Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

A Climax of Blue Power Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf February 3, 2019

There’s a category of sexploitation called “roughies.” These are darker endeavors that merge the graphic highlights of adult cinema with a degree of violence, playing into shadowed corners of stimulation that are often better off left unexplored. 1974’s “A Climax of Blue Power” is an example of a roughie, but one that’s mindful of audience expectations while trying to deliver a more concrete tale of mental illness run amok. It’s a highly bizarre movie, but that’s the point, with director Lee Frost stepping inside a disturbed character to capture his concept of fantasy and his capacity for harm.

Eddie (William Quinn) is a security guard who’s been turned down for employment by the police, inspired to impersonate local law enforcement to feed his desire for power. He targets prostitutes, getting away with sexual assaults due to his fake badge and loaded gun. One afternoon, Eddie happens to witness an argument inside a private residence, watching as a wife murders her husband. Expecting the police to investigate, Eddie is stunned to find no such development in the case, taking it upon himself to infiltrate the home and make the woman pay for her crime.

There’s nothing about “A Climax of Blue Power” that’s gentle, as Eddie lives to make others suffer, initially bringing a streetwalker into an open field, where she’s assaulted and left in the rain for additional acts of humiliation. It’s not an easy movie to watch, and I hope that it isn’t for others, but Frost isn’t making something completely without merit, stumbling over a fairly compelling plot featuring Eddie, a Travis Bickle-type, left in a position of police responsibility when he’s not actually a cop. There’s a germ of an idea here that’s worth investigating, but “A Climax of Blue Power” is an adult film first and foremost, setting aside most of the run time for sexual encounters, most utterly repellant due to their violent content.

A Climax of Blue Power Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"A Climax of Blue Power" is not a film that was expected to have any life past its initial theatrical distribution. The thought of a Blu-ray release for something like this was probably unthinkable to many, but Vinegar Syndrome has decided to take a chance here and offer an HD home to a forgotten endeavor. However, the AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation isn't a pristine viewing event, with Vinegar Syndrome unable to secure proper elements for their scan, dealing with a "moderately worn theatrical print" instead. The company is underselling the wear and tear just a little bit here, with large scratches and speckling displayed from start to finish, while the opening reel also showcases missing frames and judder. Reel changes are extremely rough, and some red flashing is present. One could make the argument that such condition contributes to the vibe of the feature. Beyond damage, clarity is strong, supplying graphic displays of body parts, with textured skin, and locations retain pleasing dimension. Colors shows their age, with some fade, but primaries are compelling, finding life in greenery and uniforms. Delineation is acceptable.

A Climax of Blue Power Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 1.0 DTS-HD MA track is more problematic than the visual experience, with the mix disrupted by sustained damaged, resulting in constant volume fluctuation. While the overall rage of the feature is understood, a few lines get buried along the way, diminishing performances. Scoring is also challenged but remains loud enough to appreciate. Again, this is Vinegar Syndrome doing what they can to bring "A Climax of Blue Power" to Blu-ray, but volume instability is noticeable.

A Climax of Blue Power Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Still Gallery (2:09) includes an adult magazine pictorial of the film, titled "The Impersonator" here.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (3:53, HD) is included.

A Climax of Blue Power Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"A Climax of Blue Power" does contain a few surprises to sustain the viewing experience, and it always seems like Frost would be happier making a police procedural than an adult movie, showing more interest in the erosion of Eddie's reality and his position as a problematic witness than any of the coupling scenes (one includes a cameo from Uschi Digard). It's ugly, but take it as a slice of film history (not sexual gospel), and parts of "A Climax of Blue Power" work better than expected.