Growing up there are familiar faces you recognize from TV
and movies that for some reason always seem to be around and yet never fall
into the category of major movie stars. For me growing up in the sixties and seventies
there were a ton of actors like this. You’d see them on nearly every TV series
around and they offered solid performances but for some reason never found fame
and fortune in film. For me Michael Callan was one of those actors. I’d first
seen him in film, actually, in one of my favorites MYSTERIOUS ISLAND. But after
that it was mostly TV.
In the mid-eighties I opened a video store and we stocked
our shelves with not just the major releases of the time but with side items as
well, movies that went straight to video for lack of interest by major studios
or produced by smaller companies for just that reason. These films were often
good movies but for some reason overlooked. One of those movies I ordered was
DOUBLE EXPOSURE. While I didn’t recall much of it from that time I did remember
it as being a decent film. Watching it again with this new release I found it
much better than I’d remembered.
Callan stars as Adrian Wilde, a professional photographer
for men’s magazines that is having some problems. It seems he continues to have
dreams of women being violently murdered in various gruesome methods. At the
same time a murderer is on the streets where he lives, killing women much in
the same way his dreams show. Not only that the women being murdered the same
as well.
Unsure of whether he is committing the murders or just
losing his mind Wilde looks for help. His brother offers all the support that
he can. A stunt coordinator who lost and arm and a leg on the job, he seems
bitter but more positive than Wilde. He also gets help from his psychiatrist Dr.
Curtis (Seymore Cassel) as well as medication. But the dreams persist as do the
murders.
Along the way Wilde meets Mindy (Joanna Pettet) and the two
begin seeing one another. The fall in love and eventually into bed as well.
Wilde is drawn to Mindy and finds her to be one of the only women in his life
he truly loves. But with the fear that he may be killing women without knowing
it has him take on a guarded approach to her as well. Fearful of losing his mind
the truth has to be found.
The movie is a nice mixture of slasher film that was popular
at the time and giallo which was just being discovered by American audiences
around that same period. The killer’s point of view seen in many giallo films
is there as is the questioning of the innocence of the main character who wants
to find the killer. It works well and plays out smoothly by the end of the
film.
Everyone involved does a fantastic job. There isn’t a bad
performance here. The cinematography for a low budget film is exceptional. And
as with all of the other films they’ve been putting out Vinegar Syndrome has
outdone themselves here with this one offering a restored 2k version from 35mm
original camera negative.
Extras? Once again Vinegar Syndrome outdoes themselves. They
include: a commentary track with Director William Byron Hillman; "Exposing
Double Exposure" Interview with Cinematographer R. Michael Stringer;
Staying on Task" Interview with Script Supervisor Sally Stringer; an isolated
score by Composer Jack Goga; the original theatrical trailer; promotional still
gallery; and reversible cover artwork by Derek Gabryszak. All for less than
most special editions like this would costs.
For slasher fans, fans of 80s movies and fans of giallo this
is a movie worth adding to your collection. Not only will you find an enjoyable
movie in the genre to watch but you’ll get it in the best format possible with
the most extras found on the movie. Along with companies like Arrow, Twilight
Time and Shout Factory, Vinegar Syndrome is showing that they are a company to
be reckoned with when it comes to titles like these. And for fans that’s a good
thing.
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