Review: J.D.’s Revenge
Blu-ray & DVD: J.D.’s Revenge (1976)
Isaac “Ike” Hendricks (Glynn Turman) is a hardworking law student in New Orleans, who on a night out with friends gets persuaded to go onstage at a club and be hypnotised. It is while under hypnosis that Ike becomes possessed by the spirit of the malevolent J.D. Walker, a man whose demise is shown at the beginning of the movie. As Ike’s personality slowly begins to disappear under the influence of J.D. Walker, it is not only his sanity that could be lost, but also the lives of those around him.
To give too much of the story away of J.D.’s Revenge would be to spoil the surprise of the little twists and turns that happen as the narrative progresses. This was not my 1st viewing of J.D.’s Revenge as I used to own it on VHS and still have it on an old DVD release. This however was something completely different to watch it on a superb Blu-ray release from Arrow Films, complete with some very interesting special features.
Glynn Turman’s performance as Ike is fantastic, however it is when he slowly begins to transform into J.D. Walker that his performance truly begins to shine. Adopting a swagger that’ll knock down any lady at 100 yards and a bite to his voice that’ll have any person reeling in fear, I was transfixed whenever J.D. came to the fore of Ike’s personality.
The movie is mysoginistic and women, specifically Ike’s girlfriend Christella (Joan Pringle), get beaten and abused on more than one occasion. Even Ike’s friend tells him that women need to know their boundaries and it’s good for them to get a beating now and again.
Louis Gossett Jr. throws himself into the part of ex-boxer turned preacher with absolute relish. His sermons as peppered with shadow boxing moves as he works his way down the aisle as though he’s dancing around an opponent in the ring. All the while praising the word of God with a fervour that makes an agnostic like myself want to attend his church.
The blood, as always in these movies, resembles nothing less than bright red children’s paint. It is the manner in which the cuts are made which makes you draw your breath as J.D. wields his cutthroat razor with deadly precision.
J.D.’s Revenge is a classic movie that has entertained me for many years, and thanks to this excellent release by Arrow Films, will be on my screen for many more years to come. Just think twice before going on stage at a hypnotism show!
SPECIAL FEATURES:
• Brand new 2K restoration from original film elements, produced by Arrow Films exclusively for this release
• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
• Original 1.0 mono sound
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
• Brand new interview with producer-director Arthur Marks
• More interviews to be announced!
• Original theatrical trailer
• Arthur Marks trailer reel
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sean Phillips
FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Collector’s booklet containing new writing by Kim Newman, author of Nightmare Movies
J.D.’s Revenge will be released on October 30th and you can buy it by clicking HERE. ALL money raised by purchasing from Amazon via our website is given back to our listeners and followers in upcoming competition prizes. The more people buy, the bigger our prizes!
Review by Dave (host of 60 Minutes With) from a disc kindly supplied by Arrow Films.
