Redneck Miller (Limited Edition) (Film Masters) Blu-ray Review + 1080p Screenshots + Packaging Shots

Film Masters does the unthinkable and brings a long lost, Hixploitation classic, Redneck Miller to Blu-ray.

Studio: Film Masters
Release Date: November 24th, 1976 (theatrical) / September 24th, 2024 (blu-ray)
Run Time: 1 hour 29 minutes 8 seconds
Region Code: FREE

Disc Count: 1 (BD-25)
Picture: 1080p (1.85:1 aspect ratio)
Sound: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Subtitles: English
Slipcover: Yes
Digital Copy: No
Starring: Geoffrey Land, Sydney Rubin, Paul Walsh, Paulette Gibson, Lou Walker

Written by W. Henry Smith, Joseph A. Alvarez

Directed by John Clayton
Rating: R (language, nudity, and some violence)

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Poster

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What's It About?

Miller is an early morning disc jockey in the Southern United States. After his motorcycle is stolen and used in a drug deal, Miller finds himself mixed up with a variety of thugs and criminals.

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Video/Audio

The following is written on the back of the packaging, regarding the restoration:

Scanned in 4K from one of the only surviving rare 35mm release prints, this print was run through multiple rounds of restoration including dustbusting, dirt and debris removal, and repair of deep scratches that were digitally removed. The original print was very faded, having lost much of the blue and yellow tones, and was color corrected to bring the original film grade.

I think Film Masters did a bang up job bringing REDNECK MILLER to blu-ray. They were given the herculean task of restoring the film and they have pulled it off. Film grain fluctuates between scenes, with some scenes the grain being heavy while in other scenes it is incredibly light. Detail is good throughout and colors pop. There are instances where colors fade in and out but we can't hold that against Film Masters. They are working with what they have and they have done an incredible job. It's just something I noticed in a few scenes. There are also instances of light scratches and hairs but they don't show up all that much. In all in all, this is a great transfer, especially given the circumstances.

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Extras/Packaging

Commentary with Justin Humphreys (found only when "Play Film" is selected)

New 2024 Trailer (3m 8s, HD, 1.85:1)

REDNECK MILLER is a part of Film Masters Archive Collection as a Limited Edition and is limited to 1,500 copies. We get a nice slipcover that features the film's theatrical poster on the front. On the back, there is a very brief plot description, followed by a description of the restoration process used to bring REDNECK MILLER to blu-ray. You don't normally find information like this on the slipcover to a release but Film Masters did and it fits just fine. Inside the blu-ray case, we find a 10-page, full-color booklet with an essay by Justin Humphryres about the film and its place in a very specific section of Hicksploitation. It's a good read.

The film is divided into 8 chapters.

The disc is REGION FREE

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Overall

REDNECK MILLER isn't necessarily a "good" film but it is worth a watch. It has some fun to it and you can't be mad at a film that mixes Hicksploitation and Blaxploitation this well. I will say that the film is messy all over with some terrible action scenes. But you know what? Who cares? The film wants to entertain us and it does.

The blu-ray, from Film Masters, is nice if a little bit lackluster. The picture and audio quality are downright amazing, given the history. The lackluster-ness comes in the special features department. We get a commentary track, a good track nonetheless, but I wish there was a bit more. Maybe a deeper dive into some of the stuff brought up in the commentary and booklet. Maybe a featurette on the Hicksploitation subgenre. Still, the blu-ray can be had for a great price and it is worth picking up. I plan on revisiting the film sometime this year and I am looking forward to doing so.

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Video