A stolen computer disc, a stolen supercar, a corrupt corporation and an organised stolen car syndicate all spell trouble for Tommy Lee Jones in the 1986 thriller Black Moon Rising, which is out now on UK BD from Arrow video.
Tommy Lee Jones (Rolling Thunder, Men in Black) plays a high tech theif named Quint, who is hired by the CIA to steal a data tape containing incriminating evidence from a corrupt corporation they're investigating.
Pursued by armed goons, he ends up hiding the tape in the back of a prototype performance car he spots at a remote gas station. But before he can recover it, the car is subsequently stolen by a group of car jackers, lead by Linda Hamilton (Terminator).
Seems her Boss, played by Robert Vaughn (TV's Hustle, The Magnificent 7), is financing his real estate projects using money from the stolen car ring. So now Quint has to work out a way of stealing the car back, so he can get back the stolen tape and get everyone off his back.
Also starring Richard Jaeckel (The Dirty Dozen), William Sanderson (Blade Runner), Don Opper (Critters) Bubba Smith (Police Academy) Keenan Wynn (Dr Strangelove, TVs Dallas) and directed by Harley Cokeliss (Dream Demon, Battletruck). I was surpised to learn this was written by John Carpenter (Halloween) of all people, and was kind of like watching The A Team rescuing the car from Knightrider (the supercar seemed eerily similar to KITT in many ways).
Bit of a weird film to categorise, with some serious plot holes and a rather silly premise. But it passed 90mins reasonably well..
The film comes with the usual raft of special features that can be found on most Arrow discs, which includes...
Audio commentary by Film critic and Historian Lee Gambin
Black Moon Ascending (33 mins) - Interview with director Harley Cokeliss, who discusses his film making career including Black Moon Risiing, Battletruck and his other features.
Theif in the Night (14 mins) - Interview with producer Douglass Curtis, who discusses the film
Sound of Speed (7 mins) - Composer Lalo Schifrin and film music Historian Daniel Schweiger discuss the films soundtrack
Carpenter's Craft (17 mins) - Film critic and author Troy Howarth discusses John Carpenter's screenwriting career.
Making Black Moon Rising (11 mins) - Vintage TV documentary on the making of the film. presented in standard def and 4:3 fullscreen ration (appears to be transferred from a VHS source)
Alternate Hong Kong version scenes (12mins) - a collection of scenes from the Hong Kong release, which utilise different music cues and sound effects.
Alternate Workprint intro (4mins) - Unfinished opening credits and intro used for the workprint version of the film featuring unfinished audio.
Trailers - The films theatrical trailer, a TV spot and radio advert are included.
Image galleries - a series of production stills, behind the scenes pictures, promo materials and storyboards are included.
BLACK MOON RISING is out now on UK BD from Arrow Video.
Buy the UK BD from Amazon.co.uk