Black Widow Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

Black Widow Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov April 17, 2016

Bob Rafelson's "Black Widow" (1987) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Signal One Entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include an original trailer for the film; promotional materials; commentary with film historians Julie Kirgo and Nick Redman; and exclusive new featurettes with writer Ronald Bass and first assistant camera operator Conrad W. Hall. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

I am just spending my money...

We can see immediately that Catherine (Theresa Russell, Bad Timing) is a dangerous chameleon. She carefully selects the men, seduces them and quickly makes them fall madly in love with her. Then she marries them and a few months later they die while she is away.

She is too smart and no one can figure out exactly how she kills them. In fact, she is so good that for a while no one even assumes foul play. When eventually she moves on to her next target no one can recall exactly where she came from, or where she went, or what her life story was. They remember her as just another unlucky woman who could not love the man of her dreams.

Eventually, a young and beautiful federal investigator without a special man in her life begins studying Catherine’s past. Alexandra (Debra Winger, An Officer and a Gentleman) senses that there is a killer on the loose but because she does not have any solid proof her bosses urge her to stop wasting her time with the widow and move on to a different case. She refuses and instead follows Catherine to Seattle, and later on to Hawaii, where she quickly befriends her.

It is this particular section of the film that gives it its neo-noirish identity. Instead of focusing on the mechanics of Alexandra’s investigation the film moves away from it and becomes far more interested in her relationship with Catherine. Soon after, we see that the two women are not only equally committed to their work but are actually emotionally prepared to risk their lives in order to be successful. We also realize that they are sexually attracted to each other.

If this film was made during the late ‘40s or early ‘50s it would have had a very different finale. Most likely Alexandra would have completely abandoned her investigation and ended up in Catherine’s arms. Then the two women would have quietly killed the naive millionaire played by the legendary Sami Frey and emptied his bank accounts but on their way back to the mainland something would have gone wrong and they would have died. It would have been one hell of a film and critics would have referred to it as a genre classic.

As it is the bulk of the film still works rather well but the finale feels disappointingly safe. We know that it is only a matter of time before Alexandra tricks Catherine because suddenly the awareness that made Catherine look so dangerous in the beginning is completely wiped out and she becomes uncharacteristically naive. Then we see how Alexandra suddenly becomes a prime suspect in the latest murder case and realize that the end must be near. Nothing surprising happens after that, only what we have known is coming for a long time.

Bob Rafelson is a true auteur and there are many sequences in Black Widow that prove it. However, given the talent that contributed to the film it feels like a big opportunity was missed to create something truly special. Russell and Winger are excellent together and Conrad Hall’s tremendous sense of style is felt in virtually every frame, but the film never really looks comfortable in its own skin. It is awfully predictable as well.

Black Widow Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Bob Rafelson's Black Widow arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British label Signal One Entertainment.

The release has been sourced from a pre-existing master, but for the most part the film looks quite good in high-definition. Generally speaking, close-ups tend to have rather decent depth, though there are even well-lit close-ups where definition isn't optimal (see screencapture #2). Some light halo effects can be seen sneaking in as well. During darker and nighttime footage some light black crush emerges, but it never becomes overly distracting. Contrast levels remain stable, but there are highlights that should have been managed better. Grain is visible throughout the entire film, but it could be better balanced and resolved. The primary colors are stable and there is even a decent range of nuances, but saturation can be even more convincing. Image stability and fluidity are very good. There are no large damage marks, cuts, debris, stains, or warped frames, but some tiny specks and even a few small scratches can be seen. So the film does have a nice organic appearance, but it is obvious that there are different areas where important improvements can be made. My score is 3.75/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Black Widow Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

Clarity and depth are good. The dialog is also clean and stable. However, there are a couple of sequences with outdoor footage where some of the random noise (traffic noise in particular) becomes a bit thin and uneven and as a result balance suffers a bit. I assume that if the audio is remastered now the unevenness will be addressed. There are no audio dropouts or digital distortions.

Black Widow Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - original trailer for Black Widow. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles. (2 min).

• U.S. TV Spot - four original U.S. TV spots. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles. (3 min).

• Promotional Materials - lobby cards, posters and a collection of stills.

• Audio Commentary - audio commentary with film historians Julie Kirgo and Nick Redman. The commentary initially appeared on the U.S. release of Black Widow.

• Bright Colors, Deep Blacks: Conrad W. Hall Interview - in this new video interview, first assistant camera operator Conrad W. Hall, son of cinematographer Conrad L. Hall, discusses the career and legacy of his father, the visual style of the films he lensed (and specifically his preference for very deep blacks), the manner in which he approached different scripts, his work with Bob Rafelson on Black Widow and the film's color palette, etc. In English, not subtitled. (29 min).

• The Predator and Her Prey: Ron Bass Interview - in this new video interview, writer Ronald Bass discusses his professional career, the production history of Black Widow (apparently, in the very beginning the intent was to have Debra Winger play the killer), the rehearsal sessions with Bob Rafelson, Sami Frey's image and performance, etc. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles. (28 min).

Black Widow Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I've always wanted to like this film but have never been able to warm up to it. There are large sections of it that have a terrific neo-noirish vibe and Theresa Russell and Debra Winger look beautiful together, but the end result feels too safe, too overpolished. Had it been darker, rougher and especially more cynical, I think that it almost certainly would have ended up amongst Bob Rafelson's best films. If you enjoy it, consider adding this Blu-ray release to your collection. It comes with two exclusive new featurettes produced by Robert Fischer from Fiction Factory. The second one, which features scenarist Ron Bass, is excellent. RECOMMENDED.