Search - Dead of Winter on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Violence, Not For Children, Adult Language, Profanity Movie Release: 1987 DVD Release: 12/03/2002 Format: DVD - Pan and Scan Audio Tracks: English, French, Spanish Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 40 mins Studio: MGM Members Wishing: 1 Genres: Thriller, Psychological Thriller

Despite its relative failure at the box office, this is a worthwhile thriller from the director of Bonnie and Clyde. Mary Steenburgen stars as an actress, Katie McGovern, lured to the upstate New York cabin of crazy Dr. Joseph Lewis (Jan Rubes), a diabolical crippled shrink playing a blackmail game with the ruthless sister of a recently murdered woman, who happened to be a dead ringer for Katie. Lewis and his creepy assistant (Roddy McDowall) keep Katie captive, videotaping her and cutting off her finger to further their sordid plot, while she tries desperately to get away. As the title implies, Arthur Penn gets a lot of atmosphere out of the remote cabin and a raging blizzard, and the cast is terrific. It all falls apart eventually, but is quite gripping until the required histrionics in the silly final reel. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide

Mary Steenburgen - Katie McGovern / Julie / Evelyn
Roddy McDowall - Mr. Murray
Jan Rubes - Dr. Joseph Lewis
William Russ - Rob Sweeney
Mark Malone - Roland McGovern

Arthur Penn's psychological thriller Dead of Winter comes to DVD with a widescreen transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of the film. English and French soundtracks are rendered in Dolby Digital Surround, and a Spanish soundtrack has been recorded in Dolby Digital Mono. Subtitles are accessible in all three of those languages as well. There are no supplemental materials of any consequence, but this MGM/UA release should be worthwhile for any genre enthusiast. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide