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  Directed by
  Starring
  Specs
  • Widescreen 1.85:1
  • 16:9 Enhanced
  Languages
  • English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
  • French: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
  • Commentary - English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
  Subtitles
    English, French, Dutch, Arabic, English - Hearing Impaired
  Extras
  • Theatrical trailer - 1.85:1, 16:9
  • Audio commentary - Peter Weller, Star and George P. Cosmatos, Director

Of Unknown Origin

Warner Bros./Warner Home Video . R4 . COLOR . 85 mins . M15+ . PAL

  Feature
Contract

I had never heard of this movie. So I tried to find some research on it – you know, ‘forewarned is forearmed’ and all that – so I checked the Internet (I know, I’m a nerd now. Just ‘cos you don’t use it). What I found out, roughly, because I lost interest real quick, was it’s a film about a man and how he hunts down a rat in his house in comedic fashion. Okay, it’s like Mousehunt I thought, great choice Jules. Well, as it turns out, it isn’t a bloody thing like Mousehunt. (Which is also a good thing).

Running for a long, loooong 85 minutes, Of Unknown Origin is actually a film about a guy and a rat, but the comedy angle was a little lost on me. George P. Cosmatos, director of one of my all-time favourite films (Tombstone) directed a film back in 1983 that didn’t know if it was horror or comedy. And that’s a heady combination. Not many films can pull off being both, that’s for sure.

Here’s the story: Peter Weller plays Bart Hughes who sends his hot wife ('Playmate of the Year' 1982, Shannon Tweed) away with son right as he’s gunning for a great new promotion at work. At the same time, something has started attacking his home with relish, destroying valuable yuppie artefacts of the ’80s. This won’t do, so he lays monster traps - but the wily rat outwits him. And again, and again and time and again for about 70 minutes. Then it comes down to the final showdown, of course. In the meantime, he’s destroyed his house, he’s almost lost his job and his hot wife has been blissfully unaware. It’s just too empty a story and too clean an ending. And 40 minutes too late.

Peter Weller stars in his first leading role, and while he does his apparent best, the film really isn’t much. The rat acts well and is certainly comical looking, though that probably wasn’t the intention.

  Video
Contract

Surprisingly, this boasts a really nice transfer. Perhaps this film has a cult base I’m unaware of, but they’ve really put a bit of effort in here. The film is presented in 1.85:1 with 16:9 enhancement and looks awesome. The film stock is practically artefact free, the colour is nice and flesh tones (including a brief titillation from Ms Tweed) are even and natural looking. The rat special effects are a bit dodgy and this clean DVD transfer just helps us see them all the more, unfortunately. But, shadows are okay, though they lose a little detail at times and blacks are true. Like I said, a nice transfer.

  Audio
Contract

Dolby Digital 2.0 covers a lot of these older films and this one seems to groan a little under the duress. Whilst the film sounds okay, there are plenty of little rat noises and screams and sound effects that jostle for room a bit throughout certain scenes. There is no background noise or static or anything like that, but at times (the scary times when I was hugging a pillow) it comes in so loud it’ll make you jump rather than the actual action. Oh well, it works okay for the film, though some of Bart’s quips come through a little low. Whether this is intentional or not, I’m not sure, as he spends a lot of this film talking to either himself or the rat in a subdued voice (the rest screaming obscenities).

  Extras
Contract

Just the original theatrical trailer, which is presented at 1.85:1 and 16:9 enhanced (always a plus) and an audio commentary. This is a little boring and I spent the majority of my listen disinterested in it. There are large periods of silence from the speakers, Mr Weller and Mr Cosmatos, that are dull, dull, dull. Also, Mr Weller seems to feel he needs to introduce the film’s scenes as we progress in a very lacklustre manner. There are a few interesting titbits here and there, but come on, how much could there possibly be to talk about for this film? A guy and a rat.

  Overall  
Contract

This is a slow witted and rather uninteresting film that has some nice camerawork and some suspenseful moments at times, but not enough dissection of Weller’s character before events slide out of control. There are also interminably long dull scenes of Bart at work that seem superfluous. When the dust settles, there just isn’t enough substance for us to care one way or the other about him, or his life. Also, there isn’t enough explanation (try none) as to why this rat wants his place so badly. It’s not like he leaves rat porn lying around or anything.

A half-hearted effort that isn’t really much chop and Shannon Tweed’s inclusion seems to confirm that, particularly as she’s naked within the first five minutes. Lacklustre film, lacklustre extras, lacklustre effort.

Overall, lacklustre.


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      And I quote...
    "Straight from the B-grade movie pool to you!"
    - Jules Faber
      Review Equipment
    • DVD Player:
          Nintaus DVD-N9901
    • TV:
          Sony 51cm
    • Receiver:
          Diamond
    • Speakers:
          Diamond
    • Surrounds:
          No Name
    • Audio Cables:
          Standard Optical
    • Video Cables:
          Standard Component RCA
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