworld associates. Hubley and Swanson give their parts some real feeling to best communicate utter horror and fatigue, but Hauser goes bananas as Ramrod, often breaking Sherman’s concentration on realism by playing the pimp as a wild-eyed, overly touchy cartoon character.

Vice Squad Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Listed as a "4K scan of the original film elements," "Vice Squad" arrives on Blu-ray with an AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation. It's a grungy movie to begin with, but one that's appealingly shot, and the viewing experience does okay with the grainy, darker look of the feature, though it lacks the freshness of a typical remaster. Colors are varied, with colder streets meeting bright street life, giving signage a real presence, while prostitute attire is all about hotter primaries. Skintones are natural. Detail is adequate, securing softer facial surfaces and fibrous clothing, keeping the working women in shiny, lacy outfits. Street adventures retain some dimension, offering looks at storefronts and community activity. Delineation is satisfying, managing dimly-lit encounters. Grain is on the chunky side. Source is in decent shape, with some mild scratches and speckling periodically encountered.

Vice Squad Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix preserves the age and intensity of "Vice Squad." Soundtrack selections aren't precise, but they retain rock fury, and scoring selections deliver adequate instrumentation, encouraging scenes of suspense. Dialogue exchanges come through as intended, identifying voices and dramatic emphasis. Street bustle is understood, along with assorted atmospherics when visiting locations and dwellings.

Vice Squad Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features director Gary Sherman and producer Brian Frankish.

• Commentary #2 features Sherman.

• "Tracking the Beast" (58:05, HD) is an animated conversation with actor Gary Swanson, who opens with a discussion of his childhood developmental issues, which have informed the therapy of his writing. Curiosity with acting led him into study, finding himself learning from Lee Strasberg, and Swanson takes a very specific detour into his high-dive career, discussing an Atlantic City engagement that changed his life. Early work is recounted, with the interviewee taking an agent by force, leading with an "all balls, no brains" attitude, which put him to work on a soap opera before making his move to Los Angeles, ending up on shows such as "Kojak." With "Vice Squad," Swanson was only offered five days of preparation, packing in as much research as possible, and the production's shifting screenplay caused tremendous trouble between the actor and Sandy Howard, a difficult producer. Memories of vice cop interaction, his coining of the "make my day" line, and method acting extremes are recounted, along with Swanson's premiere night experience, suddenly in contact with positive reviews.

• "Of Poltergeists and Neon Lights" (72:22, HD) returns to director Gary Sherman, who details the days of his youth in Chicago, developing an interest in photography that eventually caught the attention of Aaron Siskind. An opportunity to film musician Bo Diddley during a recording session launched his career, turning to commercial work in England in the late 1960s. Sherman recounts his Hollywood experience, working on "Death Line" and "Dead and Buried" before making "Vice Squad," joined by cinematographer John Alcott, who gave the movie real grit. Promised no interference from Howard, the helmer made "Vice Squad" his own, managing research and casting, celebrating efforts from Season Hubley and Wings Hauser. Memories of location shooting are shared, and a summary of his post-"Vice" pictures is offered.

• "Hollywood Magic" (62:29, HD) is a very dry trip down memory lane with producer Brian Frankish, who chats up his early entry into the business, working as a "can boy," eventually moving to New York for new opportunities. Career development is shared, soon joining "Vice Squad," recounting times with Hubley and Swanson.

• "The Roots of Reality" (44:06, HD) meets with actress Beverly Todd, who examines her early years in Cleveland, using her singing talents to transition to acting, eventually finding herself on Broadway. Todd shares memories of her multiple NAACP award wins, how she received the "Vice Squad" job, and her impression of Sherman on the set. The impact of "Vice Squad" is recalled, and Todd offers a plug for her Hollywood Sisters charity.

• "Catching a Killer" (58:19, HD) explores the career of actor Pepe Serna, from his Corpus Christi origins to his early work in Hollywood. Titles from his filmography are expanded on, including his time on "Scarface," and there's more praise offered for Alcott's visual skills.

• "Princess Driver" (24:13, HD) interviews actor Michael Ensign, who turned his early interest in performing into an education in London, examining theory and practice. "Vice Squad" was a simple gig for Ensign, who thought the movie was a comedy during the shoot. Memories of Hubley and the creating of their odd scene are offered, along with an assessment of Sherman.

• "Hollywood Streetwalking" (11:36, HD) returns to "Vice Squad" locations to see how much has changed since the 1981 shoot.

• Poster and Lobby Card Gallery (3:07) also includes publicity shots and film stills.

• Publicity Gallery (5:31) presents pages from the "Vice Squad" press kit.

• Radio Spots (:59) include two commercials.

• T.V. Spots (3:36, SD) include five commercials.

• And a Trailer (:57, SD) is included.

Vice Squad Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Hauser's performance is incredibly over-the-top, threatening to turn "Vice Squad" into the comedy at times, especially when the hapless cops can't seem to keep control of Ramrod, despite carrying firearms and handcuffs. It can be a very strange picture, but "Vice Squad" has great success as a document of L.A. at its sleaziest, also depicting the harrowing life of a streetwalker in the area. It's largely played for thrills, but the movie has a clear vision for life lived at the bottom of a barrel.