Handgun

Summary

“I’m really sorry things got a little out of hand back there. It’s partly your own fault being so irresistible.”

Last year I had a great time reviewing a number of films released by Jonathan Hertzberg’s boutique film label Fun City Editions. I realized quickly that I was the core demographic for the slightly off-center films that the label is championing on physical media, so I pay attention to all of their releases. Their latest release Handgun is on the surface a rape-revenge film, but underneath the surface it is a much deeper look at America’s obsession with firearms and the ways in which easy access to weaponry can encourage bad behavior. Like many of FCE’s releases, I had never heard of the film prior to its release announcement, but I was happy to check it out the other night.

In Dallas, a school bus pulls up to the Texas School Book Depository and The Sixth Floor Museum in Dealey Plaza for a field trip before returning to the school. Young teacher Kathleen (Karen Young) has recently moved to Dallas from up north. She watches the school’s auditions for a production of “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.” A fellow teacher tells her about a barbecue that weekend. At the barbecue, Kathleen meets Larry (. Larry is an attorney and a gun enthusiast. He talks to her at length about the Texas Rangers and Colt revolvers and their impact on Texas history. He believes that the man with the best weapon is the guy with the power to change history. Kathleen invites Frank to talk to her class. He shows up as a massive pep rally is taking place. His eyes are somewhat drawn to the young girls, but Kathleen doesn’t notice. Larry discusses gun history, his gun collection, and in particular the Colt revolver in front of the classroom. He shows off some of his weapons to the students. Afterward, Larry asks Kathleen to join him for a date. She hesitantly agrees to do so. He takes her to a gun show, before taking her to a fair. They have a pleasant time, but she tells him that she is not ready for a serious relationship. She does want to occasionally go out with him and have fun. Her Catholic mother and father live up North. When they call, she lets them know that she has been attending mass. Larry takes Kathleen on another date. They eat a nice dinner and then dance at a nightclub. After the date, Larry takes her back to her apartment. She gives him a kiss on the cheek, and he expresses his disappointment that she did not invite him in. Unbeknownst to her, he is more than a little upset. The next morning he reaches her on the phone as she is about to head out the door for church. He asks her to come by his place afterward and explains that his feelings would be hurt if she didn’t come by. She comes by and after they eat a home cooked dinner he explains that she just ate venison from a deer that he had killed the day before. He offers her wine after dinner. They kiss on the couch, but he pushes things further and she resists. When she tries to get up and go, he attacks her and draws a gun on her. He rapes her. He then counsels her on possibly getting help for being sexually repressed. He then has sex with her again. When she manages to leave his apartment, she goes directly to the police to press charges. They perform their tests and take her statement. She cuts her hair short the next day. When the police advise her against pursuing the case, she becomes enmeshed in the gun culture of Texas with the aim of seeking revenge on her assailant. Her friends become curious about her abrupt change, while Larry looks on befuddled as she becomes competitive with a handgun.

The Seventies and early Eighties had a proliferation of rape-revenge films. Rape-revenge films are a pretty rough genre in general and tend to ride on the razor’s edge of bad taste (some of which go very far past the line of bad taste.) That said, the genre is effective at eliciting a visceral response from the viewer. The average viewer will feel a singular response (which I find natural): they will want to see the rapist murdered onscreen. What makes Handgun very different than the other rape-revenge films is the outsider’s view of British director Tony Garnett. While the plot mechanics themselves would read like a synopsis for any number of films in the genre, the actual script and focus of the film subverts the genre. Rather than leaning into the more exploitative aspect of the rape in the film, the film lingers on the dialogue said by Larry which blames the girl for his actions. This makes the film more realistic, and sets it apart from some of the seedier entries in the genre by approaching teh material with a strong feminist message. The film is largely about the fascination (and easy access) that Americans have towards guns and other types of weaponry. This outsider’s perspective makes the film much more interesting and lends a tone of almost documentary style realism to the proceedings of nearly the entire film. The finale disrupts the realistic nature of everything that came before it, but I don’t think that should discount the message the rest of the film conveys. The finale in itself is well worth discussing, and I hope that some of my friends check this movie out at some point so that we can talk about the decisions made in the final moments of the film.

Karen Young, in her very first starring role is fantastic in the movie. She is completely believable as the reserved and good natured young woman who runs abreast of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Clayton Day is similarly convincing as the everyday common rapist. He is really good in the role, and I have to wonder if that helped or damaged his career? The rest of the cast figure in very small roles, but I did a double take when I saw Jane Abbott appear in a very small role that is very similar to her very small role in Rolling Thunder, which I had revisited the night before.

The direction by Tony Garnett is of high quality. Working from his own script, he keeps the proceedings grounded in realism (with possibly the exception of the finale.) The film has some nudity, but it does not push too far into the realm of exploitation given its difficult subject matter. Cinematographer Charles Stewart had largely worked on TV movies, but his shots are effective and never stylized. I had a moment in the film where I laughed out loud due to a country song called “God, Guts, and Guns.” Sadly, I have not been able to find the song outside of the film.

As one might expect, Handgun is pretty heady stuff. Rape is a serious issue and the film treats the topic realistically. America’s love for weaponry is another serious issue, and the film takes a long hard look at that as well. It is sad how these issues have remained timeless even forty years later. Handgun is another interesting discovery from Fun City Editions, that I think will definitely inspire some good conversations between those who watch it.

Video

Handgun comes to Blu-ray from a new 4K transfer supplied by StudioCanal sourced from its 35mm camera negative. Handgun is presented in 1.85:1 aspect ratio with an MPEG-4 AVC encode in 1080p. This is a really healthy presentation of the film that should please any fans of the movie. Grain is well resolved and the color timing looks true to the source. Fans will be very pleased to see the care that went into the release.

Audio

Fun City Editions has provided a DTS-HD MA 2.0 Mono track in English. The dialogue comes across crystal clear. Range and immersion is limited as one would expect. I had no issues with this track. It is a good representation of the original source material. 

Supplements:

• Booklet – features an essay by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas.
• Commentary with film historians Erica Shultz and Chris O’Neill  
• Archival Interview with writer/director Tony Garnett – this two minute interview focuses on his intentions of making the film.
• HBO Video Promo
• Image Gallery
• Trailer

Overall Scores:

Video – 4.5/5

Audio – 4/5

Supplements – 3/5

Overall – 4/5

Handgun is a well made film that uses the rape-revenge drama to explore in equal parts sexual violence and America’s obsession with firearms. Written and directed by British filmmaker Tony Garnett, the film has a unique outsider perspective. The film, with the exception of the finale, is firmly rooted in almost documentary style realism. The performances of the two leads are very well rendered. The film itself is definitely interesting and will spark conversations between those who check it out. Fun City Editions has given the film a solid collector’s edition that features a great looking transfer from StudioCanal and a few interesting supplements. I think that the film in many ways subverts the rape-revenge genre so that it can focus on some serious issues, but those issues (rape, easy access to guns) are pretty heavy topics, so I would recommend the film for those that are interested in seeing those topics explored in a serious manner. The film is still certainly relevant over forty years later, which is in some ways a sad statement.