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Out of the Blue
[Blu-ray 4K]
Blu-ray ALL - America - Severin Films Review written by and copyright: Noor Razzak (13th June 2025). |
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The Film
 Dennis Hopper’s "Out of the Blue" is a jagged, raw nerve of a film, an uncompromising meditation on disillusionment, generational dysfunction, and punk nihilism. Initially conceived as a conventional Canadian family drama, Hopper’s takeover of the project reimagined it into something far more radical and unsettling. The result is a powerful, if often harrowing, portrait of adolescence gone awry in a world that offers no safety net. The story centers on Cebe (Linda Manz), a teenage girl obsessed with Elvis Presley, Johnny Rotten, and the idea of escaping her broken home. Her father Don (Dennis Hopper), fresh out of prison after a drunk driving accident that killed a busload of children, is a volatile mix of shame, denial, and self-destruction. Her mother, Kathy (Sharon Farrell) is emotionally absent and addicted to heroin. Trapped between these two toxic poles, Cebe oscillates between rebellion and vulnerability, searching for identity in a collapsing moral landscape. Visually, "Out of the Blue" is stark and bleak, mirroring the emotional terrain of its characters. Hopper directs with a vérité style that lends the film a sense of immediacy and documentary-like grit. The sound design is similarly confrontational, featuring blasts of punk rock and Neil Young'a "My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)" that underscore the central conflict between nostalgia and alienation. The film never flinches, even when it veers into deeply disturbing territory—most notably in its brutal final moments, which feel like a howl from the void. Manz’s performance is the film’s emotional core. Her portrayal of Cebe is free of affectation, capturing the confusion, anger, and fleeting hope of a teenager who’s been forced to grow up too fast. Her stream-of-consciousness monologues, often improvised, are some of the most affecting in cinema of the era. Hopper, meanwhile, plays Don with frightening authenticity, blurring the line between performance and personal exorcism. The origins of "Out of the Blue" are as chaotic and fascinating as the film itself. Originally intended as a tame TV movie directed by Leonard Yakir and titled "Cebe", the project floundered after several weeks of uninspired shooting. Hopper, who was initially only hired as an actor, was brought in to salvage the production and took over as director. He rewrote the script in a matter of days, radically transforming the story into the punk-infused, semi-improvised, and deeply personal film it became. Hopper's version drew heavily from his own demons, including his well-documented struggles with addiction and his iconoclastic approach to filmmaking. He shot quickly, often allowing for improvisation, particularly from Linda Manz, whose spontaneous delivery became one of the film’s signature features. The result was a searing, unfiltered piece of cinema that alienated some viewers while electrifying others. The film's controversy stemmed largely from its graphic content and bleak tone. Its depiction of incest, drug abuse, and juvenile despair led to censorship issues and distribution problems. Many theaters refused to show it, and it was initially poorly received in North America, though it gained a cult following in Europe, particularly after being nominated for the Palme d’Or at the 1980 Cannes Film Festival. Despite its rocky release and limited commercial success, "Out of the Blue" has since been reassessed as a vital work in Hopper’s career and in independent cinema at large. Its influence can be felt in later works exploring the darker corners of adolescence and family life, from "Gummo" (1997) to "Fish Tank" (2009). It stands as a testament to the dangerous power of cinema when it dares to tell the truth, no matter how ugly. "Out of the Blue" is not an easy film to watch. It deals with child abuse, incest, drug addiction, and generational trauma with unflinching honesty. But it is precisely this discomfort that gives the film its power. It is less a narrative than a scream, a bleak elegy for innocence crushed under the weight of systemic failure and parental neglect. Hopper doesn't offer solutions, only an honest portrait of a world where “nothing is true, everything is permitted.” This is cinema without anesthesia, raw, jagged, and deeply human. In Hopper’s hands, what began as a forgotten TV drama emerged as one of the most emotionally honest and artistically fearless films of its decade.
Video
Presented in 1.85:1 widescreen mastered in 4K 2160p 24/fps with HEVC compression and enhanced with HDR10 and Dolby Vision. Severin has delivered this film with a brand new 4K scan from the original camera negative and the result is fantastic. The film's bleak tone is accurately represented here, the film's color pallet is muted, skin tones are natural, film grain is present, preserving the film as it was originally intended. Detail looks good for a film that's now 45 years old, Severin has done a great service to this cult classic in treating its release with absolute care.
Audio
A single audio track is included in English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono, the film's original mono mix is presented well here with clean and clear dialogue, despite its limitations of only being mono the sound mix does a good job of balancing dialogue and score, Neil Young'a "My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)" comes on with an emotional weight that hits you like a truck. Optional subtitles are included in English for the hearing impaired only.
Extras
Not only has Severin provided a fantastic audio and visual presentation they have stacked this release with a ton of extras, below is a closer look at these supplements. DISC ONE: 4K UHD The first disc features the film in 4K and is accompanied by three feature-length audio commentaries, they include: The first audio commentary is with director Dennis Hopper, producer Paul Lewis and distributor John Alan Simon, originally recorded in 1999 for Anchor Bay this track takes a closer look at how this version of the film came to be, on the challenges the filmmakers faced, on restructuring and rewriting the film, and on Hopper's involvement from actor to director and taking the film into a completely different direction. A second audio commentary features film scholar Kate Rennebohm, this takes a much closer examination of the film's troubled history, on its themes, and the overall emotional impact of it. The third and final audio commentary features author, editor, and critic Kat Ellinger, this track delves deep into the themes of the film and most notably the punk rock themes that Cebe identifies with. Next up is the 40th Anniversary 4K Restoration US Premiere Q&A with John Alan Simon, Elizabeth Karr, Julian Schnabel, and Natasha Lyonne (19:35), the participants talk about the impact of the film, its history, on the importance of it, among other things. Rounding out the extras on this disc is the original theatrical trailer (2:44) DISC TWO: Blu-ray This disc include the standard HD 1080p version of the film and includes the same three audio commentaries as the previous 4K disc. The first audio commentary is with director Dennis Hopper, producer Paul Lewis and distributor John Alan Simon The second audio commentary features film scholar Kate Rennebohm. And the third audio commentary features author, editor, and critic Kat Ellinger. Next is a 1984 Dennis Hopper interview by Tony Watts (96:52), incorrectly labelled as being from 1984, this British television clip is actually from 1982 as Hopper is making media appearances for the Institute of Contemporary Arts screening of his film "The Last Movie" (1971), this is a fantastic and comprehensive feature that examines Hopper's career. "Gone But Not Forgotten: Remembering Linda Manz" 2022 featurette (17:59), this clip focuses on the film's main star, Manz delivers an incredible and raw performance and her work is celebrated here with interviews from various notable people. "Subverting Normality: Linda Manz Comes from Out of the Blue" 2021 video essay by Amanda Reyes and Chris O'Neill (17:53), takes a closer look at the influences of the film and on the film's main character, Cebe. "Terminal City Blues: Vancouver Onscreen in Out of the Blue" 2022 video essay by Kier-La Janisse and Stephen Broomer (19:22), this clip takes a closer look at the film's location, the city of Vancouver in British Colombia, Canada. The locations could be considered another character in the film and examines the bygone era of early film production in the city before it became a central hub for Hollywood productions as it is today. "Main Street Soldier" is a 1972 short film by Leonard Yakir (35:30), interestingly included is Yakir's short about an alcoholic WWII veteran, there's also a partial audio commentary form the director also included. The disc also features the "Restoration" theatrical trailer (2:28), the original theatrical trailer (2:18), and a Jack Nicholson narrated radio spot (1:02). DISC THREE: Blu-ray Remembering "Out of the Blue" are a series of interviews with key cast & crew as they share their memories and experiences working on the film (with Play All) (240:22), they include: - Bob Akestar, second assistant director (18:13) - Patti Allen, production coordinator (15:17) - The Pointed Sticks & John Anderson, punk band & actor (20:47) - Mark DesRochers, location manager (23:58) - Doris Dyck, editor (16:05) - Sharon Farrell, actress (13:31) - Julia Frittaion, unit publicist & post-production assistant (29:00) - John Holbrook, camera operator (19:17) - Tom Lavin, composer (22:36) - Christine Wilson, script supervisor (18:48) - Leonard Yakir, writer (42:45) "Me & Dennis" 2021 interviews (with Play All) (69:02 + 14:49 + 65:24) feature clips with Hopper’s friends and colleagues as they talk abut his career, legacy, and impact on cinema. They include: - Ethan Hawke, actor & filmmaker (43:52) - Jessica Hundley, author & journalist (25:09) - Richard Linklater, filmmaker (14:49) - Philippe Mora, filmmaker (19:37) - Lawrence Schiller, filmmaker & photojournalist (29:04) - Julian Schnabel, filmmaker & artist (16:41) "Straight to Hell: Alex Cox Recalls Out of the Blue" 2021 interview (13:16), Cox, himself considered a "Cult" filmmaker talks about his initial introduction to the film and also on the impact of Hopper's career and films. "Dealing with Demons: Brian Cox on Acting and Dennis Hopper" 2022 interview (20:33), here the actor talks about the acting and performances in this film and on why they are so impacting and memorable. Finally the disc features a 2020 AFI Q&A with 4K Restoration Producers John Alan Simon and Elizabeth Karr (22:14), these two talk about the original release of the film, it's reception at Cannes, and on restoring the film for its 40th anniversary.
Packaging
Available with a slip-cover designed by Sister Hyde Designs, exclusively from Severin Films directly.
Overall
Severin has produced a phenomenal package for this bleak yet important film. It's an easy pick up for cinephiles.
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