In the 1990s, indie cinema rocketed. Sci fi in particular, saw a renaissance and there were an abundance of straight to video films that were never quite given the air they deserved. Some films have now garnered this due to additional elements. Undiscovered masterpieces like SCREAMERS. Ridiculously but effective stories like TREMORS and then you have SPLIT SECOND.

2008, London. Global warming, heavy rain and pollution, has turned the city into a water logged toilet.  Dick Durkin (Neil Duncan) is assigned Harley Stone (Rutger Hauer) to solve a series of murders. Harry is a veteran homicide detective and crazy.  Dick is Oxford-educated psychologist, When his old partners wife Michelle (Kim Cattrall) returns, This means that things become even more complicated. And deadly.

I cant say that I like SPLIT SECOND. Its an incredibly stupid film. Filled with nonsense and scripted like a soap opera. The performances replicate this. They are all over the shop. The direction as well is berserk and absurd. However the film does deserve a place in a cult film fans heart for a myriad of reasons.  If you like cinema of the absurd, films that are layers of insanity, then you might have found your nexus in this.

DISC

To the 1080 p I say, yes it restores the colour issues that the previous release had. It corrects the light levels (sometimes to the films detriment as it is over lit). But overall it does a decent enough job at keeping it at status quo.

EXTRAS

Old ones I have ignored. The best of the new? Clive Tickner interview is excellent. A must for fans of the films harsh and moody hues.  But the quality of the commentary from action film historian Mike Leeder and filmmaker Arne Venema, is brilliant. Funny, pointed and they know everything. Literally.

• High Definition (1080p) presentation of the main feature in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio, newly scanned, restored and colour graded in 4K from the 35MM internegative
• Audio Commentary by action film historian Mike Leeder and filmmaker Arne Venema
• “Great Big Bloody Guns!” Producer Laura Gregory & Actor Alastair (Neil) Duncan on Split Second (HD, 27:25)
• “Call Me Mr. Snips!” An Interview with Composer Stephen W. Parsons (HD, 22:21)
• “Stay In Line!” An Interview with Line Producer Laurie Borg (HD, 23:02)
• “More Blood!” An Interview with Creature Effects Designer Cliff Wallace (HD, 32:03)
• “Shoot Everything!” An Interview with Cinematographer Clive Tickner (HD, 18:57)
• Limited edition booklet: Includes ‘Monster Mash: Making Split Second’ by Scott Harrison, and ‘Behind Blue Eyes: Rutger Hauer, Unlikely Action Star’ by Phillip Escott
• Newly commissioned artwork by Keith Robinson

Additional Extras

• Original 1992 Split Second “Making of” featurette featuring interviews with stars Rutger Hauer, Kim Cattrall, Alastair (Neil) Duncan, Michael J. Pollard, Writer Gary Scott Thompson and more! (SD, 6:12)
• Original 1992 behind the scenes feature featuring effects creator Stephen Norrington, cast and crew (SD, 3:31)
• Split Second Japanese Cut, full frame with burnt-in Japanese subtitles (SD, 95:00)
• Deleted Scenes from the Japanese Cut (English, burnt-in Japanese subtitles) (SD, 4:30)
• 7 Promotional TV Clips (SD) (SD, 13:33)
• U.S. VHS Home Video Promo (SD, 2:55)
• Theatrical Trailer (SD, 2:12)