5.7 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
A mad doctor performs a head transplant on an injured criminal, which results in him being even more dangerous and murderous than before.
Starring: Paul Naschy, Olivier Mathot, Silvia Solar, Evelyne Scott, Claude BoissonHorror | 100% |
Foreign | 40% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.67:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: Dolby Digital 2.0 (448 kbps)
French: Dolby Digital 2.0
BDInfo verified. French track is also (448 kbps)
English
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 2.0 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 2.5 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
1973’s “Crimson” offers dim-bulb criminals, shoot-outs, sex, police chases, mad scientists, and a human head transplant, and yet, somehow, the production makes the macabre and the absurd feel like punishment. Frightfully dull work from director Juan Fortuny, “Crimson” has a strange way of ignoring the possibilities of its premise, using copious amounts of exposition and vague depictions of sleaze to slowly put viewers to sleep. Handed a chance to make a weirdo thriller that touches on medical impossibility, and Fortuny chooses to make a crime picture that’s so inert, it’s a wonder why the story even bothers with such an outlandish plot to begin with.
The AVC encoded image (1.67:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Crimson" is listed as "Mastered in HD from the original 35mm film elements," helping to bring this obscure movie to Blu-ray. The results are mixed at best, only periodically hitting an HD groove where the visual impact of the effort can be viewed, allowing for passable detail with period looks and ghoulish developments, while colors look slightly faded, but remain appealing. Poor processing to brighten dark scenes tends to break down blacks, and artifacting is present, with noisy bursts erupting from time to time. Source isn't in top shape, showcasing skipped and slipping frames, while scratches and speckling are common. I'm sure this is the best "Crimson" has ever looked on home video, making the achievements of this disc easy to appreciate.
The 2.0 Dolby Digital sound mix is basic and dulled due to age. While intelligibility isn't ruined, clarity isn't welcome, leaving dialogue exchanges muddy. Scoring is loud and intrusive, without precision. Hiss and pops carry throughout the listening experience.
Maybe admirers of Euro chillers are the only audience for "Crimson," which grows more frustrating to watch as the production refuses to do anything exciting with the story. There's attention to nude women, paranoid crooks, and random dance sequences, but the plot never comes alive, refusing to pay off what should be an easy lay-up in terms of B-movie highlights.
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