Seven Blood Stained Orchids Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Seven Blood Stained Orchids Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 14, 2018

Umberto Lenzi managed a varied career for himself, achieving notoriety with his jungle adventures, such as “Man from Deep River” and “Cannibal Ferox.” His forays into giallo-style chillers are less celebrated, but he managed to make his mark with select crime thrillers, finding 1972’s “Seven Blood-Stained Orchids” one of his more successful efforts. However, the picture isn’t exactly big on shock value, taking its sleuthing seriously, leaving extremity to select moments of punishment. “Seven Blood-Stained Orchids” is an atmospheric feature with occasional inspiration, but it’s also surprisingly talky for the genre, with Lenzi strangely sensitive to dramatic needs, dialing down most potential for chaos.

“Seven Blood-Stained Orchids” is a serial killer story, and one that plays up a roving menace, requiring special detective work to discover. Antonio Sabato stars as a man of action, setting out to find a shadowy figure who preys on vulnerable women, and much of the story concerns his actual investigation, joining the cops and his wife in an effort to catch the murderous menace. “Seven Blood-Stained Orchids” opens with a short blast of violence, but it mostly settles into argumentative mode, while long stretches of the picture follow Sabato’s character as he interviews potential witnesses and tries to get strangers to ID a police sketch of the suspect.

Seven Blood Stained Orchids Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation is billed as a "Brand new HD scan with extensive color correction done in the U.S." The effort is appreciated and works well with this vividly shot picture, finding the refreshing delivering a clear look at frame particulars, taking in varied locations with a degree of dimension. Detail is generally strong, reaching as far as possible with set decoration and costuming, finding agreeable textures on period outfits. Colors are alert, showcasing vivid primaries and secure greenery, while more psychedelic hues also retain intended power. Delineation isn't troublesome. Source is in fine shape.

Seven Blood Stained Orchids Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is primarily boosted by scoring efforts, with Riz Ortolani's music coming through with reasonable clarity, securing the jazzy mood to aid with the investigation. Instrumentation is satisfactory, and volume doesn't intrude on the performances. Dialogue exchanges are passable, with emotionality preserved, existing through thick dubbing. Sound effects are equally blunt. Hiss and pops carrying throughout the listening experience.

Seven Blood Stained Orchids Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historian Troy Howarth.

• Interview (24:02, HD) with Umberto Lenzi catches up with the director (who passed away last October), who shares the inspiration behind "Seven Blood-Stained Orchids," which was inspired by a Cornell Woolrich novel. Lenzi describes his discomfort with the production's German influences, but he largely praises the cast, offering special attention on the actresses, while calling out Antonio Sabato as a womanizer on the set. The helmer examines technical achievements, recalls the cinematography triumphs of "Spasmo," celebrates the musical offerings of composer Riz Ortolani, and takes a few moments to rate his work.

• Interview (2:56, SD) with Gabriella Giorgelli is a brief archival discussion of "Seven Blood-Stained Orchids" featuring the actress who plays the first victim in the movie. Giorgelli shares brief stories concerning her intense murder scene make-up, laments the death of Italian cinema, and assesses Lenzi's on-set behavior.

• Interview (7:35, SD) is an archival chat with Lenzi, who essentially repeats the same information as before, only he looks a lot younger.

• Still Gallery (:55) collects marketing materials for "Seven Blood-Stained Orchids."

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:46, SD) is included.

Seven Blood Stained Orchids Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Lenzi isn't completely still with "Seven Blood-Stained Orchids," conjuring a few grisly encounters, with one victim meeting the wrong end of a power drill. Not that giallo are defined by gymnastic violence, but Lenzi isn't in the mood to do much bodily harm, offering a more even-tempered detective saga, which is agreeably performed and plotted, leading to a boisterous resolution. Perhaps "Seven Blood-Stained Orchids" could be more convincing in the threat department, but Lenzi keeps his cool, supplying an engaging thriller with intermittent chills and spills, along with an intriguing look at counterculture times in Rome, keeping the effort swinging, just not from a noose like the competition.