13 Frightened Girls! Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		3.5
Audio		3.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		2.0

13 Frightened Girls! Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman July 23, 2016

Note: This release of '13 Frightened Girls!' is currently only available as part of a double feature with '13 Ghosts.'

Teenage girls, from all over the globe and each the daughter of very powerful people, attend the prestigious Ms. Pittford's Academy for Young Ladies. Amongst them is Candace (Kathy Dunn), daughter of an important US diplomat. She returns to his place of work, but before seeing him stops by to meet her crush, the much older Wally (Murray Hamilton). When she overhears that her father's job may be in jeopardy, she takes it upon herself to do a little snooping, see what she can find that might help him. That leads her to a body in a meat locker. She reports the death, but clandestinely, signing her notice as "Kitten." Her work piques her father's interest, but he has no idea it's his own daughter. She begins to groom herself into a super spy and finds herself in deep. Soon, "Kitten" becomes a world-renowned spy in high demand...and in plenty of danger.

The young spy.

Most movies are titled in some or fashion that more or less describes the story's comings-and-goings. Not so much here. It sounds like a Horror film, particularly as the Blu-ray is paired with another of Castle's films, 13 Ghosts, but it's instead a...spy comedy, more or less. Sort of like Spy Kids meets Austin Powers. Regardless, scary it is not. Fun, in a way, it is. It's madly simple and absurd, childlike and giddy but those latter qualities at least reflect the protagonist and her drive into spy-dom. It's innocent, disposable entertainment, hammy and seriously overdone in a good way.

13 Frightened Girls! Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

13 Frightened Girls! features a nicely presented 1080p transfer. Details are acceptable, not particularly stout compared to the best releases but finding enough pull to reveal clothing and location textures with adequate intimacy and tactile definition. Colors are balanced and true, from purple schoolgirl uniforms to lush natural greenery. Black levels struggle and appear too bright. Flesh tones seem spot-on. There's not an abundance of wear and tear and compression issues are not particularly prevalent. For a budget release of an aging film (and presumably an older master), this is a rather solid presentation.

13 Frightened Girls! Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

13 Frightened Girls! features Mill Creek's basic Dolby Digital 2.0 soundtrack. Unlike the companion 13 Ghosts and other Castle releases from Mill Creek like Homicidal, this track plays with a bit more liveliness to music and spread to the sides. Definition and clarity are honest, though hardly terrific. Little support details play with just enough definition and sense of place to create, at least along the front, a fairly defined soundstage. Dialogue pushes to the center with commendable clarity and firmness in delivery.

13 Frightened Girls! Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This Blu-ray release of 13 Frightened Girls! contains no bonus content.

13 Frightened Girls! Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

13 Frightened Girls! may not really live up to its title, and it's a fair bit lighter than some of Castle's other works, but it works well enough as an innocent, playful little picture. Mill Creek's Blu-ray is, as usual, featureless, but video and audio are passable, particularly for a budget release. Recommended.