Primal Scream

Primal Scream (1987) is a dystopian sci-fi thriller that emerges from the analog depths of the VHS era with a potent mix of low-budget grit and ambitious world-building. Set in the then-near-future of 1993, the film stars Kenneth McGregor as Corby McHale, an embattled ex-cop who inadvertently uncovers a corporate conspiracy centered on a revolutionary energy source known as HELLFIRE. Marketed as the salvation for a planet on the brink of energy collapse, HELLFIRE proves to be anything but benign--harmless in its stable form, but catastrophically volatile in its raw state. As McHale digs deeper, he finds himself caught between underground activists, a ruthless private corporation, and a secret powerful enough to destabilize civilization.

The film combines elements of eco-thriller, cyberpunk noir, and classic detective narrative, deploying a rough-hewn aesthetic that mirrors its themes of decay and techno-paranoia. Director William J. Murray exploits urban locations in Philadelphia and Atlantic City to give the film a distinctively industrial and claustrophobic atmosphere, eschewing the clean futurism of big-budget contemporaries in favor of a more tactile, analog vision of the future. This tone is amplified by a cast that includes Mickey Shaughnessy in his final screen role, bringing gravitas to a film that thrives on its outsider sensibilities.

Restored from original 35mm film elements and presented here with a 2K scan, this Blu-ray edition marks the first time Primal Scream has been available in high definition. It features a comprehensive suite of bonus materials, including a candid making-of documentary, crew commentary, and the rare 1981 promo reel for the original Hellfire concept. More than just a nostalgia piece, Primal Scream is a compelling study in scrappy science fiction filmmaking--an essential addition for aficionados of underground genre cinema and a case study in resourceful, vision-driven storytelling under constraint.

Bonus Materials

• 'Made A Movie, Lived To Tell' making of featurette
• Audio commentary with director William Murray and crew members
• 'Hellfire' 1981 Promo Reel