6.6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
A psychological gangster film based on fact. Machine gun totin' Ma Barker lead her family gang (her sons) on a crime spree in the Depression era. Her loyal brood have every perversion imaginable. The sadistic Herman sleeps with his Ma. When Fred Barker is released from prison, he brings home his cell mate/lover Kevin Dirkman, who also sleeps with Ma, much to Fred's chagrin. Lloyd Barker is a spaced-out drug addict who sniffs glue if nothing better is around. Ma kidnaps happy-go-lucky millionaire Sam Adams Pendlebury and holds him for ransom. Arthur Barker - Ma's wallflower son - and Herman's hooker lady friend Mona Gibson also figure in the story. The bloody finale is virtually choreographed and a visual stunner. Filmed in the Ozarks.
Starring: Shelley Winters, Pat Hingle, Don Stroud (I), Diane Varsi, Bruce DernCrime | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
None
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 2.5 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
1970’s “Bloody Mama” is a difficult picture. While the plot concerns the life and times of outlaw Kate “Ma” Barker (Shelley Winters) and her gang of troublemaking sons (including Robert De Niro) as they murder, rape, and kill, director Roger Corman seems to think he’s making comedic romp at times, with the first half of the movie cleared to celebrate the destructive antics of these angry characters. It’s a bizarre choice, and one that confuses the tone of the feature, which submits itself as “fun,” only to detail horrific, lurid acts of dehumanization, sold with customary Corman frugality.
The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation on "Bloody Mama" is pleasingly sharp and fresh. Fine detail is best viewed on period decoration and dramatic close-ups, allowing for a full appreciation of skin textures and atmospheric intensity. Colors are revived and true, with a snappy emphasis on red, while flowery costumes bring out a range of hues. Blacks are secure and communicative. Minor print damage is viewed during the opening scene, but the rest remains free of excessive distraction.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix presents a quandary, forcing the listener to hear what appears to be an accurate representation of a mediocre track. Dialogue is thick and muffled, making a few passages difficult to understand, while the group dynamic tends smother any chance for definition. Soundtrack selections provide an obvious boost in energy and clarity, while scoring efforts periodically step on the performances. Sound effects also crowd the room at times, though gun shots retain their intended snap. Made on the cheap, "Bloody Mama" sounds cheap, making for a periodically challenging listening experience.
"Bloody Mama" settles down in its second half, introducing a father figure (Pat Hingle) for the boys that cools Corman's misguided mischief. However, it's a little too late to introduce severity into a film that needs it badly from the start.
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