The Tie That Binds

When Frank Zappa sang about the slime from your video, no doubt this is what he envisioned. Just what you'd expect from a collaboration between the creators of The Hand That Rocks the Cradle and the remake of Cape Fear. Instead of a nanny and ex-convict from hell, here we have Keith Carradine and Darryl Hannah as the biological parents from hell, relentless homicidal thieves determined to reclaim custody of their daughter who was taken from them during a botched robbery. The B-team cast includes Vincent Spano and Moira Kelly as the girl's unwitting foster parents. Despicable hack work, as the inevitable bloody showdown illustrates. Not recommended. (D. Liebenson) [Blu-ray/DVD Review—Aug. 21, 2018—Kino Lorber, 99 min., R, DVD: $11.95, Blu-ray: $19.95—Making its latest appearance on DVD and debut on Blu-ray, 1995’s The Tie That Binds features a nice transfer with DTS-HD 2.0 audio on the Blu-ray release. Extras include audio commentary by director Wesley Strick moderated by film historian Jim Hemphill, cast and crew soundbites (9 min.), a production featurette (4 min.), and selected B-roll footage (4 min.). Bottom line: lame thriller when originally released, lame thriller now.]