Alan Parker's horror mystery
Angel Heart has grown considerably in stature since its 1987 release, not least because it signposted the way forward for many better thrillers to follow. The film's look and ambience are certainly prescient of
Seven,
Fallen, and others, making this DVD edition all the more interesting. Parker had initially planned to make the film in black-and-white, but this anamorphic widescreen disc makes it hard to imagine how the film could have looked any better than it does now. The faded color schemes used by cinematographer
Michael Seresin to portray 1955 New York are wonderfully rendered (the opening credits sequence looks stunning), as are the more expansive and exotic tones of the Louisiana-set half of the movie. Surprisingly, the audio track is limited to Dolby Surround Sound rather than Digital 5.1. Though the sound quality is adequate, the potential of the haunting soundtrack is possibly not fully realized. Included on the disc is the original theatrical trailer, which is excellent and definitely worth watching before the feature for those not familiar with
Angel Heart. There is also a moderately interesting behind-the-scenes featurette, evidently made to promote the film's theatrical release, which includes some brief but telling comments from Parker and star
Mickey Rourke. Perhaps the most important factor for purists is that the movie on this disc is indeed the complete and uncut version, meaning that the notorious sex scene between Rourke's Harry Angel and
Lisa Bonet's voodoo priestess is fully intact. The Region 1 edition does not include the illuminating commentary from Parker that is on the Region 2 disc, but for the flawless transfer alone, fans of this supernatural film noir will be delighted with this DVD. ~ Patrick Lee, All Movie Guide