stylish and fun
"had high hopes for this one based on the trailer and it mostly delivers"
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This special limited edition slipcover (designed by Lucas Peverill) is limited to 1,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
Umbrella Entertainment has been a 100% Australian-owned and operated distributor for over 20 years. Their vast home entertainment catalogue features an extensive range of Australian classic, cult and exploitation films restored under the eyes of the original filmmakers. All sourced from national archives, underground collectors and local basements.
Confined by his mysterious employers to a luxury high-rise apartment, wheelchair-bound computer programmer Ed Ballinger (Gary Day), attempts to correct a malfunction in the I-500 – the world’s most sophisticated surveillance system. Confronted by increasingly bizarre readouts, he discovers that not only is the computer’s intelligence growing – but it has witnessed a vicious murder!
Ed becomes obsessed with solving the crime – and soon both man and machine are plunged into a vortex of technological horror…
Boasting a pulse-pounding, blood-soaked finale and one of Ozploitation cinema’s most iconic jolt moments (featuring a severed head in a washing machine), Crosstalk is a stylish cinematic blend of Hitchcock, Kubrick and Italian giallo shocks.
Crosstalk is presented in a new 2K transfer approved by the film’s cinematographer, Vincent Monton (Long Weekend, Roadgames), showcasing all of its neon lit anamorphic widescreen visuals – and cementing its reputation as Ozploitation’s premiere hi-tech thriller of the 1980s.
directed by: Mark Egerton, Keith Salvat
starring: Gary Day, Penny Downie, John Ewart
1982 / 83 min / 2.35:1 / English Dolby Digital 2.0
Additional info:
Overall rating: 4.448276 / 5 from 29 reviews.
Crosstalk is a limited edition slipcover for a classic Australian exploitation film, featuring a unique design by Lucas Peverill. The film, a blend of Hitchcock, Kubrick, and Italian giallo, is celebrated for its neon visuals and a shocking finale. It includes interviews, essays, and trailers, making it a must-have for fans of Ozploitation cinema.
Review topics: ["looks","packaging","issues","thriller","film","pacing","acting","movie","window","twist","tech","gem","transfer","release","drama","plot"].
"had high hopes for this one based on the trailer and it mostly delivers"
"I purchased this as I was intrigued by the storyline (especially what happens when technology goes wrong). Love the atmosphere and and storyline, no problems with the pacing. Despite the film now being over 40 years old, it is eerily prophetic of the sort of things which could happen now… Also look out for the sequence with the paper bag in the lift. Note - Despite the description showing thus as a Region A disc, this is not in fact the case - it is actually region-free, shown as such on the rear of the artwork and the disc plays no problem in a Region B player (checked with my multiregion player set to Region B)."
"Kind of cutting edge for the time it was made. A little Sliver like with the building surveillance. Very convoluted in terms of the corporate machinations involved. I'm still not entirely sure who was trying to kill who and why. A fairly interesting movie with some nice locations and well designed sets. A clearer more focused plot would have made for a better film. But decent and short enough to not overstay its welcome."
"I adore the Umbrella label for steering me towards underseen Ozploitation curios like Crosstalk. It's a cheap, scrappy Rear Window knockoff but that's simply part of its charm. And did I mention the bonus evil supercomputer twist? The slip is eerie, eye-catching and a nice contrast to the original cover art. (There's a nicely macabre reference on the inside cover art as well. ) The extras are satisfactory: some interviews current and contemporary alongside a visual essay, the "VHS experience and two cuts of the original trailer. Crosstalk doesn't necessarily reinvent the wheel but it spins it weirdly and wonderfully in a way only Ozploitation can. And this is easily the most definitive copy you can own."
"A bit dry but otherwise pretty good 80s scifi Ozploitation movie. It could use a bit more personality but has some pretty thrilling moments."
"Another addition to my ever growing Australian collection."
"Bought this one blind. The visual look is impressive - very Carpenter-esque anamorphic cinematography. Incredible transfer. But that’s really ALL there is to look at. The story is confused from the get-go. And all the retro 80’s synth music in the world doesn’t help."
"The design of the computer is awesome, but there's really nothing going on here. The writer my UST have liked Rear Window and The Conversation. There's very little original beyond the genre shift and it's barely a sci fi."
"This claims to be “Rear Window Meets 2001” & obviously doesn’t even come close . . . nonetheless, it’s a fun one-time watch with some good ideas that don’t quite pan out, and allowing for its rather tepid, crawling pace. It could have been much, much better - it started that way but lost its footing. These oldie films that rely on technology as a major character or plot point seldom age well, and this is no exception. While it does some interesting things, and the relic computer gear is a hoot to watch work, it ultimately doesn’t allow much of what’s supposed to be going on to actually make its way into the action. Australian films tend to be understated, which is why I enjoy them, but this one is so laid back in its approach that it fell! I didn’t hate it, but it was only about as engaging as any TV Movie-Of-The-Week, definitely a filler movie just to have something on. All of that said, the acting was at least personable and mostly effective, so there’s that."
"The film which was the main inspiration behind the Britney Spears generational classic Crossroads."
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