NOTE: The below 4K UHD captures were taken directly from the 4K UHD disc.

ADDITION: Arrow 4K UHD (February 2025): Arrow have transferred William Friedkin's Cruising to 4K UHD. It is cited as being from a "Brand new 4K restoration from the original 35mm camera negative by Arrow Films". In 2019 we compared Arrow's new Blu-ray to the 2007 Warner DVD, HERE. This 2160P presentation is in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible.) It is a two disc package with the feature on 4K UHD disc with extras and a second disc Blu-ray with more supplements. 

It is likely that the monitor you are seeing this review is not an HDR-compatible display (High Dynamic Range) or Dolby Vision, where each pixel can be assigned with a wider and notably granular range of color and light. Our capture software if simulating the HDR (in a uniform manner) for standard monitors. This should make it easier for us to review more 4K UHD titles in the future and give you a decent idea of its attributes on your system. So our captures may not support the exact same colors (coolness of skin tones, brighter or darker hues etc.) as the 4K system at your home. But the framing, detail, grain texture support etc. are, generally, not effected by this simulation representation.

The 2160P image quality is another step forward with far more balanced colors (flesh tones,) an impressive bump in detail and more information in the frame - notably the right edge. Overall, I would say it is, suitably, darker and earthier without the heavy blue-leaning (Friedkin revisionism as with The French Connection) of the 2019 Blu-ray. This is, by far, the best the film has ever looked for digital consumption. It's an amazing video upgrade.    

NOTE: We have added 58 more large resolution 4K UHD captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their 4K UHD, Arrow offer three DTS-HD Master tracks (24-bit) all in the original English language; a mono 1.0, a stereo 2.0 or 5.1 surround track (the latter two originally created for the 2007 remaster.) Cruising has few aggressive moments that come through with modest depth. The pulsating score was by Jack Nitzsche (The Crossing Guard, Village of the Giants, The Hot Spot, Blue Collar, The Indian Runner, Hardcore, Cutters Way, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Personal Best, 9 1/2 Weeks) and (uncredited) Egberto Gismonti. The surround has some separations in the club sequences which also have music; Three-Day Moon performed by Barre Phillips, Heat of the Moment and Pullin' My String by Willy DeVille, Herbal Scent by Tom Browne, Shakedown by Rough Trade plus Boccherini 's notable Passa Calle (Allegro vivo) taken from "La musica notturna delle strade di Madrid": Op. 30 n. 6 (1780) Quintettino for two violins, viola and two violoncellos in C major (G. 324). It sounds rich and immersive - augmenting the film's edge-of-seat suspense and it is subtle and supportive adding to the viewing experience. There is also the option of a 'heavy leather alternate score' that sounds quite ominous and intense. Arrow offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region FREE 4K UHD.

The Arrow 4K UHD include the 2019 Arrow Blu-ray commentary with Mark Kermode and William Friedkin where the director is quite frank about many facets of the production including the 50+ attempts to get an 'R' rating which Friedkin agrees that should have been 'X', how he felt Pacino was one of the more unprepared actors that he worked with (also talking about Brando having lines taped to other actor's foreheads), James Franco's 2013 film, Interior. Leather Bar that dealt with the missing 40 minutes from Cruising that, I think, Friedkin stated was simply male pornography. He also talks about, in some scenes that he wished that Richard Gere was in the lead because he found his onscreen personality has a desirable and mysterious 'ambiguous' quality. It is excellent - they discuss the subliminal cuts and much more. Also included is the solo commentary by director Friedkin. He doesn't over-do the narration (although he does a fair bit) and he brings up extensive details probably unknown to many excepting the producers of the film. He talks about the actual historical events behind the plot. He is good to listen to, his memory is sharp, and he has a kind of controlled enthusiasm in his voice. I think this still has value. Also included is a brand new commentary featuring original musicians involved with the soundtrack and effects. On the 4K UHD disc are 2 deleted scenes and 2 3/4 minutes of alternative footage ('Porno Booth Scene',) a ten minutes interview with on-set sound mixer Kim Ornitz plus examples of "on-set audio" featuring the club scenes and protest coverage. Also on the 4K UHD disc are a theatrical trailer, teaser, 4 TV spots (2:13), 4 Test TV Spots and a TV Spot Optical Test. There is also "Alternate Elements" which includes French and Spanish disclaimer cards, alternate introductions with a comparisons and more.  Lastly are four Censored material reel comparisons and complete scenes.

On the, stacked, second disc Blu-ray are a brand-new 40-minute interview with lovely actress Karen Allen entitled I Want to Be the Curator reflecting on the film, working with Friedkin and more. Walking the Line is a brand-new 1 1/4 hour interview with actor, film consultant, and former police detective Randy Jurgensen (played Detective Lefransky in Cruising.) He is a former American NYPD detective, best known as the lead investigator into the 1972 murder of patrolman Phil Cardillo as well as his contribution as a consultant on various film and TV projects. Cut Offs, is a 55-minute interview with editor Bud S. Smith. He shared the 1984 BAFTA Award for Best Editing for Flashdance. and was nominated or an Academy Award for The Exorcist. Who’s That Guy?, is a 1/4 hour interview with actor Jay Acovone (Skip Lee in the film.) Pounding the Beat, is a 3/4 hour interview with actor Mike Starr (Patrolman Desher) and Boy on the Bus, is a 38-minute interview with actor Mark Zecca. Mineshaft Memories, is a half-hour archival interview with Wally Wallace, former manager of the Mineshaft - a members-only BDSM leather bar and sex club for gay men located at 835 Washington Street. Breaking the Codes, is a brand-new 13-minute visual essay surrounding the hanky-codes featuring actor and writer David McGillivray. Stop the Movie, is a dozen-minute short film by Jim Hubbard capturing the Cruising protests and included is 41-minutes of William Friedkin’s BeyondFest 2022 Q&A at the American Cinematheque. There are also extensive image galleries featuring international promotional material, on-set sketches, and more. The custom reversible sleeve package has a 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. This 4K UHD is one of the most stacked packages I have seen in years.   

The film is loosely based on Gerald Walker's 1970 novel Cruising, about a serial killer targeting New York City's gay community. It attracted the director after a real series of six unsolved killings in gay leather bars 1975-77 known as "The Bag Murders". A doctor's assistant, Paul Bateson, who had appeared in The Exorcist was implicated (although never charged) in six of the leather bar murders. William Friedkin was in his prime and brilliantly captured something unforgettable in Cruising. It is fascinating on many levels - a haunting and, occasionally, terrifying, film experience that speaks extensively through its dark imagery, body language and facial expressions. While he is mostly noted for The Exorcist, To Live and Die in L.A., Sorcerer and The French Connection this auteur was one of the world's best filmmakers in the 70s and 80s. Cruising, was buried by controversy, but should be included as another example of his mastery of the medium. 40 minutes of footage from the original cut was deleted to achieve an "R"-rating (from "X") . It was mostly graphic homosexual interaction with Pacino watching (intimating his participation.) The open-ended question Cruising leaves the viewer starts with planting a seed to determine if Pacino's Detective Steve Burns is actually coerced by his undercover gay and S&M subculture immersion to the extent that it alters his 'preferences'. His girlfriend Nancy (Karen Allen) dons his leather jacket, cap and aviator sunglasses giving us pause to question what comes next in their relationship. The double entendre title, Cruising, can refer to police officers on patrol as well as men who are 'cruising ground' for sex. I watch it in fascination every time I revisit. Arrow's 4K UHD package is jammed with detail; from commentaries to new interviews, visual essay and a booklet among other supplementary material. It's the best I have seen this year and I'd be surprised if it doesn't get strong mention in our 2025 year end poll. A huge recommendation.

Gary Tooze