Blu-Ray Review: Kino Lorber’s Running Scared (KL Studio Classics) 

Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines are Running Scared.  The Peter Hyams-directed action buddy cop film gets a new upgraded Blu-Ray edition from Kino Lorber. 

The Film 

Some things denote the 1980s in the most extra way.  Most people who didn’t live in the decade think everyone listened to the same 200 songs, watched the same 20 TV Shows, and watched the same 50 movies.  All while dressing like either Magnum P.I. or neon funk Ultimate Warrior style.

It wasn’t the case.  Not even close.  

Though … mullets were a really real thing. 

I mention this because director Peter Hyams’ buddy cop action comedy Running Scared is proof positive this wasn’t ever the case.  A movie made in the very middle of the 1980s (1985 and released in 1986 to be exact) that keeps all the visual idioms and clichés of the era to a minimum to non-existent.  With the exception of the Michael McDonald earworm that was a huge hit in ’86 (including a music video starring McDonald and stars of the film Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines), Running Scared proves to be more akin to the films of the 1970s like Freebie and the Bean.  

The film is your standard taking down a drug dealer plot that’s been the cliché since The French Connection.  Though when you cast Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines you get a completely different film.  One that’s as far away as you can get from the seriousness of the William Fredkin procedural classic but feels like your standard-issue buddy cop action film that would quickly become the fashion after the release of Lethal Weapon.

Crystal and Hines have more than chemistry in the film.  You believe that they’ve been partners for years.  There’s an easiness to the way that they finish each other’s thoughts and have small moments that friends or co-workers have that you can’t fake.  The best of these moments occur when they take their vacation/suspension to Key West Florida.  The aforementioned McDonald joint drops and its 5 minutes of bro-ing down in the best possible sense (minus a few un-PC punchlines).  It’s a true shocker that both men did not work together again on something entirely different.  

Director Hyams is the film’s secret weapon balancing the right amount of action and comedy to keep the film from ever tipping over to one side of the scale.  The action is serious and impactful enough to satisfy action junkies.  The comedy is light on its feet and R-rated enough to earn quite a few laughs.  The perfect example of this is how the El Train chase plays out between Crystal and Hines’s characters and the drug dealer played by Jimmy Smits – the chase is funny (bulletproof glass!) and thrilling (real cars on the Chicago Subway Tracks!!). 

It’s a small wonder Running Scared isn’t a Classic of the era.  

The Transfer

Kino Lorber has treated Running Scared with the care and respect they have for any of their biggest titles.  The image is clean and free of any dirt, hair, specks, or scratches throughout its runtime.  They’ve wisely kept the film’s grain structure intact which leads to a truer representation of how the film was shot and produced.  The color per director Hyams in his commentary track “is a true presentation of the image he was shooting”, bears the biggest seal of approval as the man was both the director and cinematographer of the film.  Fans of this 80s underseen gem will be elated with this upgraded transfer for the film.  

The Extras

They include the following;

• Audio Commentary by Director Peter Hyams 
• Making-of Featurette 
• Billy Cyrstal Outtakes 
• Selected Electronic Press Kit Scenes 
• Theatrical Trailer

The archival Audio Commentary (from around 2013) by Director Peter Hyams begins with why he wanted to make a comedy and the original version of the script.  Some of the other details include working with Alan Ladd as a producer; the casting of Billy Crystal; the casting of Gregory Hines; the casting of Jimmy Smits; filming on location vs. shooting on a set – which leads to a discussion about how he shoots as cinematographer with lighting; how he became his own cinematographer – which leads to a discussion to how he works on set and his reliance on his camera operators; shooting the action scene on the boat and the troubles that came with it unexpectedly; the advice/lesson Gene Hackman taught him off the cuff; the Key West scene – shooting on-location and more; how he added the El Train chase scene – and the work required to do so; the fact he did not want the Michael McDonald song – which became a massive hit; the look of the film and studio notes about it not “looking funny”; discussion of the image quality of this transfer – specifically how he felt it was “color timed accurately”; a discussion about VHS and Gordon Willis’s thoughts; an anecdote about “joining” the ASC – and the people that had tried to help him get in; another bit of historical note about him directing certain infamous actors; the schedule they shot the film in on location and the struggles that it caused; where the idea came from for the chase scenes – a detailed account of how they accomplished the scene and the different behind-the-scenes talent that contributed to the set piece; and much more.  Hyams provides an excellent, informative, technical commentary track.  

Making-of Featurette (6:40) – a vintage 80s-era EPK making of.  The video shot package is a great bit of fun similar to the Lethal Weapon 2 making-of (if one knows that buried bit of satire).  Featuring a very game Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines along with director Peter Hyams.  

Billy Crystal Outtakes (4:36) – taken from the footage that they used to create the Making-of Featurette of Crystal riffing, flubbing takes, and more.  

Selected Electronic Press Kit Scenes (6:12) – various scenes that were included in the EPK package.  It’s a great reference for anyone who has a love of VHS 1.33 video to show just how terrible the image is and how constricting it is for a film composed and shot for Widescreen.  

Rounding out the special features are trailers for Running Scared (1:30); Busting (2:45); Narrow Margin (2:01), Sudden Death (2:16); Number One with a Bullet (1:34); F/X (2:36); Code of Silence (2:39); Stick (1:21); Wanted: Dead or Alive(1:20); Murphy’s Law (1:30) 

The Final Thought 

Running Scared is still an undiscovered gem of the 1980s.  Kino has given it an excellent upgraded Collector’s Edition.  Recommended!!! 

Kino Lorber’s Blu-Ray edition of Running Scared is out now.