DEATHCHEATERS (1976)
Ozploitation Classics #10
Blu-ray & Comic
Label: Umbrella Entertainment
Region Code: Region Free
Rating: M
Duration: 95 Minutes
Audio: English DTS-HD MA 2.0 Mono with Optional English Subtitles
Video: 1080p HD Widescreen
Director: Brian Trenchard Smith
Cast: John Hargreaves, Grant Page, Margaret Gerard, Noel Ferrier, Judith Woodroffe, Ralph Cotterill, Drew Forsythe, John Krummel, Brian Trenchard-Smith, Annie Semler, Roger Ward, Wallas Eaton, Michael Aitkens, Chris Haywood, Reg Evans, Peter Collingwood
Very much in the vein as the stunt-heavy Stunt Rock (1978) minus the epic fantasy rock, we have the action-packed flick Deathcheaters (1976) which centers on adrenaline-junkies Steve (John Hargreaves, The Long Weekend) and Rodney (Grant Page, Stunt Rock), a pair of thrill seekers who turn out nerve shredding stunt work for TV or film through their quite cleverly minikered stunt company Cunning Stunts. Their high-energy and risky lifestyle captures the attention of Australian spy-master Mr. Culpepper (Noel Ferrier, Turkey Shoot) who recruits them for a black-ops mission in the Philippines, where they are to secure sensitive documents for the Australian government from a Filipino racheteer.
It's a ridiculous premise from the get-go but the charismatic stars Steve Hargreaves and Grant Page are so freaking 70's cool you won't mind it a bit. Packed with death cheating stunt work and testosterone filled mayhem the only fault is a soft middle-third that is a bit dialogue heavy, with Culpepper detailing the mission, putting the guys through training camp, and the boys busying themselves with their ladies; Steve's lovely wife (the directors future wife Margaret Gerard, Stunt Rock) and Rod dealing with a revolving door of frisky women whose names he can't seem to keep straight, and hanging out with his lovable basset hound. However, once the mission proper gets underway and the courageous stuntmen embark from a submarine off the coast of the Philippines things kick it into gear for the final sprint. Its a satisfying action-romp crammed with explosions, catapult launched hang gliders, explosive Vietnam flashbacks that detail how the guys became adrenaline junkies, and plenty of sweaty, testosterone fueled spy/saboteur carnage.
Made over the course of four days for $150,000 this is a scrappy action-film crammed with inventive srurwork masterminded by the legendary Grant Page - it's a bit rough and the plot is straight-up silly, but as a series of action-packed stunt vignettes combined with the on-screen chemistry of action-gents Page and Hargreaves it's pretty alright entertainment. If you're a fan of Brian Trenchard-Smith's Stunt Rock and The Man From Hong Kong there's little doubt you're gonna have a blast with Deathcheaters. Grant Page is a legendary stuntman and this is a quite fun ride. For his part actor John Hargreaves seems all-in on doing plenty of his own stunt work alongside Page, he's clearly having a good time and gets plenty physical. You've never seen anyone hurl a leg of lamb as a projectile weapon as well as Hargreaves im willing to bet! DirectorTrenchard-Smith, who cameos as a director 'natch, once again finds a way to build a disposable, high-enrgy bit of entertainment around the Australian stuntman Page. The flick even features "Buttercup", which was daredevil Page's bad-ass yellow-painted off road vehicle he built himself, which is seen in several of Trenchard Smith/Page films.
Audio/Video: Deathcheater (1976) arrives in region-free Blu-ray as the tenth release in Umbrella Entertainment's Ozploitation Classics line-up, presented in 1080p HD widescreen. Originally shot on 16mm and blown-up to 35mm the image is quite grainy and flat-looking, showcasing grit, scratches and other blemishes throughout. While it's not pristine it is quite watchable and offers good color reproduction, if not the most fine-tuned and detailed image. Audio comes by way of uncompressed English DTS-HD MA 2.0 mono with optional English subtitles. The track handles the action nicely as it does the score which offers a eclectic mix of action-adventure, funky rock and spaghetti western library cues.
As with all the Ozploitation Classic's Blu-ray releases we get plenty of extras, beginning with an archival 2008 Audio Commentary with Director Brian Trenchard-Smith, Executive Producer Richard Brennan and Cast Member Margaret Trenchard-Smith that's gets into the nitty gritty of the production, the double-leads, the locations, and of course the stuntwork and occasional mishaps. Then onto the 17-minute Extended "Not Quite Hollywood" Interviews with Brian Trenchard-Smith, Grant Page, and John Seale with the guys recalling shooting the film over four days, with BTS recalling Page coming up with a lot of the stunt gags, and lot of talk about the bad-ass muscle-buggy "Buttercup" from Page, including its construction.
We also get a new 10-minute Remembering Deathcheaters Audio Interview with Executive Producer Richard Brennan recalling a series of unfortunate accidents on set some of which involved hospitalizations, and crediting BTS for his ability to make the film in four days and expert editing skills. We also get a bonus films, the Brian Trenchard Smith directed Dangerfreaks in HD, which if I'm not mistaken is a documentary compilation that was paired down from the same-titled 13-episode TV series, featuring Grant Page performing fantastic stints and interview fellow Australian stuntmen. The disc is buttoned-up with a 3-min Trailer for the film, plus a pleasing 42-min Brian Trenchard-Smith Trailer Reel.
The single-disc release arrives in an oversized clear keepcase with a two-sided sleeve of artwork featuring two artwork options on the a-side front/back with excerpts from director Brian Trenchard-Smith's autobiography Adventures in the B-Movie Trade on the b-side. This release also comes with a limited edition slipcover featuring the original movie poster artwork branded with the Ozploitation Classics logo and numbered spine. Inside there's an action-packs 16-page comic book adaptation by Dark Oz that is pretty cool.
Special Features:
- 2008 Audio Commentary with Director Brian Trenchard-Smith, Executive Producer Richard Brennan and Cast Member Margaret Trenchard-Smith
- Extended "Not Quite Hollywood" Interviews with Brian Trenchard-Smith, Grant Page, and John Seale (17 min) HD
- NEW Remembering Deathcheaters Audio Interview with Executive Producer Richard Brennan (10 min) HD
- Bonus Movie: Dangerfreaks (94 Minutes) HD
- Trailer (3 min) HD
- Brian Trenchard-Smith Trailer Reel (41 min) HD
- NEW 16-Page Comic Book Adaptation from Dark Oz
- NEW Liner Notes from Director Brian Trenchard-Smith
