Cafe Flesh Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

Cafe Flesh Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov July 15, 2025

Stephen Sayadian's "The Cafe Flesh" (1982) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Mondo Macabro. The supplemental features on the release include new program with Stephen Sayadian; new program with co-writer Jerry Stahl; arhcival footage from the shooting of the film; theatircal trailer; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

It's showtime.

Arty adult films from the 1980s and 1990s, like Stephen Sayadian’s Café Flesh, exist because of a trend that started in Italy during the 1960s. Few people acknowledge the connection, especially in America, but its legitimacy is undeniable. Even fewer people, and not only in America, acknowledge that a couple of Federico Fellini’s greatest films initiated this trend.

The most well-known American director associated with the trend is Radley Metzger, and his best film, which is not an adult film and was shot in Italy, is Camille 2000. Available in two versions, one of which is longer and more explicit, Camille 2000 is a lavish demonstration of virtually everything the trend was about. In Italy, various local directors shot films like Camille 2000, and arguably the most intriguing ones can be traced back to Pasquale Festa Campanile, who was even more prolific as a writer. Campanile’s two boldest and most effective films, typically highlighted when the trend is discussed, are The Libertine and The Slave. However, as effective as they are, neither of these films is reflective of the quality of Campanile’s work. (Campanile was one of several writers who penned Lucino Visconti’s grand masterpieces Rocco and His Brothers and The Leopard).

The gap in quality between Camille 2000, The Libertine, The Slave, and Café Flesh is massive. However, all four work with the same blueprint. Café Flesh is simply the most explicit and, unfortunately, the least visually impressive one.

While Camille 2000, The Libertine, and The Slave are all set in the present, Café Flesh visits the future. After a nuclear conflict, the survivors are divided into two groups: Sex Negatives and Sex Positives. The former have become allergic to sex and can no longer engage in any sexual acts, while the latter are either unaffected by the allergy or have developed an immunity. Because the Sex Negatives are the larger and more dominant group, the Sex Positives are forced to perform sexual acts for their pleasure. The hottest club in town with the best sexual acts is Café Flesh.

Café Flesh is unquestionably a misfire, but it is worth seeing for two reasons. First, it reveals a genuine desire to be different in the company of explicit relatives, many of them shot with larger budgets and bigger stars. Second, it is very much a product of the 1980s. It is goofy, it is kitschy, it is legitimately unhinged.

Unfortunately, Cafe Flesh relentlessly hammers its audience with the obvious, which is that it is an arty adult film, and this is what effectively ruins it. Contrary to what its admirers have claimed in the past, its cast is disappointing, too. Excluding Tantala Ray, who has a very small part, the rest of the actors are instantly forgettable.

Mondo Macabro's release presents two versions of Cafe Flesh: Theatrical Version, in 1.85:1 aspect ratio, and Home Video Version, in 1.33:1 ratio. Both are sourced from a newly reconstructed 4K master.

Cafe Flesh Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Mondo Macabro's Blu-ray release presents two versions of Cafe Flesh: Theatrical Version, in 1.85:1 aspect ratio, and Home Video Version, in 1.33:1 ratio. Both are sourced from a newly reconstructed 4K master.

I have past experiences with Cafe Flesh on VHS, so I chose to see the Theatrical Version. I thought that it looked quite good on my system. Yes, in certain areas, there are some small yet obvious drops in quality, but even there, the overall quality of the visuals was quite nice. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised by the strength of the visuals. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections. (The softness you will notice is inherited, not a byproduct of filtering adjustments). Color reproduction and balance are good. In some areas of the film, ideally, saturation levels should be better, but I did not encounter any troubling anomalies. On the contrary, it appears that efforts were made to ensure that color reproduction and balance are as good as possible for a reconstruction project. Image stability is very good. Lastly, the entire film looks healthy, too. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

Cafe Flesh Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

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

Cafe Flesh has a famous soundtrack. The lossless track handles its electronic tunes quite well, but you will notice that the audio frequently becomes a tad thin. As far as I am concerned, the fluctuations are inherited because the soundtrack was not finalized in the same way conventional soundtracks are treated by the majors. On the other hand, because the presentation is a reconstruction job, it is practically guaranteed that some adducitional unneveness is introduced as well. The dialog is clear and easy to follow.

Cafe Flesh Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Stephen Sayadian - in this program, Stephen Sayadian discusses his decision to leave Hustler after the assassination of Larry Flynt, and the genesis and production of Cafe Flesh. In English, not subtitled. (58 min).

• Commentary - this audio commentary was recorded by Stephen Sayadian.

• Jerry Stahl - in this program, co-writer Jerry Stahl discusses his relationship with Stephen Sayadian and contribution to Cafe Flesh. In English, not subtitled. (16 min).

• Stoya - in this program, retired pornographer-turned-writer Stoya discusses Cafe Flesh. In English, not subtitled. (10 min).

• Jacob Smith - in this program, Jacob Smith, director of Sound Arts & Industries at Northwester University, discusses Cafe Flesh. In English, not subtitled. (18 min).

• On Set Phootage - presented here is raw footage from the shooting of Cafe Flesh. In English, not subtitled. (4 min).

• Trailer - presented here is a theatrical trailer for Cafe Flesh. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

Cafe Flesh Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If you go back to the 1960s and 1970s, and you spend some time digging deep, you will uncover films like Cafe Flesh that are vastly superior. Virtually all of them will simply be a little less explicit. However, Cafe Flesh is still worth seeing for the same reason you would want to track down Forbidden Zone. It is an odd artifact of an era whose freedom, encouragement and appreciation of creativity will never be replicated. If you decide to pick up Cafe Flesh for your library, and it is still possible, I suggest you bundle it with Mondo Macabro's Blu-ray release of The Slave.