Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Memories Within Miss Aggie Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 26, 2018

Director Gerard Damiano enjoys toying with taboos. While achieving his greatest success in adult cinema (“Deep Throat”), the helmer has never actually seemed like he enjoys his work, often attempting to break down eroticism to its most pained points of submission and madness. Attempting to follow a second hit (“The Devil in Miss Jones”) with another brain-bleeder, Damiano touches on isolation and insanity with “Memories Within Miss Aggie,” which isn’t even remotely sensual despite multiple sequences of sexual activity. It’s more of psychological horror movie, and one can feel Damiano’s eyes rolling when he has to deal with hardcore couplings, showing far more interest in chills and shocks while building a “Psycho”-esque story of one woman’s gradual disconnect from reality.

There’s not a grand story to be dissected in “Memories Within Miss Aggie,” which details life inside a remote northeastern cabin for Aggie (Deborah Ashira), an older woman who lives with Richard (Patrick L. Farrelly), spending her day trying to get a handle on memories that expose certain sexual experiences involving different versions of herself. Aggie struggles with newly unearthed anxieties and confusion, attempting to keep herself steady while her mind liquefies into madness.

Damiano and screenwriter Ron Wertheim create a tight space for the titular character, who’s prone to rambling while tending to household chores in her cabin. Richard is there, sitting patiently in a chair, reminding his partner of his presence, though little energy is expelled by the older man. Throughout the day, events trigger memories for Aggie, with a look in the mirror reminding the matured woman of her younger days (Kim Pope), meeting Richard (Eric Edwards) on a snowy bridge, taking a softer slide into seduction. Another recollection finds Aggie (Mary Stuart) locked up in a farm, with Richard a hay delivery man (Harry Reems) more than happy to help the imprisoned woman with her loneliness.

These visions are positioned as false memories, including Aggie’s time as a prostitute (Darby Lloyd Rains) performing a solo act for a paying customer. Threaded throughout the writing is Aggie’s need for a male savior, romanticizing the idea of predatory men taking advantage of her innocence. “Memories Within Miss Aggie” is most interesting with this level of consideration, but Damiano can’t always help himself, trying to ruffle feathers by having Aggie II masturbate with a baby doll, delivering a provocative visual statement in a film that’s just fine wading through the toxic sludge contained within Aggie’s brain.

Memories Within Miss Aggie Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Doing their best to preserve the lost classics of adult cinema, Vinegar Syndrome has a challenge with "Memories Within Miss Aggie." The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation shows a lot of wear and tear, with scratches, speckling, and broken frames detected during the viewing experience. Judder is also common, adding slight shake to large sections of the movie. It's an obscure title, and the company does what it can to bring it back to life. Colors are tastefully refreshed, putting emphasis on a few bright red costumes and natural skintones, with pinkness capably communicated. Wintry vistas are also compelling, finding bright white snow adding to the mood. Cinematographic limits hamper detail, but a feel for skin textures remains, along with clothing and rural interiors. Delineation survives. Grain is thick but stays filmic.

Memories Within Miss Aggie Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix also battles with age, offering mild muddiness that increases periodically, but dialogue exchanges are never sacrificed along the way, handling the strange emotional journey of the lead character with adequate clarity. Scoring isn't precisely defined but mood is achieved, with some synth stings reaching their shocking potential. Atmospherics are on the quiet side. Hiss is present throughout the listening event, some popping as well.

Memories Within Miss Aggie Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Still Gallery (2:35) collects newspaper clippings highlighting an obscenity trial concerning "The Memories Within Miss Aggie" during its initial theatrical release, along with newspaper and trade paper ads (including the feature's 1975 Oscar push).

• And a Theatrical Trailer (3:11, SD) is included.

Memories Within Miss Aggie Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

While most adult movies are meant to stimulate, "Memories Within Miss Aggie" contains no heat whatsoever. Sex scenes are dulled by Damiano's indifference, with the helmer more excited by the ultimate direction of the screenplay, which looks to land a knockout punch of horror. The climax is effective, and while it contrasts poorly with carnal delights, the drive of "Memories Within Miss Aggie" to push the boundaries of adult filmmaking is intriguing to watch, with Damanio clearly after a grim tone he almost achieves in full.