Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Olivia Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 7, 2020

With 1983’s “Olivia,” co-writer/director Ulli Lommel tries to create an homage to Alfred Hitchcock. He doesn’t succeed in matching the master’s way with suspense and psychological fracture, but Lommel gets somewhere with the material, which is more than I’m sure many might expect. Merging the worlds of “Psycho” and “Vertigo,” Lommel aims to concoct a proper descent into the far reaches of madness, dealing with sexuality and violence as the titular character is hit with more trauma than she can handle. The set-up connects, and the midsection has some potency. It’s the last act where Lommel bungles the endeavor, but for a good hour and change, “Olivia” remains engrossing, juggling just enough lurid detail and strangeness to entertain.

Witnessing the murder of her mother, a prostitute, as a child, Olivia (Suzanna Love) has been forced to deal with a nightmare she doesn’t fully understand. Living in London, Olivia deals with her abusive husband, Richard (Jeff Winchester), but she desires to break away from her life, secretly testing the idea of becoming a streetwalker. Meeting Mike (Robert Walker Jr.), an American in charge of demolishing London Bridge, Olivia finds a romantic connection she’s never felt before, but Richard soon intervenes, destroying her happiness. Years later, Mike is in Lake Havasu, Arizona, at the site of the reconstructed London Bridge, noticing Olivia in the wild. Reconnecting with the lost soul, Mike hopes to find love once again, growing obsessed with Olivia as she tries to conduct a new life.

Life hasn’t been kind to Olivia, who watched her mother be murdered by a vicious client, becoming the only attendee at the late woman’s funeral. She’s married to Richard, who demands her submission, wanting a housewife while she yearns to work. The writing lays it all out there, with Olivia raised on the story of Rapunzel, experiencing her own imprisonment with a dangerous man, coming to her own rescue in the form of sexual experimentation, hitting the streets near London Bridge to meet with those willing to pay for her company. Instead of exploring her newfound employment in any great detail, Lommel brings in Mike, an earnest American who’s taken by Olivia’s beauty and mystery, with the pair making a connection during a bleak time. While she enjoys the possibilities of love, Olivia is also controlled by her dead mother’s voice, remaining right on the edge of stability as she finds comfort for the first time in her life. And who could pass on someone like Olivia, who offers physical beauty, an enigmatic history, and, in the picture’s most inspired touch, the ability to open beer bottles with her teeth. She’s the total package.

For additional analysis, please read the 2017 review from Dr. Svet Atanasov.

Olivia Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"Olivia" was previously brought to Blu-ray by 88 Films in 2016, but Vinegar Syndrome goes the extra mile with their release, offering an AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation sourced from a 4K scan of the 35mm original camera negative. The results have minor evidence of scratches, speckling, and blotches, but the viewing experience is quite impressive, securing a grand level of detail that offers sharp, textured close-ups and dimensional locations, reaching in the backgrounds as the story visits Lake Havasu and London. Costuming is fibrous, and interior decoration is open for study. Colors are superbly refreshed, bringing out deep reds and blues with period outfits in London, while nature is outstanding in Arizona, securing bright greenery and blue skies. Skintones are natural. Delineation is exact. Grain is fine and film-like.

Olivia Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix isn't created with dimension in mind, doing adequately with dialogue exchanges, which are intelligible but seldom precise, weakened by the low-budget nature of the production and age. Scoring is similar, communicating necessary moods with passable instrumentation. Sound effects are bluntly handled. This being the uncut version of the feature, a few brief sections of audio are taken from a video source.

Olivia Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "A Chance Meeting" (18:01, HD) is an interview with cinematographer Jon Kranhouse, who explores his early career aspirations, working his way up the industry ranks before finding an opportunity with Ulli Lommel, who recently fired his cinematographer on "Olivia" and needed another one for reshoots and additional shooting. Kranhouse shares his feelings on low-budget, non-union shooting, which required several tricks, including the ability to steal power to pull off a few shots. The interviewee details differences between films stocks and shares his creative choices, trying to offer Lommel some variation from the routine, with the director indulging his experimentation. Preproduction planning is celebrated, and Kranhouse shares his gratitude for the professional opportunity, which helped to launch his career.

• "Taking on Many Roles" (17:11, HD) is an interview with co-writer/assistant director John P. Marsh, who recounts his initial meeting with Lommel, soon hired to create a screenplay for "Boogeyman 2." Fascinated with London Bridge in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, Lommel presented Marsh with more work, requesting a script that featured the tourist destination. Story origins are recounted, along with script changes that Marsh had nothing to do with. The interviewee's production duties are highlighted, taking on several jobs to keep the picture going, along with making a handful of cameos, filling the backgrounds in multiple costumes. Marsh considers the depth of his Lommel education, reflecting on their relationship, with the men close during the making of "Olivia."

• "Learning from Ulli" (19:29, HD) is an interview with Terrell Tannen, the co-producer and editor of "Olivia." Tannen shares his initial reaction to Lommel, noting his strange behavior and mischief, including a meeting with the director post-mugging, requiring the purchase of kids clothes to cover the stripped victim. London Bridge is explored, along with the script's development, with Lommel looking for his own Hitchcockian thriller with "Olivia." Tannen offers his personal filmmaking journey and Lommel memories, and provides a disturbing anecdote about the helmer's shifty fundraising methods, collecting $10,000 from an investor in exchange for an acting role, which was shot with an empty camera.

• "Becoming Olivia" (15:08, HD) is an interview with Suzanna Love, who doesn't offer a focused recollection of her acting odyssey, but remains interesting nonetheless. Love recalls the development of a drinking problem during the "Olivia" shoot, and explores universal insecurities facing all thespians. While not interested in acting, her marriage to Lommel put her in starring roles, and Love offers the helmer's personal history, including many life-changing events that influenced his filmmaking. Talk of Lommel's behavior is offered, with Love expecting a long life with her husband, only to eventually learn of his infidelities.

• Super-8 Behind-the-Scenes (19:55, SD) collects Marsh's personal stash of home movies from his time with Lommel, offering "Lake Havasu Location," "Loading In at Ulli's House," "Malibu Location," "1st Meeting in Malibu," and "Scouting in Mexico (for "Boogeyman 2")." Commentary is provided by Marsh.

• A Trailer has not been included.

Olivia Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Olivia" moves from London to Arizona, which is the new home for the old London Bridge, with Mike discovering his dream woman once again, soon in full pursuit of the elusive condo salesperson. Lommel comes up with a compelling spin on "Vertigo," helped along by interesting cinematography and a jazzy, semi-industrial score by Joel Goldsmith, who gives the feature some dramatic presence. The story takes a few interesting turns, but Lommel doesn't trust the picture's natural progression to a more sedate conclusion, eventually swerving towards a violent ending that offers little satisfaction, going the slasher route to leave viewers with a few jolts. It doesn't work, but it's surprising to see how long "Olivia" remains fascinating before it gives up, able to huff Hitchcock fumes without immediately getting sick.