Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.0

Hussy Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov September 13, 2019

Matthew Chapman's "Hussy" (1980) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films. The supplemental features on the disc include vintage trailers for the film; exclusive new video interview with executive producer Dan Boyd; exclusive new video interview with actor John Shea; archival promotional materials; and more. The release also arrives with an exclusive booklet featuring new essay by Rebecca Nicole Williams, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and technical credits. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

The real date

There is so much that is wrong with this film that it makes perfect sense to mention the one thing it gets right first. It is the clientele of the nightclub -- sorry, this place does not pass for a cabaret in my book -- where Helen Mirren’s prostitute, Beaty Simons, makes ends meet. The guys that go there to buy ‘dates’ look like genuine losers who have to pay for sex, especially after they have a couple of drinks and drop their fake gentlemen masks. The abusive fat man that is prominently featured in the vintage X-rated trailer for the film is the biggest loser of the bunch. Right behind him is the alcoholic, who books a room with Beaty but then begins a fascinating conversation with the voices in his head, forcing the girl to tell him that it costs extra to waste her time.

The rest of the film is a giant sea of clichés that are practically guaranteed to give you a serious headache. It turns out that Beaty is a single mother who had to become a ‘hussy’ after her awful husband walked out of her life. Her boy isn’t with her, but she is saving and planning to open up a small business in the countryside where she can be his mother again. Then just like that, Emory (John Shea), who takes care of the lights and fixes everything else that is broken in the club, discovers the real Beaty, and they go out on a date. She tries to make him understand that she isn’t right for him, so he gets a second job and then books a pricey date with her to make her realize that he really, really likes her. Beaty is deeply moved by his sincerity, but later, when he tries to make love to her, she refuses to break her rule -- she does not kiss, everything else is fair game.

Eventually, Emory is forced to compete with Alex (Paul Angelis), a lowlife who years ago apparently helped Beaty kick her drug addiction and redirect her life. (Ha, the irony). He comes out of the blue, Beaty makes him breakfast, and he casually states his intention to make the girl a permanent feature of his life. Another lowlife, Max (Murray Salem), an American import who deals drugs but feels bored because the job is too easy, then offers Emory a chance to get rich quick and leave with Beaty and her son. Predictably, he agrees and hires Max, who has just threatened to rough him up, to be their bodyguard while they do the job.

Hussy was Matthew Chapman’s debut feature and every single sequence from it looks like the work of a very inexperienced first-time director. Frankly, it is just a big pile of rough material that simply cannot produce a believable story.

What makes the film seriously annoying and virtually impossible to tolerate, however, is something else. Indeed, one part of it basically goes all in on the ‘dirty’ realism and removes the filters a mainstream drama would have required while dealing with the same subject. However, there is another contrasting part that is overloaded with soapy sentimentality, which instantly makes the ‘dirty’ infinitely worse. So, instead of producing a legitimate image of the sleazy world in which Beaty has to make a living, the film delivers an awful caricature that permanently destroys the integrity of its story. It is awful, and it is what instantly gives away Chapman’s inexperience behind the camera.

If it’s any consolation, Sam Peffer did a wonderful job when he created the original theatrical poster for Hussy. It leaves the impression that the film must be a high-quality project that would tell a special story, which is exactly what a great poster ought to do.

Hussy Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Matthew Chapman's Hussy arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films.

I don't know when the master that was used to produce this release was created, but I like it quite a lot. Just to be perfectly clear, it is definitely not new, but aside from a few tiny vertical lines and stains, plus some minor density inconsistencies, it actually looks lovely. Depth, in particular, is very nice, and fluidity is about as good as I expected it to be. Also, the color grading job is very convincing. In fact, for an older master there are surprisingly diverse ranges of supporting nuances. Grain exposure can be more consistent in some places, but its current appearance is fine. Image stability is very good. (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).

Hussy Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 1.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

There is only one sequence towards the middle of the film where I felt that there is obvious room for improvement(s). It is the one where Patti Boulaye sings in the nightclub -- in the upper register there is some very light buzz/deterioration, and there is some momentary unevenness. Everything else sounds great. Clarity, sharpness, and overall stability are excellent.

Hussy Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

NOTE: All of the supplemental features on this Blu-ray release are perfectly playable on North American Blu-ray players, including the PS3.

• Trailer One - "X" theatrical trailer. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).

• Trailer Two - "U" theatrical trailer. In English, not subtitled. (2 min, 1080p).

• Sam Peffer - in this archival interview, the late poster artist Sam Peffer remembers some of the films that he was hired to create promotional materials for over the years, including Hussy. In English, not subtitled. (2 min, 1080p).

• George Fenton - in this new video interview, composer George Fenton remembers his involvement with Hussy. In English, not subtitled. (8 min, 1080p).

• Don Boyd: More Than Meets the Eye - in this new video interview, executive producer Dan Boyd explains how Hussy was conceived and discusses its production process. In English, not subtitled. (21 min, 1080p).

• Jenny Runacre: Club Life - in this new video interview, actress Jenny Runacre remembers how she became involved with Hussy. In English, not subtitled. (6 min, 1080p).

• John Shea: A New Outfit - in this new video interview, actor John Shea remembers how he was cast to play Emory and work with Helen Mirren and director Matthew Chapman. There are a few particularly funny comments about the shooting of the love scenes as well. In English, not subtitled. (35 min).

• Commentary - selected scene commentary with Matthew Chapman.

• Image Gallery - a collection of original promotional materials for Hussy.

• Booklet - an exclusive booklet with a new essay by Rebecca Nicole Williams, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits.

Hussy Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Hussy was Matthew Chapman's directorial debut and unfortunately his inexperience behind the camera easily shows. The film tries its best to juggle two different identities -- one that is understandably loose and promotes crude language, and another that borrows plenty from conventional melodramas -- but quickly fails and in the process effectively destroys the integrity of its story. I can't say that I genuinely disliked the film or that viewing it was a complete waste of time, but I never cared for its characters. This upcoming Blu-ray release from Indicator/Powerhouse Films is sourced from a very nice remaster and has a good mix of new and archival bonus features. Pick up one for your collection if you like the film, but otherwise consider a rental first. RENT IT.