Overview: Working from an Academy Award-nominated screenplay by Scott B. Smith (adapting his own bestselling novel), director Sam Raimi swapped his trademark hyperkinetic horror for stark, bone-chilling tension in the expertly-crafted, critically-acclaimed thriller A Simple Plan.

Hank Mitchell (Bill Paxton) and his wife Sarah (Bridget Fonda) have big dreams and a baby on the way, but are stuck in the small Minnesota town where Hank grew up alongside his sweet but naive brother Jacob (Billy Bob Thornton, Oscar-nominated for Best Supporting Actor). One day while walking in the woods, Hank, Jacob, and Jacob’s friend Lou (Brent Briscoe) discover a small plane buried in the snow, with a dead pilot inside... and a duffel bag containing over $4 million in cash.

It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to grasp the American dream in one fell swoop, if they can just keep it a secret – but Hank soon learns that keeping that secret will come at a terrible cost.

A bleak, heart-stopping morality play with allusions to Macbeth and The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (Raimi’s favorite film), A Simple Plan returns in a brand new director-approved 4K remaster accompanied by new and exclusive bonus features.

4K Blu-ray Verdict: As noted, A Simple Plan follows three men in Minnesota who stumble upon a plane crashed in the snowy woods; inside is a corpse, and a bag of $4 million. They make a rash decision to keep the money--a decision they soon come to regret.

This film was one of the most popular thrillers of the late ’90s, and it still remains a fairly well-plotted film. The story is a tale as old as time--greed leads to man’s inevitable downfall. It’s the operative trope at work here, and it’s pulled off with a notable amount of flair.

Sam Raimi, who many of us know for his horror films, provides solid direction here, though there are scenarios throughout that do stretch believability to its utmost dimensions. Like many of the thrillers of its era, A Simple Plan hangs a fair amount of its action on convenient plot devices that sometimes feel contrived.

The other issue the film has is that its characters seem to lack discretion, carelessly discussing their plans in public spaces to the point that it is difficult to take too seriously--some of the dialogue also feels stilted at times.

That being said, the film truly excels at presenting its cast of antiheroes who the audience can still somewhat root for. Bill Paxton’s performance as the standup accountant who spearheads the effort is solid, while Bridget Fonda plays his cunning wife who assists and advises from a distance. Brent Briscoe is believable as the gum-flapping redneck, while Billy Bob Thornton turns in a performance as Paxton’s unsuccessful, dejected brother, who is perhaps the most sympathetic (and sad) character in the film.

None of these people are truly likable, and they all make jaw-droppingly cold, evil choices, but there is still a level of believability to them, and their motivations, as sad as they are, don’t go unwarranted.

In closing, even with the more strained elements at play, Raimi manages to squeeze some disturbing sequences throughout, and the film manages to be consistently riveting. There are a handful of truly grim moments where the characters’ blood seems as cold as the snow around them.

4K ULTRA HD LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS:
New 4K remaster from the original negative by Arrow Films, approved by director Sam Raimi
4K (2160p) Ultra HD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
Original DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround audio and optional lossless stereo audio
Optional English subtitles forthe deaf and hard-of-hearing
Brand new audio commentary by critics Glenn Kenny and Farran Smith Nehme
Brand new audio commentary by production designer Patrizia von Brandenstein with filmmaker Justin Beahm
Of Ice and Men, a newly filmed interview with cinematographer Alar Kivilo
Standing Her Ground, a newly filmed interview with actor Becky Ann Baker
Dead of Winter, a newly filmed interview with actor Chelcie Ross
On-set interviews with Paxton, Thornton, Fonda, Raimi, and producer Jim Jacks
Behind-the-scenes footage
Theatrical trailer
Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Matt Griffin
Illustrated collectors’ booklet featuring new writing on the film by Bilge Ebiri and an excerpt from the book The Unseen Force: The Films of Sam Raimi by John Kenneth Muir

www.arrowvideo.com