Eraser turns 30 this summer, next week actually. It is a less discussed Arnold movie but still a summer blockbuster. I became a projectionist in 1996 and could not wait to see this. We ran two prints on two screens (Independence Day would get three a week later).
The big set pieces of the skydiving, alligators and rail guns all hold up since the ‘90s. Other parts of the movie are more grounded, with Schwarzenegger working in witness protection, handling mob goons and safe houses. It’s a little bit Raw Deal with excursions into True Lies.
The 4K UHD looks great. It still looks like ‘90s film, but the opening montage in a pure void highlights the HDR shadows. A lot of the movie takes place in the suburbs at night and concludes at the Baltimore shipping docks. So the film highlights Schwarzenegger against the deep darkness. Daytime locations in D.C. are nice to see too.
Surround sound was already big in the ‘90s so Eraser has a lot. The vault swirls around when Lee (Vanessa Williams) steals the incriminating information. All the railgun blasts and Arnold sized explosions fill the room, and the water splashing at the alligator tank too. The subwoofer thumps the heartbeat in the opening and rumbles the action throughout.
Director Chuck Russell, Executive Producer Michael Tadross and Vanessa Williams appear in 2 bonus features and give a good summary of the filmmaking, performances and the business.