MVD Entertainment hits gold with this little-seen Sylvester Stallone starring Eye See You. The Blu-Ray comes with the never-before-seen Director’s Cut and other great extras.
The Film
So, I’m a sucker for anything from Stallone. I’ll give anything the actor does a chance. Last year’s Rambo: Last Blood betrays everything that the Rambo series is/was but I watched the shit out of it. Even though I’m not a fan I still bought the 4K UHD and will eventually watch that recently released director’s cut.
That aside, and fully disclosed, I’m here to tell you Eye See You/D-Tox is a kickass fucking movie. Whichever movie you view, and they are tonally different, you’re going get a great ensemble piece that feels like it wanted to be Copland and if it had the breathing room, with this cast it could have been. Eyes See You is the glossy Stallone Action Hero Whodunit version and D-Tox is the grittier Stallone as a part of an Ensemble version.
FBI Agent Malloy (Stallone) is on the hunt for a serial killer who kills cops. The killer ups the ante and makes things personal for Malloy. Malloy being bested swirls down a bottle of guilt that ends him up in a special d-tox facility for law enforcement officers. No sooner than Malloy is attempting to share his feeling in group that the killer has struck again. Malloy and others fear the worse, the serial killer is a cop amongst their ranks. With the bodies piling up and a blizzard brewing outside Malloy has to do what he does best…
The biggest change between Eye See You and D-Tox are the way they’re constructed and its use of characters. D-Tox, the preferred film, is told in a fragmented non-linear fashion. The result is a film that is more dramatically accurate as it slowly reveals Malloy’s (Stallone) issues and gives a clearer picture that Malloy is a serious alcoholic, shakes, and all. Malloy is more withdrawn, jittery, fewer tough-guy looks. Once he does take up the task at hand it seems less heroic and more out of necessity.
Eye See You is standard issue Stallone-tough guy giving him no reason to actual be at the facility other than “he sad”. Though both films share a great ensemble cast who work overtime in their respective roles. In D-Tox, Stallone’s performance seems a part of a greater ensemble and works perfectly for this mystery type thriller. Eye See You with the Stallone pseudo-man of action sticks out like a sore thumb in the midst of the ensemble cast.
At the end, both films are effective clever plays on the Agatha Christie murder mystery. D-Tox is just more consistent in its tone, characters, and as an ensemble piece.
The Transfer
Eye See You’s Blu-Ray comes with an older transfer with newer encoding and compression. The result is a Blu-Ray that is lightyears better than the decade-old DVD
The Extras
They include the following:
- ”Detox” (SD, 1:34:41) Director Jim Gillespie’s never before seen original version of ”Eye See You” with its original title.
- 8 Deleted Scenes (SD)
- Interviews with cast including Robert Patrick, Kris Kristofferson, Charles Dutton, Polly Draper, Robert Prosky, Charles Fulford, Angela Alvarado Rosa and Jeffrey Wright (SD)
- Photo Gallery
- Original Theatrical Trailer(SD)
D-Tox (1:34:41) – They listed the director’s cut of the film that is included on the disc in the special features. This version is the only surviving copy and it was a VHS dub from an Avid Edit. MVD has done a great job with taking this only source and ensuring it’s the best possible quality by reframing out the time code bars and giving us an anamorphic image. To be perfectly honest, as I said in my review, the gritty nature of the image only enhances the experience.
Deleted Scenes are listed as such (the section does include a play-all option):
- Cold Shoulder (1:38) is a new version of Malloy coming to the D-Tox center.
- The Tour (0:48) is an addition of the tour done by Jenny rather than Doc.
- Eye Opener (2:10) is a new scene with Malloy having a nightmare
- Fireside Chat (3:33) is a conversation between Malloy and Slater.
- Moby Dick (0:31) is an alternate, much better version of Hendricks getting a surprise while ice fishing.
- Faith (2:19) is a scene between Jones and Lopez talking about the moment before death.
- Left Behind (0:55) is an extended moment giving McKenize a final moment.
- Slater Concern (0:48) is small tense scene between Slater and Jenny.
Interviews (divided into the individual actors)
- Charles Dutton (2:43)– The onset interview is a part of an EPK. Dutton discusses the movie, the character he plays, his relationship with Stallone’s character, and working with Stallone. Title cards prompt the questions that Dutton is answering.
- Kris Kristofferson (1:00) – The press day interview looks to be a part of an EPK. Kristofferson discusses the movie, and why he did the picture. Title cards prompt the questions that Kristofferson is answering.
- Polly Walker (2:51) – The press day interview looks to be a part of an EPK. Walker discusses why she chose the role, be on set in the remote locations, the what is attractive about the movie, and working with this large ensemble cast. Title cards prompt the questions that Walker is answering.
- Christopher Fulford (2:02) – The press day interview looks to be a part of an EPK. Fulford discusses his role in the film, on his character’s relationship with Stallone’s character, on working in the remote locations, and on the surprises in the film. Title cards prompt the questions that Fulford is answering.
- Robert Patrick (2:12) – The press day interview looks to be a part of an EPK. Patrick discusses his role in the film, on the story, on the character’s arc, and what attracted him to the film. Title cards prompt the questions that Patrick is answering.
- Robert Prosky (1:54) – The press day interview looks to be a part of an EPK. Prosky discusses what attracted him to the film, who his character is, and on working with the large ensemble cast. Title cards prompt the questions that Prosky is answering.
- Courtney B. Vance (2:25) – The press day interview looks to be a part of an EPK. Vance discusses his attraction to the role, on his role in the film, and on working with director Jim Gillespie. Title cards prompt the questions that Vance is answering.
- Jeffrey Wright (1:56) – The press day interview looks to be a part of an EPK. Wright discusses his role in the film, working with the cast, on the story, and working with director Jim Gillespie. Title cards prompt the questions that Wright is answering.
- Angela Alvarado Rosa (1:52) – The press day interview looks to be a part of an EPK. Rosa discusses the story, her character in the film, and working with director Jim Gillespie, how she expects the audience to react to the film, and working on the massive set. Title cards prompt the questions that Rosa is answering.
Photo Gallery is a collection of approximately 38 Production stills, alter Movie Poster, and behind the scene stills. All set to the song Love Is by Kit Hain that closes the film out.
Rounding out the special features are the trailers for Eye See You (1:53), Avenging Angelo (0:56), Shade (1:59), A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2:33).
The Final Thought
Eye See You/D-Tox is an underseen gem of a mystery whodunit in either version. MVD Entertainment has done right by giving the film a second chance on Blu-Ray. Recommended!!!!