Thunderheart (1992) [Blu-Ray]

Director: Michael Apted

Cast: Val Kilmer, Sam Shepard, Graham Greene

Release Date: May 21, 2024

A Review By: Kevin Lovell

Disc Rating: 6.5/10

Synopsis:

Val Kilmer, Sam Shepard and Graham Greene star in this powerful murder mystery with all the style and suspense of Witness. Kilmer stars as Ray Levoi, a hotshot FBI agent who’s thrust into a strange new world when he is sent to solve a murder on an Indian reservation. Hand-picked because of his part-Sioux ancestry, Levoi is teamed with a legendary older agent (Shepard) to capture a radical Indian protester. But once on the reservation, Levoi encounters the irreverent local sheriff (Greene), and the tribe’s religious leader (Chief Ted Thin Elk), who knows secrets about Levoi’s own lost heritage. And as Levoi’s awareness of the native culture grows, so does his belief that the U.S. government has framed an innocent man.

‘Thunderheart’ follows talented FBI agent Ray Levoi who is selected to investigate a series of murders on tribal land due to the fact that he’s part Sioux and the higher ups believe he can get more from the local population. But as Ray is partnered with a seasoned veteran of an agent and thrust into the dangerous investigation that many believe was the actions of a radical protestor, he soon begins to discover elements of his heritage that he can’t ignore. As he becomes more familiar with the individuals living on the reservation as well as his ancestors, it soon leads him to believe that it’s highly possible that the government is intent to blame the murder on an innocent man.

Directed by Michael Apted from a screenplay written by John Fusco, Apted does a great job at the helm of ‘Thunderheart’ guiding along the tense and riveting tale with heart and care. The film’s notable cast includes Val Kilmer, Sam Shepard, Graham Greene, Fred Ward and more who each contribute solid performances in their respective roles that help this moving tale to work as well as it does and still get under your skin today, multiple decades after its initial release.

‘Thunderheart’ is an engaging tale of heritage, history and murder that sends one man to investigate a criminal case which ends up allowing him to see things through a fresh perspective while simultaneously causing him to question much of what he believed to know, as well as the government he works for. Packed with heart, action and emotion, not to mention featuring a stellar performance by Val Kilmer, ‘Thunderheart’ takes viewers into one man’s personal confliction as he is unable to ignore the troubling elements and actions around him and must decide where his beliefs lie and where he draws the line, regardless of what it might cost to stand up and do the right thing. It’s a beautifully crafted tale that looks tremendous and has something important to say, while still offering plenty of thrilling action and excitement throughout.

The film was first released in 1992 and still manages to serve up an emotionally riveting, tense and unforgettable ride today, more than three decades after its original release. If you’ve never had the pleasure of ‘Thunderheart’ or are perhaps even unfamiliar with the film, I would strongly encourage giving it a whirl if you enjoy a solid thriller with real characters and heart behind the mystery and action, in which case this one should prove quite the treat.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment brings the tense and emotional thriller ‘Thunderheart’ home on Blu-ray for the first time. The new release features a full High Definition video presentation that breathes some gorgeous new life and detail into this highly underrated gem and the impressive new video presentation is only further boosted by a fully capable 5.1 DTS-HD MA soundtrack. While they may not be quite on par with some titles on the format, it’s safe to say that it is surely the best that this film has ever looked at home at the very least. Featuring an Audio Commentary on top of the new video and audio presentations, this one may not be a jam-packed collector’s edition release by any means but for any fans of the film that have been anxiously awaiting its HD arrival it’s definitely recommended and worth picking up, especially if you can find it at the right price.

VIDEO:

The Blu-ray release of ‘Thunderheart’ features a full 1080p High Definition presentation with the film’s original 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio. The video presentation looks pretty fantastic as a whole and provides a clean, sharp and beautifully detailed presentation from start to finish that brings this underrated gem home looking better than many fans likely ever imagined it would. Detail is sharp and solid throughout, noticeable on characters and vehicles, as well as the expansive landscapes and various interiors, while colors are bright and full bodied, showcasing the natural landscapes with a clarity and brightness that makes it difficult not to appreciate this film even more. Overall, this is a quite impressive high definition video presentation that looks great every step of the way and should have fans extremely excited.

AUDIO:

The Blu-ray release features a 5.1 channel DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. This multichannel soundtrack does its job capably altogether and offers a clean, crisp and occasionally fairly immersive audio presentation throughout. It utilizes all five available channels in order to send various action, vehicle and nature effects along with many other tidbits throughout the various speakers whenever fitting, while never conflicting with any dialogue or other audio elements at the same time. It may not be a groundbreaking or even overly impressive soundtrack but it gets the job done without any noticeable troubles or faults to be uncovered. Overall, this is a pretty solid 5.1 DTS-HD MA soundtrack that should largely satisfy the film’s fans.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

The Blu-ray release of ‘Thunderheart’ includes an ‘Audio Commentary with Screenwriter John Fusco’, in addition to the film’s ‘Theatrical Trailer’ (running approximately 2 minutes).

*Please note that the above images are taken from the Blu-Ray and resized. They will additionally suffer quality loss as a result of .jpg compression. Larger versions of each image can be viewed by clicking on the image. All images and content included on this Blu-Ray release are the property of their respective owners.

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Disc Rating: 6.5/10

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‘Thunderheart’ is Now Available to Own on Blu-ray from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

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You can purchase ‘Thunderheart’ on Blu-ray at Amazon HERE!

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