Madeleine Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Madeleine Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 8, 2022

1974’s “Madeline: Anatomy of a Nightmare” presents actress Camille Keaton with an acting challenge, tasked with portraying an emotionally scarred woman dealing with the melting of her own mind and various lovers than come into her life. Writer/director Roberto Mauri attempts to mix real-world trauma with erotic cinema in the endeavor, which never quite connects as intended, but offers some reasonable areas of behavior and abstract moviemaking to keep it compelling.

Death is the catalyst for “Madeline,” which explores the eponymous character’s mind after she endures a painful loss in her life. However, this is no drama, with Mauri looking to create a brain-bleeder that dips into sexual situations involving troubling relationships. It’s something to hang a film on, and Mauri provides professional style to make the feature more interesting.

Madeleine Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.40:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Madeline" is sourced from a 4K scan of the 35mm original camera negative. Color is precise, making an immediate impression via the colored wigs from the opening scene. Greenery is lush and interior decoration offers varied hues, along with costuming. Skintones are natural. Detail is excellent throughout the viewing experience, highlighting different skin surfaces and interior textures, and location work is dimensional. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is fine and film-like. Source is in good condition.

Madeleine Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is lists "Madeline" as "the first time in its English language version," offering some appreciation for Camille Keaton's natural presence in the picture. Some Italian dialogue (with English subtitles) is used to cover gaps in the source material. Performances are appreciable and direct, with decent emotionality. Scoring handles with authority, including some synth selections. Atmospheric are satisfactory.

Madeleine Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historian Art Ettinger and actress Camille Keaton.

• "Passport to Kill" (26:12, HD) is an interview with actress Camille Keaton, who details her early life in Arkansas, eventually graduating to flight attendant work in Texas, which soon brought her over to Italy to become an actress. Work in commercials and modeling for Playmen Magazine offered her recognition, scoring a part in "What Have You Done to Solange?" Keaton explores her career, making a stop at "Madeline," recalling struggles with horses and location shooting. Returning to America, Keaton relocated to New York City, eventually landing the lead role in "I Spit on Your Grave."

• Audio Essay (23:11) features film historian Rachael Nisbet.

• Alternate Sequence (3:14, SD) provides a different take on the "burning baby" opener.

• Still Gallery (3:38) collect images of star Camille Keaton, displaying modeling shots, publicity stills, and various video covers and poster art.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (4:02, HD) is included.

Madeleine Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Mauri gets a little carried away with his fantasies and fetishes (there's a topless horseback riding sequence that's unintentionally hilarious), and the storytelling isn't crisply demented, but "Madeline" is going somewhere, which is something of a miracle with this type of psychologically distorted tale.