Disc Reviews
Cruising Review
Cruising 4K Review
One of Friedkin’s more forgotten movies, Cruising sees Al Pacino playing a cop who has to go undercover into the underworld of gay sex bars to find a killer who is murdering men.
The film was probably quickly forgotten as, at the time, it had some very frank scenes depicting gay life, gay men, trans, and a few other colours thrown in for good measure. It also frankly has some very severe content that would have likely have been censored around the world at the time. That said, with the film restored and a few decades of life to pass us by and to evolve, Cruising holds up very well, and it’s Friedkin’s choice of film that shows how unrelenting a filmmaker he was in his time. He didn’t have time for anything by halves.
The film doesn’t just lean into gay S&M culture but also the police response to that culture at the time, with several beatings and prejudiced officers skewing rights. The film isn’t without its humour as well, albeit quite dark. But then, that would be the prefix word to any genre this film covers.
Of course, the censor scissors did come out at the time, and there are places within the extras where you can see the differences.
The two-disc set that Arrow Video have curated comes replete with some pretty boastable extras. Friedkin provides a solo commentary, but he is also joined on a second by moderator and all-around Friedkin suckass, Mark Kermode. Say what you will about the man’s unchanged look over the years; he knows how to dissect a film and show passion for it.
Karen Allen provides a lengthy brand-new interview. The second disc is rammed to the rim with various archival interviews with some of the bit players and crew. For a film that all but disappeared for a time, it’s a joy to see so much love given to its resurrection.
Steven Hurst
2-DISC 4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS
• Brand new 4K restoration from the original 35mm camera negative by Arrow Films
• 120-page perfect-bound collector’s book featuring articles from The Village Voice and The New York Times, essays from the film’s extras cast, an introduction from William Friedkin, and an archive interview with Al Pacino
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sister Hyde
DISC ONE – FEATURE & EXTRAS (4K ULTRA HD)
• 4K (2160p) Ultra HD Blu-rayTM presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Original lossless English mono audio, 2.0 stereo, and 5.1
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Two archive audio commentaries by director William Friedkin, one solo and one moderated by critic and broadcaster Mark Kermode
• Brand new commentary featuring original musicians involved with the soundtrack
• I Want to Be the Curator, a brand-new interview with actress Karen Allen
• Deleted scenes and alternative footage
• On-set audio featuring the club scenes and protest coverage
• Censored material reels
• Theatrical trailer, teasers, and TV spots
DISC TWO – EXTRAS (BLU-RAY)
• Walking the Line, a brand-new interview with actor, film consultant, and former police detective Randy Jurgensen
• Cut Offs, an interview with editor Bud S. Smith
• Who’s That Guy?, an interview with actor Jay Acovone
• Pounding the Beat, an interview with actor Mike Starr
• Boy on the Bus, an interview with actor Mark Zecca
• Mineshaft Memories, an archive interview with Wally Wallace, former manager of the Mineshaft
• Breaking the Codes, a brand-new visual essay surrounding the hanky-codes featuring actor and writer David McGillivray
• Stop the Movie, a short film by Jim Hubbard capturing the Cruising protests
• The History of Cruising, an archival featurette looking at the film’s origins and production
• Exorcising Cruising, an archival featurette looking at the controversy surrounding the film and its enduring legacy
• William Friedkin’s BeyondFest 2022 Q&A at the American Cinematheque
• Extensive image gallery featuring international promotional material, on-set sketches, and more
Cruising 4K is out on 24th February 2025