later wife) Peggy Steffans—al- ways more eloquent than her husband in such program- ming—is the only other perti- nent video extra. The greatest boon to the set is an eight-page illustrated booklet by Michael Bowen, who chronicles the ten- day (!) production with diligence and insight. One of his most curious discoveries is that the film, shot as BEHIND CLOSED DOORS in March 1969, was ac- quired and paper-equipped for distribution in 1970 but re- mained unreleased in the US until a twelve-screen breakout in Los Angeles in February 1972. The booklet also includes a three-step illustration of its digital restoration, from heavily- scratched pink to an intermit- tently scratched proper color scale, which will make Sarno’s devotées profoundly greatful for the measures taken.
THE REEF
2010, Image Entertainment, $29.97, 87m 43s, BR By Eric Somer
There is a certain amount of intrinsic suspense, associated with all creature films set at sea, that anyone who has gazed across a vast ocean is sure to understand. The mere thought of being lost at sea with nobody on the way to help is frightening enough, but when one is forced to consider the distinct possibil- ity of a large predator somewhere in the vicinity, a whole new world of unpleasantness arises. Like other horror subgenres, the shark attack film typically begins by establishing a group of young adults on a holiday. Luke (Damian Walshe-Howling) has arranged a sailing and snor- keling expedition for his good friend Matt (Gyton Grantley) and
his girlfriend Suzie (Adrienne Pickering), along with Matt’s sis- ter Kate (Zoe Naylor), who also happens to be Luke’s erstwhile lover, adding awkwardness to the excursion. In a scene that has its equivalent in ROGUE, Kate is confronted—before set- ting sail—by a large display of nasty-looking teeth belonging to sharks indigenous to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Despite this warning of things to come, the four set sail with shipmate War- ren (Kieran Darcy-Smith) into the waters from whence the teeth came. The major turning point occurs when a collision with a reef causes their vessel to cap- size. Rather than drift further out to sea on a sinking boat waiting for a rescue that may never hap- pen, Luke suggests swimming for land. Warren adamantly refuses: “I’ve fished these waters... I know what’s out there.”
Where to now? Stuck on a capsized boat, the cast of THE REEF worry about how to stay clear of a 15' Great White Shark in their midst.
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