The Long Kiss Goodnight, the critically-panned 1996 American action thriller film co-produced and directed by Renny Harlin and written by Shane Black, has finally arrived on 4K thanks to the fine efforts of Arrow Video. This brand new 4K restoration has been minted from the original 35mm negative approved by director Renny Harlin and the release features two brand new commentaries: one by film critic Walter Chaw and another fun one from film critics Drusilla Adeline and Joshua Conkel, co-hosts of the Bloodhaus podcast.
So, why all the love for this film? Well, honestly, this is a relatively harmless flick. It’s quite funny and quite ridiculous.
Over the years, this action vehicle for Geena Davis and Samuel L. Jackson has gained quite the cult following. It is - after all - quite insanely stupid and fun and filled with one over-the-top stunt after another as a schoolteacher in small-town Honesdale, Pennsylvania with long-term amnesia suddenly remembers that she’s really an expert CIA assassin with a long list of people after her who - up until she was spotted in a parade - thought she was eight years dead.
The thing to remember with this flick is that A. it’s Renny Harlin and B. it’s Renny Harlin. This is the director who brought audiences The Adventures of Ford Fairlane, Nightmare on Elm Street 4, Cliffhanger, Cutthroat Island, and Deep Blue Sea. The writing is on the wall right there, my friends. If you tend to go for the B-A-N-A-N-A-S then Harlin’s definitely your cuppa tea.
And, with Black (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, The Nice Guys) as screenwriter, well, there’s a certain amount of fun that’s to be had as Davis goes from chopping carrots relatively quickly to tossing said knife right against the cupboard wall, blade first. Don’t mess with her! 
And she’s gunning for all who dare cross her path. Especially, when she recovers her lost identity as a CIA operative who is really, really good at what she does. You see, eight years ago, Samantha Caine (Davis) washed up on a beach, pregnant, with no memory. Now she's a school teacher living an idyllic small town life with a daughter and boyfriend who love her. She's almost given up on ever finding out about the life she used to lead, until an accident awakens hidden memories and her past comes back with all guns blazing. With the help of low rent private eye Mitch Henessey (Samuel L. Jackson) Samantha must uncover who she was and why so many people want her dead before it kills them both.
The dialogue is hilariously fun; the action is undeniably 90’s-proof, and everything works to create a damn good buzz - especially when the Dolby Atmos provides so much unexpected kick from all the explosions!
With unforgettable action sequences and dialogue to die for, The Long Kiss Goodnight ranks among the very best of 90s action thrillers. Geena Davis is a revelation as the wholesome school teacher struggling to reconcile with her deadly alter ego Charly, while Samuel L. Jackson brings his quintessential charm to a role that so enamored test audiences they refused to let him die.
Strap yourselves in and hold on tight!
4K Ultra HD Limited Edition
Home Video Distributor: Arrow Films
Available on Blu-ray - April 8, 2025
Screen Formats: 2.39:1
Subtitles: English SDH
Video: Dolby Vision; HDR10
Audio: English: Dolby Atmos; English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1; English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Discs: 4K Ultra HD; Blu-ray Disc; Two-disc set
Region Encoding: 4K region-free; blu-ray locked to Region A
From screenwriter Shane Black (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, The Nice Guys) and director Renny Harlin (Die Hard 2, Cliffhanger) comes ass-kicking action thriller The Long Kiss Goodnight. Eight years ago, Samantha Caine (Geena Davis) washed up on a beach, pregnant, with no memory. Now she's a school teacher living an idyllic small town life with a daughter and boyfriend who love her. She's almost given up on ever finding out about the life she used to lead, until an accident awakens hidden memories and her past comes back with all guns blazing. With the help of low rent private eye Mitch Henessey (Samuel L. Jackson) Samantha must uncover who she was and why so many people want her dead before it kills them both.
VIDEO
This Ultra HD presentation was derived from a new 4K scan of the original camera negative approved by Director Renny Harlin. Colors are bold. Explosions are loud. And everything crackles with nice clarity. There is only a slight noticeable shift in some of the coloring, with some cooler tones, but allowing the HDR10+ to really shine when they use it. There are seldom moments of clumsy DNR and black crush, but you need to be looking hard to find them. It still retains a filmic quality for the bulk of the run time. At this resolution, the limitations of the 90s effects are more noticeable but no revisionist effects have been included, so its of the era and crisper than its ever looked. The Long Kiss Goodnight is a solid presentation and leaps and bounds better looking to me than earlier releases.
AUDIO
FLAWLESS. Oh, you want more? This Dolby ATMOS 7.1 remix is what 4K upgrades are all about. The sound design of this film is what mixes like this are made for.
Supplements:
This Limited edition packaging with reversible sleeve features original and newly commissioned artwork by Sam Hadley, an illustrated collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by Clem Bastow, Richard Kadrey, Maura McHugh, and Priscilla Page, a seasonal postcard, a thin Ice sticker, and 2 discs full of bonus content.
Commentary:
- See below for details
Special Features:
DISC 1 (4K ULTRA HD) - FEATURE & EXTRAS
- Brand new 4K restoration by Arrow Films from the original 35mm negative approved by director Renny Harlin
- 4K Ultra HD (2160p) presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
- Original DTS-HD MA 5.1, stereo 2.0. and new Dolby Atmos audio options
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Brand new audio commentary by film critic Walter Chaw
- Brand new audio commentary by film critics Drusilla Adeline and Joshua Conkel, co-hosts of the Bloodhaus podcast
- Theatrical trailer
- Image gallery
DISC 2 (BLU-RAY) - BONUS FEATURES
- Symphony of Destruction, a new interview with stunt co-ordinator Steve Davidson
- Long Live the New Flesh, a new interview with make-up artist Gordon J. Smith
- Girl Interrupted, a new interview with actress Yvonne Zima
- Amnesia Chick, a new visual essay by film scholar Josh Nelson
- The Mirror Crack'd, a new visual essay by critic and filmmaker Howard S. Berger
- A Woman's World, a new visual essay by film scholar Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
- Deleted scenes
- Archive promotional interviews with director Renny Harlin and stars Geena Davis, Samuel L. Jackson and Craig Bierko
- Making Of, an archive promotional featurette
- Behind the Scenes, archive EPK footage from the filming of The Long Kiss Goodnight
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MPAA Rating: R.
Runtime: 121 mins
Director: Renny Harlin
Writer: Shane Black
Cast: Geena Davis; Samuel L. Jackson; Yvonne Zima
Genre: Action | Crime | Comedy
Tagline: Eight years ago she lost her memory. Now, a detective must help her remember the past before it buries them both. What's forgotten is not always gone.
Memorable Movie Quote: "ere you always this stupid, or did you take lessons?"
Theatrical Distributor: New Line Cinema
Official Site: https://www.arrowfilms.com/4k/the-long-kiss-goodnight-limited-edition-4k-uhd/16033522.html
Release Date: October 11, 1996
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: April 8, 2025.
Synopsis: Government agents come after an amnesiac woman, who gradually remembers her past.
