This listing is for the standard edition Blu-ray. The limited edition slipcover (designed by Robert Sammelin) was limited to 2,000 units and is sold out. The two versions are identical, aside from the slipcover.
From arthouse to Canuxploitation, Canadian International Pictures (CIP) is devoted to resurrecting vital, distinctive, and overlooked triumphs of Canadian cinema. This label is focused on the country’s original cinematic boom years – spanning the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s – occasionally venturing past that period (and the country’s borders) to highlight the films of Canada’s most inspired actors and filmmakers. Vinegar Syndrome’s sister company, OCN Distribution, is thrilled to be representing CIP's brand new line of home video releases!
The war is on for brain control.
In the long shadow of an experimental CIA mind control program, Sergeant Kellen O'Reilly (Total Recall’s Michael Ironside) begins experiencing violent flashbacks of his “treatments” at the hands of the sinister Dr. Satorius (The Silent Partner’s Christopher Plummer). When the body count on his latest case inexplicably begins pointing toward his own fragmented past, a romance with Satorius’ criminal prosecutor (Class of 1984’s Lisa Langlois) raises the stakes. O'Reilly must forge a path forward through a hall-of-mirrors conspiracy stretching from the Mafia to the highest levels of the CIA, culminating in a shocking, stadium-sized confrontation.
Made by a supergroup of Canadian genre filmmakers, including George Mihalka (My Bloody Valentine) and Tom Berry (The Amityville Curse) – who joined forces to develop the script with novelist William Deverell – Mindfield was eventually brought to the screen by Canuxploitation master Jean-Claude Lord (The Vindicator). The result is a uniquely ambitious experiment in genre filmmaking that’s part explosive action movie, part MK-ULTRA-inspired conspiracy thriller, and part sleazy underworld crime saga. Reuniting Lord with his Visiting Hours leading man, Mindfield emerges as one of Michael Ironside’s standout star vehicles.
directed by: Jean-Claude Lord
starring: Michael Ironside, Lisa Langlois, Christopher Plummer, Harvey Atkin, Eugene Clark, Howard Jerome, Robert Morelli, Jacob Tierney, Stefan Wodoslawsky
1989 / 91 min / 1.85:1 / English DTS-HD MA 2.0
Additional info:
Overall rating: 4.255682 / 5 from 176 reviews.
Mindfield, a Canadian psychological thriller, features a fantastic performance by Michael Ironside and a great release with high-quality picture and sound. Customers appreciate the film's looks, transfer quality, and extras, though some found the movie subpar.
Review topics: [quality, shipping, looks, presentation, packaging, sound, buy, work, thriller, movie, film, performances, release, michael ironside, slipcover, extras, transfer, ironside, flick, features, plot, title, role, cast, scenes, experience, watch, acting, sci-fi, premise].
"This was actually a pretty decent thriller. I wasn't really expecting much, but ended up being quite pleasantly surprised by how interesting and engaging it turned out to be. It's nothing outstanding, mind you, but it's certainly worth a watch. Very nice restoration work, and the interviews and commentary are great too."
"I think my first viewing of Mindfield was sometime in the 90s because as soon as I threw it on it was like "Oh this is THAT movie!" My memories are hazy though because I've seen a lot of movies since then. As a movie this one is worth seeing but it really should be better than it is, but don't let that detract you from seeing it. Well worth the cost, and well worth your attention, and better than anything you will see in the streaming war of Netflix crap versus Hulu crap. It's also an alternative Christmas movie if you like celebrating Christmas differently!"
"A++++++++"
"Conspiracy thriller starring Michael Ironside as a Montreal cop, who keeps having disturbing flashacks to a time he spent in a hospital after his fathers death. Meanwhile, mob types are going round dealing with a couple of shysters and trying to clean up what appears to be evidence of CIA brainwashing. Their paths inevitably cross. A good film, had my attention from the get go. Ihe performances are top notch. Ironside plays the somewhat broken cop well, dealing with his divorce, the memory loss and police strike action. He's not by the book and we get a good couple of action scenes which his superiors hate (the pharmacy bit is hilarious with him diving over racking, as was him jumping through the window to escape later on). I liked his relationship with his partner, the lawyer i didn't care about, the sex scene was unexpected! Didn't recognise any of the cast, but i liked the mob guys. Plummers role was rather small but worthwhile. . The ending at the stadium was ridiculously over the top but appreciated"
"Beautiful quality to the picture. Love the booklet the came with the movie talking about the director's works. Outstanding all around."
"Killer pick up during a sale. Michael Ironside is great in this one."
"Great artwork this is killer"
"Good audio on this Canadian genre film with Michael Iroside in a leading role. A fan favorite from Scanners. Didn't get a slipcover with this one. No biggie though. Enjoyable"
"This is such a great release. It reminds me of scanners. The performances were so good and dynamic. The bonus features were really good as well. I learnt a lot of information about the production and other cool things."
"You'll know if you're interested in this by the plot synopsis. I was, and unsurprisingly I liked it. It didn't transcend, but was a worth xmas-time watch, and it looked great. CIP is one of my favorite labels, and it is nice to see a movie like this get solid treatment. The extras include a bunch of interviews, Lisa-Langlois-heavy, that can seem a bit undercooked perhaps due to Covid-era production restrictions. LOVE to see a booklet included even in the standard edition. Worth it."
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