Okay, rewind time. Remember browsing those towering shelves at Blockbuster or the local video joint, the fluorescent lights humming overhead? You spot a familiar face – maybe two – on a slightly worn VHS box. The tagline promises thrills, maybe a little danger, a little romance. You grab it, pop it in later that night, the tracking lines maybe adding a little extra atmospheric fuzz. That's the vibe hitting me as I think back to 1993's Blown Away. No, not the one with the Bridges brothers and U2 on the soundtrack that landed a year later – we're talking the other one, the twisty little thriller starring Corey Haim and Nicole Eggert.
This slice of early 90s suspense often gets overshadowed by its namesake, but for those of us digging through the video store trenches back then, it holds its own distinct, smoky charm. Haim, shedding some of his teen heartthrob image, plays Rich, a young man living the good life thanks to his wealthy adoptive parents. He runs a ski shop, seems relatively grounded, but his world gets tilted sideways when the enigmatic Megan (Nicole Eggert, fresh off Baywatch) walks into his life. She's beautiful, mysterious, and carries baggage heavier than any ski equipment – a dangerous past involving her psycho ex-boyfriend (played with scenery-chewing menace).
Mountain Town Mayhem
The plot unfolds with the predictable beats of many direct-to-video thrillers of the era: Rich falls hard, warning signs are ignored, secrets unravel, and danger escalates. But predictability isn't always a bad thing when you're settling in for some comfortable genre fare. Director Brenton Spencer, who later became a prolific force in genre television like Stargate SG-1 and The Outer Limits (often working with this film's writer, Robert C. Cooper), keeps things moving at a decent clip. The Canadian locations (likely British Columbia, a frequent stand-in during this period for budget-conscious productions) provide a scenic backdrop for the escalating tension, offering a slightly different flavour than the usual L.A. noir settings.
What really draws the eye here, though, is the casting. Corey Haim puts in a solid effort, trying to navigate more adult territory. You see flashes of the charisma that made him a star, layered with a character wrestling with naivety and impending peril. Nicole Eggert leans into the femme fatale archetype, managing to convey both vulnerability and a hidden edge. Their chemistry is... well, it's there, fitting the slightly overheated tone of the movie perfectly.
A Fleeting Reunion and Practical Punch
Of course, for many renting this back in the day, a big draw was the promise of seeing the two Coreys together again. Corey Feldman pops up in a smaller, but pivotal role as Wes, Rich's step-brother. While it's not the buddy-comedy dynamic of their earlier hits, seeing them share the screen, even briefly, carried a certain nostalgic weight. Retro Fun Fact: By this point, the real-life relationship between Haim and Feldman was reportedly quite strained, which adds a layer of unintentional irony or perhaps poignancy to their scenes together. Feldman's appearance feels almost like a cameo designed to lure in fans, but his character serves a distinct purpose in the plot.
While Blown Away isn't an explosive action spectacle like its 1994 namesake, it does feature some grounded thriller moments. There's a car chase or two, some tense confrontations, and moments of physical struggle. What stands out, viewed through modern eyes, is the lack of digital smoothing. When a punch lands, it feels more impactful because you know it's likely careful choreography and stunt work, not pixel manipulation. Remember how a car skidding out or a tense standoff felt heightened by the sheer physicality of it on that fuzzy CRT screen? This film has that tactile, pre-CGI quality that defined so many thrillers gathering dust on VHS shelves. Retro Fun Fact: Low-budget thrillers like this often had to get creative with stunts and effects. Simple but effective techniques – think well-timed cuts, suggestive sound design, and committed stunt performers – were paramount, lending a raw energy that glossier productions sometimes miss.
Straight-to-Video Gold (or Bronze?)
Let's be honest: Blown Away (1993) wasn't destined for Oscar glory. It’s steeped in the specific aesthetic of early 90s thrillers – the synthesised scores, the slightly heightened dramatic lighting, the fashion choices that scream "transitioning from the 80s". It probably didn't set the box office alight (likely finding its audience primarily on home video) and critics weren't exactly singing its praises. But that’s part of the charm for VHS Heaven explorers, isn't it? It’s a time capsule. It delivers exactly what the cover promises: familiar faces, a twisty plot, some suspense, and maybe a little bit of steamy intrigue. It knows its lane and mostly stays in it.
Writer Robert C. Cooper, who penned this before becoming a major creative force behind the Stargate franchise, provides a functional script that hits the necessary thriller notes. It might not reinvent the wheel, but it keeps it spinning effectively enough for 90 minutes.
Rating: 6/10
Justification: This score reflects Blown Away's status as a solid, if unspectacular, piece of 90s direct-to-video nostalgia. It delivers on its genre promises with capable performances from its leads (especially considering their career points) and a brief, notable Corey reunion. It lacks groundbreaking elements and feels very much 'of its time', but it's competently made and offers genuine entertainment value for fans seeking that specific VHS-era thriller vibe. It's a comfortable, slightly cheesy, but ultimately enjoyable trip back.
Final Take: Forget the bomb squad epic; this Blown Away is a time capsule of early 90s thriller sensibilities, powered by familiar faces and the kind of earnest, practical suspense that feels refreshingly tangible today. Worth digging out of the archives for a dose of pure VHS-era atmosphere.