Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Walking the Edge Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 13, 2021

1985’s “Walking the Edge” plays an unexpected game of switcheroo with its lead characters. The story is initially presented as a revenge tale spotlighting one woman’s mission to murder the punks who killed her husband and son, but the material quickly gives up on that, transitioning to a not-so-innocent bystander, who quickly becomes the focus of the endeavor. There’s confusion with this creative choice, which doesn’t do the feature any favors, but director Norbert Meisel and writer Curt Allen seem to believe they’re making the right decisions to best serve their B-movie. What the production does achieve is smart casting, bringing in Nancy Kwan as the initial gunwoman, while Robert Forster portrays the fringe player-turned- gunman, giving his best effort to make “Walking the Edge” burn with intensity and fear, adding some kooky thespian energy to the film.

Jason (Robert Forster) is having a bad day. He’s a runner for bookie using a cab company as a front operation, but he’s getting soft with the gamblers, unable to collect what he’s owed to satisfy his boss. He’s also just discovered his wife has been cheating on him, leaving him on his own for the first time in years. Looking for a ride one afternoon is Christine (Nancy Kwan), a seemingly cultured woman who requires a cab for an hour, asking to make several stops. Reluctantly agreeing to drive her around, Jason quickly realizes Christine is out for blood, looking to kill the criminal goons who murdered her husband and young son during a home invasion. Caught up in the mess, Jason decides to bring Christine back to his apartment, giving her a place to hide out after her plan goes south, encouraging another round of violence from enforcer Brusstar (Joe Spinell) and the surviving villains.

Nancy Kwan on a Los Angeles rampage is really the film “Walking the Edge” should’ve been. Instead, the refined actress is mostly aggressive in the first act of the picture, with Christine surviving a massacre inside her own home, escaping with plans to seek vengeance for her loved ones, only requiring a driver to bring her around L.A. There’s the movie, delivering a pre-“Collateral” vibe as Christine makes an afternoon run to gun down her enemies, but that section of “Walking the Edge” is brief, with the mad mom soon sent to live in Jason’s apartment while the cabbie takes a moment to cool down and process what’s going on, making a realization that he’s now involved in a major crime.

“Walking the Edge” transitions to Jason’s perspective, following the ex-baseball player as he works connections to figure out his options and tries to keep a low profile, with Christine’s violence attracting media attention. Brusstar is the bad guy, an oily dude managing a collection of argumentative boobs, with the villains slow to understand what’s going on, spending more time on interpersonal hostilities. There’s not a grand build-up of pressure in “Walking the Edge,” as most of the picture simply tracks Jason’s progress with his information gathering, also learning to become a more assertive tough guy to help extract payments from deadbeat gamblers, including one crime boss who refuses to pay. Dialogue from Allen is chewy, but it’s really Forster who keeps the feature compelling, putting in the effort to give Jason personality and emotion, keeping the character away from a level of simplicity that normally accompanies this type of entertainment. He works well with his co-stars, though Kwan is basically dismissed from the feature, as Christine is placed inside Jason’s dwelling and largely forgotten until romantic needs are required. It’s a shame, as the world deserves a butt-kicker with Forster and Kwan manhandling L.A. stooges.

Walking the Edge Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Listed as a "New 4K restoration from its 35mm original camera negative," "Walking the Edge" brings its L.A. stickiness to Blu-ray courtesy of Fun City Editions. The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is an excellent refreshing of the obscure movie, bringing out sharp detail throughout the viewing experience, including facial and hair particulars on creased actors such as Robert Forster and Joe Spinell. Street life remains dimensional and clear (becoming a great resource for Los Angeles history), and interiors offer crisp decoration. Colors are distinct, from the blazing yellow cab to red blood. Signage and storefronts are bold, along with costuming, which provides bright primaries and deep blacks. Grain is fine and film-like. Delineation is satisfactory. Source is in strong condition, with periodic light scratches and speckling.

Walking the Edge Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix secures dialogue exchanges to the best of its ability, as some actors have a little trouble enunciating (unfortunately, subtitles aren't offered on the disc). Emotional outbursts are clear, along with softer, more confessional conversations. Scoring offers a defined rhythm with sharp instrumentation. Soundtrack selections and musical performances as equally pronounced. Sound effects come through with clarity.

Walking the Edge Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet (10 pages) contains an essay on Robert Forster.

• Commentary #1 features film historian Chris Poggiali and film producer Matt Verboys.

• Commentary #2 features director Norbert Meisel and actors Nancy Kwan and Robert Forster.

• "Scoring the Edge" (12:50, HD) is a video conference interview with composer Jay Chattaway (using the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" bridge as his background image), who opens with his experiences on "Maniac," pulled from a job as the head of jazz at Columbia Records to create the music for the feature. Work with director William Lustig is detailed, including his research into scores from Ennio Morricone. For "Walking the Edge," Chattaway's memory is a bit hazy, taking the job because it employed his friends, Joe Spinell and Robert Forster. The conversation turns to the creation of sounds for the movie, working with electronic sequencing and what little an orchestra he could manage to pay.

• "Det. Jurgensen Remembers Forster and Spinell" (23:50, HD) is a video conference interview with retired NYPD officer Randy Jurgensen, who moved from a life in law enforcement to a film career, becoming a production manager. The interviewee shares his experience dealing with the non-union shoot for "Maniac," spending time with actor Joe Spinell, taking in his nervous energy and gladhanding ways. For "Vigilante," Jurgensen recalls the quiet professionalism of Robert Forster, who was more of a crew member at times than an actor. Tales of Forster's generosity are provided, and Jurgensen shares more anecdotes about Spinell during his time on "Sorcerer," "Cruising," and "Nighthawks."

• Video Essay (10:37, HD) is an appreciation piece by Chris O'Neill.

• Still Gallery (6:02) collects poster art, press kit pages, BTS snaps, and publicity shots.

• And Theatrical Trailer (2:37, HD) is included.

Walking the Edge Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There's not a whole lot of edge to walk in the picture, which is more conversational than physically demonstrative. Aggression appears intermittently, and Meisel elects to add some tough gore to the endeavor to make violence sting, which is a welcome development. "Walking the Edge" eventually gets around to the Wrath of Jason, and Forster is right there to enjoy his time as an intimidator, but the movie isn't a sustained display of hardness. It's quick to pause things to assess the situation, and the material is primarily about confrontations with seedy individuals. However, "Walking the Edge" is not without its exploitation pleasures, and it provides yet another reason to appreciate Forster's skills as an actor, always ready to commit to anything the script offers him.