Blue Sunshine: An Anti-Drug PSA Dressed Up as a Wacky Conspiracy Thriller (4K/Blu-ray)

The Film:

Most people are familiar with the classic 1936 film "Reefer Madness," which basically amounted to a feature-length PSA about the dangers of marijuana use. Now imagine someone wanting to do something similar with LSD, except instead of making it stiff and preachy, they dress it up as a suspenseful thriller, with murder and even more madness. That's more or less what we got with Jeff Lieberman's 1977 "Blue Sunshine," and while it may not have been his express intention to make a PSA of sorts, it's not hard to see why it would be interpreted as such.

However, much like "Reefer Madness," "Blue Sunshine" is one of those oddities that's gone on to become something of a cult classic in the eyes of certain film fanatics. As we approach the film's 50th anniversary, Synapse Films has decided to celebrate by releasing a brand new three-disc set that features the film on 4K & Blu-ray, packed with hours of extras, and even comes with the original soundtrack. So now, as usual, it's time to go back and delve into this peculiar flick to see what intriguing wonders it contains.

The film opens with a party, at which Frannie Scott (Richard Crystal) accidentally has his hair pulled of while trying to kiss a friend's date. He then goes completely insane, murdering several guests, and chases Jerry Zipkin (Zalman King) out into the street, where Frannie is killed by a truck. Jerry ends up getting accused of the murders and has to go on the run, getting what help he can from his friends Dr. David Blume (Robert Walden) and Alicia Sweeney (Deborah Winters).

He soon learns that another incident like the one he witnessed has occurred, eventually tying it to a group of college students from ten years ago who had taken a new form of LSD known as "Blue Sunshine." Making matters more complicated is the fact that it was given to them by Edward Flemming (Mark Goddard), who just happens to be running for Congress. Will Jerry be able to stop another tragedy from happening and clear his name in the process?

When it comes to "Blue Sunshine," you may be getting a rather blunt surface message about how dangerous hallucinogenic drugs can be, but you're also getting a wild & wacky, paranoia-infused mystery-conspiracy-thriller. That may be a bit of a mouthful, but it's a rather accurate way to describe the kind of oddball film this is. It's fair to say that it's not big on plot, consisting mainly of Jerry running around, evading police, and eventually trying to capture someone under the influence of the drug. However, it still manages to provide a decent amount of suspense as it progresses throughout these brief 90 minutes, and that's not even to mention its slight tinges of horror, which you could easily argue come close to being rather silly.

When all is said and done, one may not consider "Blue Sunshine" to be a particularly good movie, but it is a fun, goofy, and mildly-entertaining one that could be satisfying if you're in the mood for something a little crazy & strange. It's certainly not going to be the type of movie for everybody, but it ends up hitting on so many genres & sub-genres that there's a fair chance you'll find something you like. It's understandable that some would merely dismiss it as an odd anti-drug thriller. Nevertheless, there remain some rather intriguing elements to it, elements that earned it its cult film status, and if you're willing to venture into some bizarre territory, you may just find that it's right up your alley.

Video/Audio:

This edition comes with the film on both 4K (2160p, UHD) and Blu-ray (1080p, HD) in 1.85:1 transfers of outstanding quality. The image is perfectly sharp & clear throughout its 90-minute duration, making this nearly-50-year-old, low-budget film look practically new again. Likewise, the 5.1/2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio tracks sound fantastic, giving you all of the dialogue, sound effects, and music in excellent quality. Overall, Synapse Films has done a marvelous job on the film's restoration for this new release.

Special Features:

Commentary with Director Jeff Lieberman and Film Historian Howard S. Berger

Commentary with Director Jeff Lieberman and Filmmaker Elijah Drenner

Archival 2003 Interview with Director Jeff Lieberman (41 Minutes)

Channel "Z" Interview with Mick Garris & Jeff Lieberman (14 Minutes)

Lieberman on Lieberman - Archival Video Interview (30 Minutes)

Fantasia Film Festival Screening Q&A (36 Minutes)

LSD Short Films (2 Short, 45 Minutes)

The Ringer (3 Versions, 19-20 Minutes)

This new release comes with an incredible selection of extras that includes two commentary tracks, two hours of interviews, and Lieberman's first film. Anyone looking to learn more about the film will definitely have plenty of material to delve into.

Conclusion:

Jeff Lieberman's "Blue Sunshine" may contain a rather blatant PSA about the dangers of LSD, but it's dressed up as a wild & wacky, paranoia-infused mystery-conspiracy-thriller, making it fun, goofy, and mildly-entertaining. It may not be considered a particularly good movie, but it hits on so many genres & sub-genres that viewers are likely to find something they like in this little oddball flick, even if it's just its over-the-top silliness.

Score: 3/5

Available on 4K/Blu-ray starting tomorrow.

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