Blu-ray Review – Dead Again (1991)

      Dead Again, 1991.

      Directed by Kenneth Branagh.

      Featuring Kenneth Branagh, Andy García, Derek Jacobi, Hanna Schygulla, Emma Thompson, and Robin Williams.

      SYNOPSIS:

      Kenneth Branagh’s modern noir, Dead Again, from 1991, is now available in a new Blu-ray edition, which includes a fresh HD master created from a 4K scan of the original camera negative and has been approved by the director. While the same commentary tracks that have been available since 2000 are included, no new extras have been added. Nonetheless, fans of the film may want to consider acquiring it for the enhanced picture quality.

      In my previous commentary on John Milius’s 1973 film Dillinger, I reflected on how challenging it is to produce a film, especially one of quality. This thought crosses my mind again with the release of Dead Again from 1991, now available on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD through Kino Lorber.

      This film certainly boasted the right talent: Kenneth Branagh directed and took on a dual role, Scott Frank wrote the script, and the cast included Emma Thompson, Andy Garcia, and Robin Williams. It certainly seemed like a winning combination, wouldn’t you agree?

      Dead Again pays tribute to Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo and Notorious, alongside the distinctive visuals of Citizen Kane and the noir genre in general. The story begins with newspaper headlines recounting the tale of famed composer Roman Strauss (Branagh), who was found guilty of murdering his wife in 1948 and sentenced to death.

      

      In 1991, private detective Mike Church (again played by Branagh) is called back to the orphanage he grew up in to uncover the identity of a woman (Emma Thompson) who arrives there mute, suffering from amnesia and haunted by recurring nightmares. A friend of his (Derek Jacobi) uses hypnosis to help her unravel her past, which reveals her to be the woman allegedly killed by her husband.

      Robin Williams appears in a few scenes as Dr. Carlisle, a psychiatrist Mike consults to learn more about hypnosis as a treatment method. Though he is skeptical of past life claims, Dr. Carlisle reassures him of their authenticity.

      As the mystery woman regains her voice, her memory remains elusive, and Mike continues to assist her due to his sympathy for her plight. Additional hypnosis sessions bring to light more about the relationship between Roman Strauss and his wife, also portrayed by Thompson.

      While it may not be difficult to anticipate the direction of the narrative from this point, Frank’s screenplay introduces several intriguing twists along the way. Personally, I find the ending somewhat lackluster and cliché, leaving Dead Again feeling a bit unsatisfactory.

      However, fans will value the fact that this new edition features an updated HD master approved by Branagh. The Blu-ray looked quite good on my setup, so I question whether a 4K release was necessary, but fans might disagree.

      As for bonus features, nothing new has been created for this release. Along with the theatrical trailer, there are two commentary tracks—one with Branagh and the other featuring Scott Frank and producer Lindsay Doran. Both tracks are from the 2000 DVD release, but they provide engaging discussions filled with valuable insights about the film.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★

      Brad Cook