6.5 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
After a cult besieges her convent, a young nun goes with an army of Muslims to destroy the convent and kill who wronged her.
Starring: Florinda Bolkan, María Casares, Claudio Cassinelli, Anthony Higgins, Spyros FokasHorror | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
BDInfo
None
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Although it’s dressed up as your average exploitation feature, 1974’s “Flavia, the Heretic” actually contains some intelligence to go along with its nudity and bloodshed. Director Gianfranco Mingozzi dips back into the history books to explore a period tale of an oppressed woman struggling to define herself in a world controlled by men, permitting the picture to inspect the vicious side of gender politics and domination, while tending to all the necessary violence that comes along with a story that concerns the workings of Christian and Muslim forces in the 15th century. While it has a tendency to wander when concentration is needed, “Flavia, the Heretic” is a fascinating dissection of frustration and desire, led by a powerhouse performance from star Florinda Bolkan, who gives the titular role her all as the character is humiliated, beaten, and exploited, with her only crime being a thirst for independence.
The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation on "Flavia, the Heretic" continues Scorpion's commitment to quality work, doing the best they can with intermittently inferior materials, with mild damage, speckling, and debris on display, though nothing is overtly distracting. The rest of the viewing experience is quite handsome, with pleasing grain management contributing to a filmic look, while colors are in decent shape, delivering pleasing naturalistic hues, while skintones retain their natural appearance. Fine detail is terrific (when the camera manages to stay in focus), with a textured appreciation for facial particulars, and costuming retains touchable fabrics. Crispness is so good, the BD reveals iffy make-up effects and wig borders. Shadow detail is always comfortable, never swallowing scenes with limited lighting.
What's immediately striking about the 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is how quiet it is compared to other discs, requiring a volume boost to feel the full effect. Although the picture is completely dubbed, dialogue still retains its intended dramatic range. While thin, it's always expressive, permitting a full understanding of emotion and emphasis. Scoring is nicely balanced with frontal force, never stepping on performances, while dialed up to support key scenes of contemplation. Violence runs a little harsh with squealing sound effects (tortured screams are hot), but atmospherics are defined to satisfaction. Hiss is prevalent, along with some surges of pops, making crispness impossible, but limitations are hardly disruptive with this cult film.
There is no supplementary material on this disc.
"Flavia, the Heretic" reaches a fever pitch in the third act, envisioning the character as a Joan of Arc-style warrior bent on punishing the cruel, clad in armor atop a horse. Flavia's eventual collision with the reality of Muslim life makes for a fitting conclusion to this saga, prolonging the woman's misery at the very moment she expects its erasure, trading one oppressive entity for another. "Flavia, the Heretic" can be crude with bizarre flashes of brutality, but it remains potent and thought-provoking, reflecting on a bound existence with unusual patience and respect for its audience.
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