Flatliners

It’s kind of surprising that someone thought Flatliners (1990) was good enough to remake in 2017.  After all, the original existed mostly to showcase its post-Brat Pack characters in a pseudo-supernatural format they had yet to explore: life after death (although poor William Baldwin’s career died soon after).  Directed by Joel Schumacher (post Lost Boys but pre-Batman & Robin) and starring then-Hollywood-power-couple Julia Roberts and Kiefer Sutherland, the film wants to dissect spiritual philosophies and provide visceral thrills.  It winds up doing neither, but it’s a handsome example of ‘90s popcorn thrillers nonetheless.

Loyola med-school wunderkind Nelson Wright (Sutherland) convinces a gaggle of his fellow students to help him study life-after-death phenomena by stopping his heart under controlled circumstances.  That’s the simple part; it’s bringing him back the proves more difficult.  After the experiments, in which each character one-ups the other’s time to remain braindead, something follows them back.  Driven to the edge by guilt from their past misdeeds, the gang must find a way to redeem themselves or suffer the spiritual consequences.

 

First off, Flatliners looks like a million bucks.  Although Schumacher’s reputation was all but destroyed by his latter foray into the Batman universe, you can’t argue that his neon-soaked visuals have aged better than you’d expect, especially compared to the flat green, blue and yellow hues that dominate today’s screens.  And his approach here is a gothic amusement park of columns, corridors and overwhelming colors.   

 

What’s not so hot is the story.  Screenwriter Peter Filardi’s script never properly establishes the supernatural stakes involved.  Tortured by visions of children they teased, women they slept with or unresolved daddy issues, it’s never clear exactly what the physical repercussions of the experiment will be.  Luckily, Kevin Bacon is there as our moral compass, hefting the film onto his shoulders and dragging it to the finish line.  Same with Schumacher and cinematographer Jan de Bont’s candy-coated Chicago wonderland (where it’s always sunset somewhere), a visual accomplishment the remake didn’t even attempt to follow.

 

Flatliners might not have been at the top of many UHD request lists, but now that it’s here, wow, does it look terrific!  The special edition 4K UHD package features a brand-new restoration and lots of new extras, including a commentary, interview with screenwriter Peter Filardi, composer James Newton Howard and others, trailer and image gallery.  If you own a previous edition, ditch it.  This one is definitely worth the upgrade.

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