William Lustig has had such a long career working in genre film that it’s hard to believe he’s only directed eight feature films, nine if you count The Expert (1995), which he went uncredited for, and 11 if you count the two adult features he directed under the pseudonym, Billy Bagg. Though Lustig directed classics such as Maniac (1980), Relentless (1989), the Maniac Cop trilogy (1988-1992), and my personal favorite, Vigilante (1982), he hasn’t directed a film since Uncle Sam (1997).
As many of these films have begun to receive the 4K Ultra treatment, it would only be a matter of time before Uncle Sam would receive it as well. Now, courtesy of Blue Underground, you can own the patriotic slasher in what can only be described as the definitive edition.
Sgt. Sam Harper (David Fralick) was a highly-decorated soldier who was killed by friendly fire during the first Gulf War. His body was recently discovered by the military and brought home on the Fourth of July weekend. After a disrespectful flag burning over his grave, Sam rises from the dead to exact vengeance on those who are unpatriotic. His nephew Jody (Christopher Ogden) is as patriotic as they come, but he soon begins to realize the recent murders in his small town are being committed by the undead corpse of his Uncle Sam, and only he can do something about it.
Uncle Sam is an insanely fun trip down memory lane. If you’re a genre fan, there’s so much to love and cherish here, especially since so many of the genre legends who appear in the film are no longer with us. The film features appearances by Timothy Bottoms and P.J. Soles, but it’s Bo Hopkins, William Smith, Isaac Hayes, and Robert Forster, who have all passed on. In a way, it’s sad, but at the same time, it’s great to see their legacies continue in these films.
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They’re not the only ones who are now gone; as the film’s screenwriter just so happens to be the legendary Larry Cohen. That man had such a brilliant mind and a wicked sense of humor. He injects all this into his script, including plenty of social commentaries, which is something he was always known for doing. Lustig directs with a wink; the film is never meant to be taken too seriously and most certainly gives the audience a unique experience.
As mentioned above, this is the definitive edition of Uncle Sam. Seeing just how crisp, clear, and colorful the film looks in this upgrade, watching any other version would be a disservice. The disc is packed with extras. There’s a commentary track with Lustig, Cohen, and producer George G. Braunstein, and a second one with Lustig and Isaac Hayes; a gag reel, deleted scene, trailer, poster & still gallery, and finally, fire stunts with commentary by stunt coordinator Spiro Razatos.
The great thing about the packaging is that the slip features a lenticular 3-D Uncle Sam, transforming from a man into a ghoul. It also has the tagline “I Want You… Dead!” with the word “Dead” appearing once he’s transformed into the ghoul. This is really a fantastic release, and if you’re as much of a Lustig and Cohen fan as I am, you will certainly want to add this version to the collection, whether you own any others or not.
