Is Straight to Hell a Hidden Treasure or Dumpster Fire?
Blu-ray Distributed By: Kino Lorber / August 28, 2018
A 2K Restoration! From Alex Cox, the director of Repo Man, Highway Patrolman and Sid and Nancy. In this director’s cut of the 1987 cult classic, four hapless bank robbers bury their loot and attempt to hide out in a deserted desert town, but very soon find out that the town is not really deserted. Norwood (Sy Richardson), Simms (Joe Strummer) and Willy (Dick Rude) are three black-suited killers-for-hire. After missing their intended target and trying to escape the wrath of their employer (Jim Jarmusch), they head for the desert and rob a bank en-route. As their car dies in a ravine, the trio bury their money and head for a lonely town to hide out till the heat blows over. The insane cast includes Courtney Love, The Pogues, Grace Jones, Dennis Hopper, Elvis Costello, Kathy Burke and Xander Berkeley.
Jamie’s Take
Jamie’s Take
With a huge cast mostly made up with musicians (Joe Strummer, Courtney Love, Elvis Costello just to name a few) cult icons (Dennis Hopper, Grace Jones, Jim Jarmusch) and Cox regulars (Sy Richardson, Dick Rude, Miguel Sandoval) Straight to Hell feels like Cox was purposely trying to create a midnight movie, a cult film that tries too hard to be “weird” and “out there”. And while Straight to Hell is pretty fucking odd, it reeks of pretension while adding confusion which is never a good combination in any film.
Sy Richardson, Joe Strummer, and Dick Rude (who co-wrote with Cox) play bank robbers who after robbing a bank, hide out in the desert where their car breaks down. With suitcases filled with money and an annoying pregnant girlfriend (Love) along for the ride, these criminals decide to bury their loot and travel to the nearest town.
Upon arrivals and after a night of drinking, the town becomes infested with gangs who seem to be bootlegging coffee. After our anti-heroes blow away some of the gang members they are taken in as one of their own. While the men work out some of their problems (sexual tension seems to be an underlying theme) a stranger named Dade (Jarmusch) arrives in town who knows these criminals and convinces the towns folk to turn on the three.
While this sounds pretty much straight forward, Straight to Hell is not straight whatsoever. Characters shoot or maim one another for no reason, they react oddly to certain situations and the film bounces around from character to character that the viewer never cares about any of these individuals.
It’s apparent everyone was having fun making the film but it’s a shame the viewer cannot relate and join in on the fun. Watching Straight to Hell, I felt like an outsider. I knew I was not the intended audience after the 20 minute mark and while I chuckled at a few humorous moments (why is this hot dog vendor getting his ass kicked all the time?), I couldn’t wait for it to finally be over.
I didn’t necessarily hate Straight to Hell either as I rather liked Cox’s idea of doing a modern day spaghetti western with some rather graphic splattery squibs (which some have been enhanced with CGI for this Director’s Cut). During the action scenes / shootouts, the film did hold my interest just enough even though I didn’t care who was getting shot or why. There could have been some funny satire I missed concerning coffee drinkers but it was way too muddled or I’m just a dumbass and didn’t get it or catch it.
Kino Lorber has given fans Cox’s preferred Director’s Cut of the film, restoring a few extra scenes along with changing a sequence where a woman shoots a dog for no reason (glad that was changed, Cox even admits it was wrong on the audio commentary). The new 2K restoration looks really good providing a sharp and clear picture that many will want to get rid of their older DVD’s and replace with this blu ray disc. The DTS soundtrack works fine with dialog and gun fire booming out of the speakers. Kino did a great job in restoring this film.
As for the special features, the audio commentary that Cox and Rude provided in the 2000 release is ported over with a 2018 Cox butting in at various times to discuss the changes in the new Director’s Cut when necessary. The commentary track is worthwhile with both men admitting the film isn’ for everyone. Rounding out the special features is:
- Back to Hell – making of documentary
- Black Hills – a short tour of the locations that Cox shot in 1977
- Straight to Hell Returns Trailer
I didn’t care for Straight to Hell nor will I ever watch it again. There is however an audience for this film as Straight to Hell continues to be a cult favorite for some viewers (God knows why). Like it or not, the blu ray is a pretty good release even for a movie that I would never sit through again.
Hidden Treasure/Dumpster Fire?
Jamie says: One’s Trash is Another’s Treasure
| Movie: |  (1.5 / 5) |
| Video/Audio: |  (4.0 / 5) |
| Extras: |  (3.0 / 5) |
| Average: |  (2.8 / 5) |
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