Trigger Warning: The narrative centers violence upon the LGBTQIA+ community and this may be distressing for sensitive viewers.
If you’re reading this and, like me, you’ve heard of William Friedkin’s Cruising with Al Pacino (Heat), but have never seen it before, I think the best service you can do for yourself is watch the Arrow 4K version. Regardless of what you think of the movie, the filmmaking, soundtrack, and subject matter of the film (especially considering the time it came out in and the subject matter) deserves your undivided attention to bring you to a complete sense of unease and lack of comfort in this hunt for a killer invading a safe sacred space. Arrow has been under some scrutiny lately in terms of quality control and replacement disks (it’s not just Arrow, it’s many boutiques and studios), but their release of Cruising knocks it out of the park as far as the holistic disk presentation and packs a significant punch in the extras department, and not just in physical attributions, but with special features galore.
Cruising focuses on the gay nightclub scene in New York City in the ‘80s as there is a predator targeting the scene. His motives are not entirely clear, but he targets members of the LGBTQIA+ community and brutally and violently murders them. This is someone methodical who plans his attacks with clear distinction, prejudice, and force; they are not crimes of passion, but are truly the works of a serial killer. Detective Steve Burns (Al Pacino) is assigned the case of finding this killer at large, having to change his police uniform to leather attire and hang out in New York’s S&M clubs to stakeout the scene and try to find the allusive killer as his body count continues to grow. However, it is New York in the ‘80s, and Burns is straight, or at least he thought he was as his sexual identity starts to slowly be explored, and maybe he connects with the community and atmosphere more than he originally thought he would. He starts distancing himself from his girlfriend Nancy (Karen Allen) and tries to combat the blatant homophobia of the NYPD as he works the case. Part procedural drama, part serial killer investigation, all gritty and dirty, make Cruising a film that is sure to ruffle some feathers, turn some stomachs, and will always be held in high regard due to its killer soundtrack and standout performance from Pacino.
CRUISING 4K UHD edition packshot. Photo courtesy of Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment Group.
Let’s get into the real grit of this Arrow 4K limited edition release of Friedkin’s Cruising. Arrow is known to have limited print runs sometimes that sell out fast on release date (the Conan Chronicles duo pack and Inglourious Basterds come to mind as being incredibly scarce when their respective release dates rolled around). This limited edition is packed to the brim with bonuses that the inevitable standard release will not include. While we didn’t get a retail copy of the movie and can, therefore, not speak to the expansiveness of these bonuses, we can certainly discuss what they are. Outside of the film itself being a brand new 4K restoration from the original 35 mm negatives done by Arrow, there is a 120-page collector’s book featuring articles from the Village Voice and the New York Times, essays from the extras, an introduction from Friedkin himself, and an archival interview with Al Pacino. Apart from that is the hardbox that the limited editions come in versus just a standard amray.
Now, for the bonus features that come with the collection (and hopefully with the eventual standard release, as well), there are a ton of old features included, and, for new features on the 4K disk itself, there is a brand new commentary with the original musicians who were involved with the soundtrack and, on the bonus Blu-ray disk which is solely special features, there are two new features including an interview with Karen Allen (Raiders of the Lost Ark) and an interview with actor, film consultant, and former police detective Randy Jurgensen (The Godfather; Sorcerer).
Overall, Arrow’s release of Cruising is going to be a day-one purchase for people who love Friedkin’s work and this film, specifically, while others who have never seen it may be on the fence and wait for a standard edition. There is no denying the impact and power of the movie, Friedkin’s direction, and Pacino’s performance, but the film certainly is not for everyone by any means and truly gets dark and gritty to the point where it may make some more sensitive audiences uncomfortable due to it’s extreme graphic nature. The 4K scan, which is presented in Dolby Vision and HDR10, is stunning, with the lossless 2.0 and 5.1 audio options being presented in the original theatrical cut. This Arrow restoration is simply sublime and deserves to be seen to be believed. It should be in the collections of fans of Friedkin, fans of gritty crime thrillers, and serious cinephiles.
Cruising 4K UHD Edition Special Features:
DISC ONE – FEATURE & EXTRAS (4K ULTRA HD)
- 4K (2160p) Ultra HD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
- Original lossless English mono audio, 2.0 stereo, and 5.1
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Two archive audio commentaries by director William Friedkin, one solo and one moderated by critic and broadcaster Mark Kermode
- *NEW* Brand new commentary featuring original musicians involved with the soundtrack
- Heavy Leather: An alternate musical score by Pentagram Home Video
- Deleted scenes and alternative footage
- On-set audio featuring the club scenes and protest coverage
- Censored material reels
- Theatrical trailer, teasers, and TV spots
DISC TWO – EXTRAS (BLU-RAY)
- *NEW* I Want to Be the Curator, a brand-new interview with actress Karen Allen
- *NEW* Walking the Line, a brand-new interview with actor, film consultant, and former police detective Randy Jurgensen
- Cut Offs, an interview with editor Bud S. Smith
- Who’s That Guy?, an interview with actor Jay Acovone
- Pounding the Beat, an interview with actor Mike Starr
- Boy on the Bus, an interview with actor Mark Zecca
- Mineshaft Memories, an archive interview with Wally Wallace, former manager of the Mineshaft
- Breaking the Codes, a brand-new visual essay surrounding the hanky-codes featuring actor and writer David McGillivray
- Stop the Movie, a short film by Jim Hubbard capturing the Cruising protests
- The History of ‘Cruising,’ an archival featurette looking at the film’s origins and production
- Exorcising ‘Cruising,’ an archival featurette looking at the controversy surrounding the film and its enduring legacy
- William Friedkin’s BeyondFest 2022 Q&A at the American Cinematheque
- Extensive image gallery featuring international promotional material, on-set sketches, and more
Available on 4K UHD limited edition February 25th, 2025.
For more information, head to the official Arrow Video Cruising webpage.
To purchase, head to the official MVD Entertainment Cruising webpage.
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Categories: Films To Watch, Home Release, Recommendation
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