Nightmare Beach – Kino Lorber (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1989
Directors: Umberto Lenzi (as Harry Kirkpatrick), James Justice (as Harry Kirkpatrick)
Writers: Umberto Lenzi (as Harry Kirkpatrick), James Justice (as Harry Kirkpatrick), Vittorio Rambaldi
Cast: Nicolas De Toth, Sarah Buxton, Rawley Valverde, Lance LeGault, Michael Parks, John Saxon

Release Date: October 1st, 2019
Approximate Running Time: 91 Minutes 27 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: R
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English, DTS-HD Mono Italian
Subtitles: English (for Italian language track)
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"A shockingly gory tale of a madman in a motorcycle helmet who is taking out young co-eds all over the sparkling sands of South Florida during Spring Break. As the body count creeps up, Miami detective John Saxon (A Nightmare on Elm Street, Black Christmas, Evil Eye) tries to keep ahead of the curve in this carnage-packed slasher gem from the maestro of macabre." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, “Brand new 4K Master.”

Nightmare Beach comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 27.9 GB

Feature: 24.8 GB

The source used for this transfer is in excellent shape; colors are nicely saturated; flesh tones look correct; image clarity and black levels look solid throughout; there are no issues with compression; and grain remains intact.

Audio: 4.25/5 (DTS-HD Mono English, DTS-HD Mono Italian)

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in English and a DTS-HD mono mix in Italian. Both audio mixes are in great shape; dialog comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and range-wise, the ambient sounds are well-represented. Included with this release are removable English subtitles for the Italian language track. It should be noted that the subtitles are a direct translation of the English-language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include reversible cover art, a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 42 seconds, DTS-HD mono English, no subtitles), an interview with composer Claudio Simonetti titled Nightmare Rock (15 minutes 56 seconds, DTS-HD stereo Italian with non-removable English subtitles) and an audio commentary with film historian Sam Dhegihan.

Summary:

Though Umberto Lenzi is credited as the director of Nightmare Beach. According to the extras included as part of this release, he was the original director, and at some point, his role was eventually reduced to that of an adviser. So, who’s Harry Kirkpatrick? According to reports, Harry Kirkpatrick is screenwriter James Justice.

Key collaborators on Nightmare Beach include screenwriter Vittorio Rambaldi (Primal Rage), cinematographer Antonio Climati (Goodbye Uncle Tom), and composer Claudio Simonetti (Opera).

Questions about who actually directed Nightmare Beach aside, content-wise, Nightmare Beach has the core elements that have become synonymous with slasher cinema, and one could argue that slasher cinema is a by-product of Italian thrillers. And nowhere is this more clear than when it comes to the outfit that the killer wears to disguise their identity.

Having said that, Nightmare Beach contains a healthy dose of Italian thriller elements. The result is a film that is actually closer to American slasher cinema. Having Nightmare Beach take place during Spring Break, one of America's most celebrated rites of passage, distances this film from traditional Italian thrillers.

The performances are best described as enthusiastic. The most memorable performance being Sarah Buxton (Less Than Zero) in the role of Gail, a young woman who’s still traumatized by her sister’s death. Other notable and memorable cast members include Michael Parks (The Evictors) as a drug-addicted doctor, John Saxon (Black Christmas) as Strycher, a loose cannon police officer who frequently bends the rules to catch criminals, and Lance LeGault (Iron Eagle) as Reverend Bates, an overzealous religious fanatic.

From a production standpoint, the premise is well-executed, and the narrative is a satisfying mix of carnage and sleaze. The special effects look crude, and all the deaths are deliriously absurd. Ultimately, Nightmare Beach is a highly entertaining slice of b-grade cinema.

Nightmare Beach gets an excellent release from Kino Lorber that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a pair of informative extras, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer