Cruising [Limited Edition] 4K Ultra HD Review

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Cruising is the unvarnished 1980 crime thriller from director William Friedkin loosely based on the novel by The New York Times reporter Gerald Walker about a serial killer targeting gay men in the underground club scene. Al Pacino (Sea of Love) is police officer Steve Burns, brought on to go undercover in the gay male leather club scene to catch the killer, owing to Burns’ fitting the description of most of the men killed so far.

Burns’ domestic life is disrupted, causing friction between him and his wife Nancy (Karen Allen). Burns cannot tell his wife what he is doing and the underground scene he has to infiltrate seems to be taking a toll on his psyche and possibly has him questioning his own sexuality. Friedkin almost bends over backwards to show us Burns and his wife making love as if to ensure 1980 audiences that, hey, this is the hero and he is really not gay.

The film is saturated in the signatures of Friedkin’s filmmaking: there is nothing pretty here. The city is grimy, the camerawork sometimes shifty, and look is sometimes coarse and grainy. But he also does not recoil from showing the brutal violence and hyper-sexual world of these underground clubs. The latter so much so that Cruising spurred a lot of controversy amongst the LGBT community at the time over its depictions of gay life. It comes with a disclaimer that the movie is not meant to disparage any community, and it is just a look through the keyhole at a very specific subculture.  Pacino pulls off the role well, balanced, disturbed, and uncertain as Burns diving into a world that makes him obviously uncomfortable.

The Video

As per Arrow Video: “The original 35mm camera negative [for Cruising] was scanned in 4K/16 bit at Warner Bros. Motion Picture Imaging. The film was restored in 4K and color graded in HDR10 and Dolby Vision at Silver Salt.”

The film is presented in 4K Ultra HD (1.85:1 HEVC 2160p) with Dolby Vision, offering an organic, grainy look and excellent highlight detail. While dark scenes show some graininess and softened details, this is typical due to low light. Overall, the detail and nuance are preserved well.

The Audio

The 4K Ultra HD of Cruising includes three audio mixes: the original mono in DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0, and the 2017 remixes in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. restoration was completed by Bad Princess Productions. Additional audio conform work was completed by Þorsteinn Gíslason.

The Supplements

The collection of bonus features included with Cruising is mainly archival, although there is a compilation of interviews that was put together for Arrow in 2024. An interesting feature is the alternate “Heavy Leather” score from Pentagram Home Video. Provided in stereo, the playback of this score is without dialogue, but it is a very different experience given the electronic pop/industrial sound of this score.

Limited Edition Contents:

• 120-page perfect-bound collector’s book featuring articles from The Village Voice and The New York Times, essays from the film’s extras cast, an introduction from William Friedkin, and an archive interview with Al Pacino
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sister Hyde

Bonus Features:

• Commentaries and Alternative Audio:
  • Archival audio commentary by director William Friedkin (2007)
  • Archival audio commentary by director William Friedkin moderated by critic and broadcaster Mark Kermode (2019)
  • There were cops, a dark bar…and Al Pacino — A compilation of interviews discussing the soundtrack, featuring Don Bolles, Kenny Margolis, Louis X, Erlanger, Carole Pope, Madelynn Von Ritz, Shawn Casey O’Brien, and Jonathan Hertzberg. Recorded exclusively for Arrow Films in 2024.
  • ‘Heavy Leather’ Alternate Score – An alternate musical score by Pentagram Home Video. Originally released in 2019, it is presented here as a full-length feature soundtrack for the first time.
• The Backroom – Cut, Alternate, and Deleted Scenes:
  • Deleted Scenes:
    • Why Take the Job? – Deleted Scene (1080p; 00:00:56)
    • Night Stick – Deleted Scene – An illustrated audio-only deleted scene featuring Joe Spinell and Mike Starr. (1080p; 00:03:35)
    • Porno Booth Scene – Additional Footage – An earlier, slightly longer edit of the Porno Booth murder missing Friedkin’s ‘hardcore’ insert. (1080p; 00:02:40)
  • Original On-Set Audio:
    • A Piece of Work (1080p; 00:10:38) – Interview with on-set sound mixer Kim Ornitz. Recorded exclusively for Arrow Films in 2024; includes original on-set audio.
    • On-Set Audio – Protestors (1080p; 00:01:48)
    • On-Set Audio – Club Scenes (1080p; 00:00:33)
    • On-Set Audio – Killer’s Voice (1080p; 00:00:21)
    • On-Set Audio – Apartment Audio (1080p; 00:01:29)
  • Alternate Elements:
    • French Disclaimer Card
    • French Credit Roll
    • Spanish Disclaimer Card
    • Alternate English End Credits
    • Alternate Introduction – Comparison
    • Alternate Introduction – 2006 Restoration
    • Alternate Introduction – 2018 Restoration
  • Censored Material
• Archival Extras:
  • The History of Cruising (1080p/60) – An archival featurette from 2007 looking at the film’s origins and production.
  • Exorcising Cruising (1080p/60; 00:22:31) – An archival featurette from 2007 looking at the controversy surrounding the film and its enduring legacy.
• Trailers and Promotional Items:
  • Trailers:
    • Teaser (1080p; 00:01:13)
    • Theatrical Trailer (1080p; 00:03:29)
  • TV Spots:
    • TV Spots 1-4 (1080p; 00:02:13)
    • Test TV Spots 1-5 (1080p; 00:02:38)
    • TV Spot Optical Tests (1080p; 00:02:35)
• Photo Galleries (4K):
  • Promotional Items
  • Key Art
  • Musical Releases
  • Jane Wechsler On-Set Sketch Gallery
  • Set Items Gallery

Special Features Blu-ray Disc:

• I Want to be the Curator (1080p; 00:38:29) – A brand new interview with actress Karen Allen, recorded exclusively for Arrow Films in 2024.
• Walking the Line (1080p; 01:11:13) – A brand new interview with actor and police advisor Randy Jurgensen, recorded exclusively for Arrow Films in 2024.
• Cut Offs (1080i; 00:55:00) – An interview with editor of The Exorcist and Cruising, Bud S. Smith, filmed for Automat Pictures in 2017.
• Who’s that Guy? (1080p; 00:13:42) – An interview with actor Jay Acovone, filmed for Automat Pictures in 2017.
• Pounding the Beat (1080p; 00:46:57) – An interview with actor Mike Starr, filmed for Automat Pictures in 2017.
• The Boy on the Bus (1080i; 00:37:30) – An interview with actor Mark Zecca, filmed for Automat Pictures in 2017.
• Mineshaft Memories (1080i; 00:33:41) – An archive interview with the former manager of the Mineshaft, Wally Wallace, filmed and interviewed by activist and historian Jack Fritscher.
• BeyondFest Q&A (2022) (1080i; 00:41:10)
• Breaking the Codes (1080p; 00:13:02) – A visual essay featuring actor, writer, and producer David McGillivray surrounding the ‘Hanky Codes’, newly produced for Arrow Video in 2024.
• Production Stills (1080p)
• Stop the Movie (1080p; 00:11:51) – A mute short film from filmmaker Jim Hubbard capturing Cruising protests w/ optional commentary.

The Final Assessment

This 4K release of Cruising brings the controversial film to a new level of detail and is packed with extras. If you are a fan of the films of William Friedkin and of the performances of Al Pacino, then this film, newly restored, is a must own.

Cruising [Limited Edition] is out on 4K Ultra HD February 25, 2025 from Arrow Video.

• Rating Certificate: R
• Studios & Distributors: Lorimar Film Entertainment | CiP – Europaische Treuhand AG | United Artists | Arrow Video
• Director: William Friedkin
• Written By: William Friedkin | Gerald Walker
• Run Time: 102 Mins.
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Video Format: HEVC 2160p (4K UHD)
• HDR Format: Dolby Vision (HDR10 Compatible)
• Primary Audio: English DTS-HD MA 1.0
• Secondary Audio: English DTS-HD MA 2.0 Stereo (Originally Created for the 2007 Remaster) | English DTS-HD MA 5.1 (Originally Created for the 2007 Remaster)
• Subtitles: English SDH