Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

A Woman's Torment Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf October 31, 2017

1977’s “A Woman’s Torment” is an adult movie made by a writer/director who simply didn’t care to add any eroticism to the effort. Roberta Findlay has different ideas for this horror/sex picture, and I’m not sure any of them are translated to film properly, with the helmer striving to create a cold- blooded feature that’s covered in blood and other bodily fluids, making strange points about sexual anxiety and resentment while teasing titillating visuals. “A Woman’s Torment” is an odd endeavor, caught somewhere between a need to thrill and repulse, resulting in exploitation that’s interesting to analyze but difficult to endure.

Otis (Jake Teague) and Estelle (Jennifer Jordan) and Francis (Crystal Sync) and Don (Jeffrey Hurst) are two couples struggling to keep the fires lit in their respective marriages, turning to infidelity to cope with unhappiness. However, the real problem is Francis’s sibling, Karen (Tara Chung), an unstable woman who’s wandered into an empty beachside home. Karen hears voices, struggling with sanity, encountering a series of visitors, including a predator in Larry the Lineman (Michael Gaunt), who inspires Karen’s murderous side after sexually assaulting her.

“A Woman’s Torment” isn’t your average adult movie. Findlay doesn’t treat the material with any kind of warmth, going the Polanski/Hitchcock route (scoring is Herrmann-esque) with Karen’s journey into madness, keeping her on edge as she struggles with sexuality and anger, eventually lashing out at anyone she encounters. The suspense is crudely executed, but it’s consistent, creating a sizable body count. As for the sex, “A Woman’s Torment” is cold to the touch, though intentionally so, supplying embittered female characters who remain unsatisfied in bed, while cinematography is best described as “gynocological.”

Two versions of “A Woman’s Torment” are included on this Blu-ray: an R-rated (or “soft”) version (87:13) and the original X-rated cut (85:10).

A Woman's Torment Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation of "A Woman's Torment" is "Newly scanned and restored in 2K from the 35mm negative." It's a very filmic and inviting viewing experience, leading with compelling detail, which inspects island locations, household interiors, and body parts, offering impressive clarity throughout. Colors are tastefully refreshed, offering pleasant greenery with locations, while costuming and period decoration also registers vividly. Ample skintones come through as intended. Delineation is strong, preserving frame information, and heavy grain is treated with care. Source has some wear and tear, but holds together nicely. Mild judder is detected.

A Woman's Torment Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 1.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is simple but successful, leading with satisfactory dialogue exchanges. While there are a few muffled passages, emotional surges are contained, never slipping into distortive extremes. Scoring is consistent, with adequate instrumentation and placement, never disturbing the performances. Atmospherics are basic but effective.

A Woman's Torment Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features Robert Findlay (R-rated version only).

• "Quad Cinema Q&A" (22:38, SD) is a post-screening sit-down with Findlay from August, 2017. While she repeatedly mentions that the feature was shot "100 years ago," she has a relatively sharp memory, exploring her career origins with husband Michael Findlay, establishing a company together. Findlay offers a few interesting anecdotes, but the big revelation is how Tara Chung ran away with a gaffer midway through filming and never returned, forcing the director to step in for close-ups while changing the movie to cover for the loss. Findlay discusses the Fire Island location, and takes a few questions from the audience.

• Interview (16:07, SD) with Michael Gaunt covers career origins for the actor, and his participation in "A Woman's Torment," playing "obviously compromised" scenes with Chung. Gaunt also discusses the filmmaker dynamic between the Findlays and reflects on a few of his co- stars.

• A Trailer has not been included.

A Woman's Torment Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"A Woman's Torment" doesn't know what it wants to be, and production limitations are obvious, finding Findlay fighting to put together scenes, stretching to make something perhaps meditative passably chilling. It doesn't work, but the material is certainly open for inspection, detailing unfulfilling marital roles and casually destructive misogyny. I'm not sure even Findlay has a clear idea what she wants to do with the movie, but she keeps rolling along, moving from a domestic drama to a serial killer chiller with a "Tales from the Crypt"-style ending.