Cobra Woman Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Cobra Woman Blu-ray Movie Review

A fun b-movie that demands to be seen

An inventive and exciting old-school adventure yarn with plenty of surprises up its sleeves, Cobra Woman is a surprisingly fun B-movie that should have lovers of outlandish cinema gushing with excitement at each turn in the story. Based on a story by Scott Darling (The Ghost of Frankenstein, Telephone Operator), the film is produced by George Waggner (South of Tahiti, Man Made Monster). Lovers of odd cinematic delights should look no further than Cobra Woman.

As danger looms in the foreground, the head-strong adventurer Ramu (Jon Hall) sets forth on a perilous quest to save his beloved Tollea (Maria Montez) from a devastating fate. Kidnapped from an ancient tribe and brought to an island of enchanted mystery, Tollea comes face-to-face with her wicked twin sister, Naja (also performed by Maria Montez). Naja is known as the “Cobra Woman” and she leads command over the island and its people. Bringing along some help for his rescue quest, Ramu enlists the aid of the free-spirited Kado (Sabu) as he tries with all-his-might to save his beloved gal. Will the wrath of the snake woman Naja be overcome?

There is something remarkably entertaining about a well-crafted B-movie gem: Cobra Woman is such a blast of old-school genre-picture magic that it makes one feel warm and fuzzy inside. The filmmaking on display is first-rate and one could even possibly forget that the film is actually an adventure pic and not an Oscar front-runner. The radiant cinematography by W. Howard Greene (Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, The Garden of Allah) and George Robinson (Drums of the Congo, Cross Country Cruise) is beautiful to behold and makes the filmmaking even more visually sumptuous frame-to-frame.

"I swear I didn't fart!"

The production aesthetic is certainly greater than a typical low-budget excursion and the art direction by Alexander Golitzen (Touch of Evil, Foreign Correspondent) and John B. Goodman (The Trouble with Harry, Hang 'Em High) is clearly crafted with love and care. Cobra Woman doesn't look like something cheap or throwaway and that makes the filmmaking all the more exciting. The special effects created by John P. Fulton (The Ten Commandments, Vertigo) are particularly noteworthy. Featuring sequences with a wild-cat and a venomous snake (while hazy mist adds to atmosphere), there's plenty of absorbing visuals on display.

As if the visual effects were not enough to seal the deal for cineastes, the film has superb costumes by Vera West (Shadow of a Doubt, The Man Who Laughs). The costumes for the “cobra woman” are to-die-for. Throughout the film the costumes exude class and confidence. There's nothing “B-movie” about it. These gowns are first-rate, through-and-through.

Adding to the mystery and surrealism of the piece is the fun music score composed by Edward Ward (Flying with Music, Another Thin Man). Though the music might not stand out as much as the costumes, special effects, or production-aesthetics, it's an effective score nonetheless that adds to the flavor of excitement. The action back-drop is always more exciting with the score accompaniment.

Robert Siodmak (The Killers, Portrait of a Sinner) directed Cobra Woman from a screenplay by Gene Lewis (Song of the Sarong, Gypsy Wildcat) and Richard Brooks (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Key Largo). Silly, outlandish, and downright ridiculous at times, Cobra Woman might not have an Oscars-worthy screenplay but it doesn't matter to the equation at play: the film aims to be fun and the scipt delivers a old-school blast of action-adventure that's hard to beat (regardless of how much “depth” is on display). Siodmak directs the film as if its a high-quality must-see cinematic event and that makes the film more memorable (in all the right ways). Don't overthink this one: Cobra Woman is a fun, exciting, B-movie gem that shouldn't be left forgotten.

Cobra Woman Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Cobra Woman arrives on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber with a 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition presentation in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.37:1 full frame. This is an incredible presentation of the film which will satisfy all true cineastes. The scan looks nearly pristine without any glaring issues whatsoever with regards to print damage, debris, and scratches.

A remarkable image that beautifully presents the lush cinematography and its atmosphere. During the adventurous scenes, vistas of the outdoors are pristine and detailed. When the snake looms forth, the clarity of the skin impresses and one feels pulled into the terror and intrigue of the scene with equal measure. A truly superb scan which won't leave any fans feeling disappointed.

Cobra Woman Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release features an altogether impressive DTS-HD Master Audio mono audio soundtrack. The crisp definition is satisfactory throughout the entire presentation. Dialogue reproduction is exceptional and comes through with startling clarity. The track has top-notch fidelity and it is apparent that the audio restoration was a fine match for the video.

The music score by Edward Ward blends into the highly stylized filmmaking with relative ease and lulls one into the enchanting universe of this pulp gem. Exceptional clarity and detail make this an outstanding track (which deserves high accolades). When the action-beats occur, the soundstage is ready to deliver a superb experience.

Cobra Woman Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary by film historian Phillipa Berry

Cobra Woman Theatrical Trailer (SD, 2:08)

The release also includes a selection of trailers promoting other releases available from distributor Kino Lorber: Doctor Cyclops (SD, 2:02), The Land Unknown (SD, 2:11), The Spiral Staircase (SD, 2:01), and Cry of the City (SD, 2:33).

Cobra Woman Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There's something utterly charming about Cobra Woman. The production seems first-rate on so many levels (from the visual effects to the production design). While some might expect a throwaway flick, the opposite is true. Cobra Woman is fun old-school adventure and something that deserves a spot in the collection of every B-movie connoisseur. The Blu-ray release features an exceptional presentation and comes highly recommended.