Review: Brian Trenchard-Smith's 'Stunt Rock' is Australian Exploitation Writ Large

Of all the filmmakers to come out of Australia, it was Brian Trenchard-Smith who made the best use of the low-budget exploitation production style, coming out with films on the cheap that still gained international attention from audiences. And although "The Man from Hong Kong" may be his best-known work, both because of its financial and critical success, it's his whacked-out, practical effects-driven "Stunt Rock" that has stuck as a cult classic. The film is pure exploitation in that it has a threadbare plot, a ton of action, and a rock-and-roll soundtrack that keeps things moving along at a breakneck pace. In short, it's Trenchard-Smith unfiltered and uninhibited, for better or worse.

Kino Lorber Studio Classics presents Brian Trenchard-Smith's "Stunt Rock" on Blu-ray for the first time ever in the U.S. with a new 4K restoration sourced from a 4K scan of the interpositive. This is the same master that Umbrella Entertainment used on their Blu-ray release of the film in Australia, but that doesn't change how great the transfer looks. The film utilizes some optical effects that result in some inherent softness, but the overall presentation here is suffused with a nice color palette and a great level of picture detail. Only a few signs of damage pop up during the presentation, and they're all brief. This is definitely the best the film has looked since its original release.

"Stunt Rock" follows the adventures of famed Australian stuntman Grant Page (playing himself), who flies to Los Angeles to work on a television series and ends up helping a rock band called Sorcery design and perform stunts during their performances. Grant also finds himself in a budding romance with a magazine writer assigned to interview Grant.

If you're a fan of high-flying acts of pure adrenaline, you'll find plenty of them in "Stunt Rock." The film is chock full of stunts that would most likely kill someone less experienced than Grant Page, plus it has the brazenness of Trenchard-Smith's direction running through it. I'd liken it to a fun trailer compilation with a charismatic stuntman acting as the master of ceremonies.

As for special features, there's an 80-minute interview with Brian and Margaret Trenchard-Smith where they talk about the film at great length, detailing how they got Monique van de Ven in the film and some other fun production stories. In addition, there's some other archival interview with Grant Page and Brian Trenchard-Smith included. If you're a fan of the film, there's a lot to enjoy on this new Kino Lorber release. This release comes recommended!

Other special features include:

� Audio Commentary by director Brian Trenchard-Smith with actors Grant Page and Margaret Trenchard-Smith
� NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD Interview with Brian Trenchard-Smith
� NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD Interview with lead actor/stuntman Grant Page
� 2009 interview with Brian Trenchard-Smith, Sorcery lead guitarist Smokey Huff and producer Marty Fink
� Theatrical trailer
� Select songs from the soundtrack

"Stunt Rock" is now available on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.