Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		2.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.0

Bloody Mama Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf October 5, 2014

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.

There are highlights contained within “Bloody Mama,” including Winters’s tornado-like performance as the matriarch of brotherly doom, trying to out-act anything that dares to share the frame with her. Corman also preserves suggestions of homosexuality and incest to keep the feature true to the situation, with Ma secure in her need for sex whenever she feels like it. However, the rest of “Bloody Mama” is a jumble of lighthearted scoring and dark turns of plot, with the helmer unable to decide if this is a horror movie or a jaunt through Arkansas criminal history. The disparate elements derail the production, creating confusion when there should be a crystal clear appreciation of unease.

Bloody Mama Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

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.

Bloody Mama Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

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 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview (15:37, HD) with director Roger Corman skims across production highlights with the affable icon. Without delving too deep into the nuances of the shoot, Corman instead offers an appreciation of the cast, presiding over a team of method actors who gave their all to the movie, singling out efforts from De Niro and Winters as the most extreme.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:52, HD), which contains a deleted scene, is included.

Bloody Mama Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"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.