Review: Weird Science Limited Edition UHD
4K UHD: Weird Science (1985)
Weird Science is a John Hughes film and was released in 1985. Most of you probably already are aware of this. Hummm, John Hughes, so loved by so many people, including me, all those warm fuzzy funny, yet emotional tweenie films about rich middle-class Americans (face it guys, it’s the truth) with huge houses, shouty dads and girl problems. Sigh, those were the days.
Times have changed though, and I have (amazingly) never seen Weird Science. I couldn’t remember why, and ten minutes into the film I realised why I’d given this a swerve, and continued to swerve it.
Written and directed by John Hughes and starring Anthony Michael Hall (Gary), Ilan Mitchell-Smith (Wyatt), Bill Paxton (Wyatt’s brother Chet) and Kelly LeBrock as Lisa the … Bride of Frankenstein? it’s based on the 1951 pre-Code comic “Made of the Future” by Al Feldstein, which appeared in the magazine of the same name and has that age old story of young lads, trying to cop a shag and avoid the school bullies, Ian (Robert Downey Jnr) and Max (Robert Rusler). Oh, and they fancy the bully’s girlfriends.
Wyatt’s parents go out of town leaving the boys alone with a computer and a Barbie doll and inspired by the midnight movie ‘Frankenstein’ they CREATE the perfect woman. Kelly Le Brock.
A few days before I watched this, I saw Barbie. A film which mentions the Patriarchy so many times, if you took a shot every time it was said you’d be pissed after 20 minutes.
It didn’t take long to remember WHY I’d not watched this film in its entirety before. It’s a weird film – Lisa the fantasy, aged about… 25? (Kelly who was 26) kissing 15 yr old Wyatt (Ilan was really 15), several times, fully, on the mouth. She showers with them (they’re clothed), and the whole ‘feel’ of the film is ‘Male fantasy’ to the point of young lads really getting what they desire – sexually and materially – there are a lot of fast cars conjured up in this film, they conquer the bullies, they take the bully’s girlfriends off them and when they have no real use for Lisa anymore, they tell her to more or less fuck off back into the shower.
Yes, this is nearly 40 years old now, but back then, this hugely popular film still felt …wrong (to me). Don’t worry dear reader I am not going to write a comparison of yesterdays film, with today’s (Barbie), but believe me, watching them side by side is an eye opener on just how very sexist, and patriarchal and plain ‘wrong’ Weird Science is. If it doesn’t give you a bit of the ick…. maybe you need to take a look at your attitude to women, because we’re all familiar with Hughes white wasp American ideal, but Weird Science is a film made of pure misogyny. Perhaps that’s why there are no real extras on the making of the film (just one archival one).
On a positive note, the film looks fabulous and for Hughes fans, enjoy!
- New restoration by Arrow Films from a 4K scan of the original negative
- 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDr10 compatible) of the original Theatrical Version of the film (94 mins), plus seamlessly-branched Extended Version (97 mins), featuring two additional scenes
- Original lossless stereo audio, plus 5.1 Dts-HD Ma surround option (theatrical version only)
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Edited-for-TV version of the film (sd only, 94 mins), plus comparison featurette highlighting the alternate dubs and edits
- Casting ‘Weird Science’, an interview with casting director Jackie Burch
- Dino The Greek, an interview with supporting actor John Kapelos
- Chet Happens, an interview with special makeup creator Craig Reardon
- Fantasy and Microchips, an interview with editor Chris Lebenzon
- Ira Newborn Makes The Score, an interview with the composer
- It’s Alive! Resurrecting Weird Science, an archive documentary featuring interviews with cast, crew and admirers, including star Anthony Michael Hall
- Theatrical trailers, Tv spots and radio spots
- Image galleries
- Illustrated collectors’ booklet featuring writing on the film by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Amanda Reyes
- Double-sided fold-out poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tracie Ching
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tracie Ching
Released 21st August 2023 and available to pre-order.
