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Backtrace Blu-ray Review

“Backtrace” is another made for home video dud.

After a money exchange post bank robbery goes south and ends in death, Donovan Macdonald manages to survive the ordeal but winds up with injured with amnesia. The story jumps ahead in time 7 years where Donovan is still staying at a prison psychiatric ward. His time there soon ends, however, when he is broken out of prison by three individuals. Who are these people? You don’t know initially. It turns out these people are hoping to get Donovan to remember his past and, more importantly, where the money he hid is. Meanwhile, a Police Detective (Sykes) and an FBI agent (Franks) are looking for Dovovan’s whereabouts. Of course, there’s a few twists and turns along the way that shake up the plot.

“Backtrace” is yet another made for home video film with a big star (in this case Sylvester Stallone) made for an international market. The film is a pretty standard robbery, cop crime drama tale with a few twists thrown in. Truth be told, the script by Mike Maples is paper thin. Aside from the eventful beginning and ending, there’s very little that happens here . Much of the runtime is comprised of Matthew Modine’s Donovan stumbling around in pain trying to remember the past. Don’t expect much characterization here either aside from Donovan.

The direction by Brian A. Miller and cinematography by Peter Holland is rough. This is not a visual movie unless you love horrendous shaky cam shots. Equally embarrassing here are the big dramatic moments which don’t land at all. The out of place music used during these allegedly emotional moments make it more comical than anything else.

Despite sporting a few big names like Sylvester Stallone, Matthew Modine, Christopher McDonald and Ryan Guzman, everyone here is wasted. Modine probably gets the most to do acting wise (despite often wailing in pain). Stallone looks entirely bored and uninterested and is hardly on screen despite being plastered on the cover and posters. McDonald and Guzman give serviceable performances.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.85:1 1080p. How does it look? The poor cinematography isn’t made any better by being in hi-def.

Audio Track: 5.1 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? The sound fares better here as it does the job.

Extras:
* DVD copy
* Digital copy
* “Backtrace” trailer and Lionsgate trailers
* Interviews with Brian A. Miller, Christopher McDonald, Ryan Guzman and Colin Egglesfield
* “Making Backtrace” contains film clips, interviews, story and character discussions, the usual.

February 4, 2019 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Backtrace Blu-ray Review, Backtrace Film, Matthew Modine, Sylvester Stallone