Switchblade Sisters Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Switchblade Sisters Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov February 11, 2016

Jack Hill's "Switchblade Sisters" (1975) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of German label Subkultur Entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include original trailers for the film; promotional materials; audio commentary with director Jack Hill and Quentin Tarantino; exclusive new documentary with cast and crew interviews; archival footage; and more. The release also arrives with a 10-page illustrated booklet with writings on the film in German. In English, with optional English and German subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Bad girls

Jack Hill’s Switchblade Sisters is a bad film about a group of bad girls doing some really bad things. It is exactly the type of film that can no longer be made in the politically correct world we live in.

The film’s story is simple and utterly unbelievable. Maggie (Joanne Nail, The Visitor) proves herself in a fight and becomes a member of the Dagger Debs. Soon after, she is raped by Dominic (Asher Bauner, Where the Boys Are), the leader of the Silver Daggers, who convinces himself that she is the girl of his dreams. This creates plenty of tension between Maggie and Lace (Robbie Lee, Big Bad Mama), the leader of the Dagger Debs, who has been dating Dominic. Meanwhile, another girl, Patch (Monica Gayle, Nashville Girl), who dislikes Maggie, realizes that the drama could be the perfect opportunity for her to get rid of the gang’s newest and unusually popular member and with a bit of luck maybe even its leader.

The film is broken into multiple episodes in which the girls frequently act like angry cats. There is plenty of macho talk and quite a few fights but don’t expect to see earth-shattering material. The exchanges are quite simple and the choreography average at best.

But this is almost certainly the reason why the film has a huge fan base. The talk is rough and the acting quite bad, but the static in the air frequently feels real. There are plenty of scenes where the girls basically go into overdrive mode and get pretty wild. It is fascinating to watch because it is easy to tell that the majority of them actually believe that they are doing something very special. (There is no doubt that this is exactly the reason why Quentin Tarantino loves the film because the over-the-top material would fit perfectly in the majority of his films).

There is something else that works in the film’s favor -- it wasn’t made with a lot of money and it shows. A bigger budget would have ensured bigger fights, bigger shootouts, and bigger explosions, and the end result would have been a dull film without an attitude. Hill ended up with a different film. It is bad but it has an attitude and it looks appropriately rough. These two qualities are exactly what a good exploitation film needs.

What about the guys? They are either horny or stupid. The girls easily take care of them but only because the story needs them to. It is another reason why the film absolutely should not be taken seriously.

Hill shot the film with cinematographer Stephen Katz in 1975. Katz’s credits include such genre favorites as The Pom Pom Girls and The Kentucky Fried Movie and the more ambitious studio projects Who's Harry Crumb? and The Blues Brothers.

The soundtrack was created by the legendary Les Baxter (Evil Eye, Beach Blanket Bingo) and Medusa. The funky title song, “Black Hearted Woman”, is sung by Melanie Clark and Jesse Gomez.

Switchblade Sisters Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Jack Hill's Switchblade Sisters arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of German label Subkultur Entertainment.

The film has a very nice organic appearance. Most close-ups boast good depth and clarity remains very pleasing throughout the entire film. There are a few sequences where some minor density fluctuations can be seen, but they are inherited (an example can be seen in screencapture #19). Contrast and brightness levels are stable, but ideally both should be better balanced. Colors are natural and stable, though nuances could be expanded. There are no traces of problematic degraining corrections, but in the areas where density fluctuates the grain does appear overexposed or not as well resolved as it should be. Edge-enhancement is not an issue of concern, but some light halo effects nearly sneak in at times. Overall image stability is very good. A few tiny flecks can be seen, but there are no large damage marks, cuts, debris, or torn frames. All in all, there is some room for improvement, but this is a fine organic presentation of Jack Hill's cult film. (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. For the record, there is no PAL or 1080/50i content preceding the disc's main menu).

Switchblade Sisters Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 and German DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0. Optional English and German subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The English track has a very modest range of nuanced dynamics, but this should not be surprising given the film's limited budget. Depth and clarity are good, but some minor fluctuations can be noticed. Again, however, they appear to be part of the film's original sound design. What is important here is that audio is very clean -- there is no background hiss, clicks or pops -- rather surprisingly well rounded.

Switchblade Sisters Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentary One - this audio commentary with director Jack Hill and Quentin Tarantino initially appeared on the U.S. DVD release of Switchblade Sisters. There is a wealth of information here about the production history of the film, the careers and work of various cast members, the lensing of specific sequences, the balance between comedy and drama, etc. In English, with optional German subtitles.

• Audio Commentary Two - audio commentary by film historians Marcus Stiglegger and Kai Naumann. In German, not subtitled.

• Making of "We are the Jezebels" - in this brand new documentary, director Jack Hill and producer John Prizer discuss the creative environment during the 1970s, the type of low-budget films that were made at the time and the social issues they focused on, and the production history of Switchblade Sisters. Also included in the documentary are new interviews with casting director Geno Havens, actors Joanne Nail (Maggie), Asher Brauner (Dominic), and Chase Newhart (Crabs), stunt coordinator (Bob Minor), and production designer B.B. Neel. The documentary was produced exclusively for Subkultur Entertainment. In English, with optional German subtitles. (40 min, 1080p).

• Archival Interview with Jack Hill, Robbie Lee and Joanne Nail - this archival audio interview was conducted in the early 1990s and included on a VHS that was self-distributed by Jack Hill and Johnny Legend. The three interviewees quickly discuss their work together on Switchblade Sisters. In English, with optional German subtitles. (8 min, 1080p).

• Jack Hill and Joanne Nail at "Grindhouse Film Festival" - on January 3, 2007, the Grindhouse Film Festival paid tribute to Jack Hill and Joanne Nail with a special screening of Switchblade Sisters. Presented here is raw footage from the screening and a Q&A session with the two guests. In English, with optional German subtitles. (10 min, 1080p).

• On Location with Jack Hill and Elijah Drenner - in the fall of 2012, Jack Hill and filmmaker Elijah Drenner searched for some famous Switchblade Sisters locations. Presented here is footage from their findings. In English, with optional German subtitles. (7 min, 1080p).

• Galleries - four galleries with promotional materials.
  
  1. Stills from the film (1080p)
  2. Behind-the-scenes sills (1080p)
  3. Lobby cards (1080p)
  4. VHS and DVD covers (1080p)

• Trailers -
  
  1. Switchblade Sisters original trailer. In English, not subtitled. (4 min, 1080p).
  2. The Jezebels original alternative trailer. In English, not subtitled. (4 min, 1080p).
  3. German promo spot (the film is promoted as "Die Bronx-Katzen). In German, not subtitled.(3 min, 1080p).
  4. New video intro by Jack Hill (included on the German promo spot). In English, not subtitled. (1 min, 1080p).

• Booklet - 10-page illustrated booklet with writings on the film in German.

• Stamp - a tiny collectible stamp placed in a tiny envelope.

Switchblade Sisters Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

A group of bad girls do some really bad things in Jack Hill's cult film Switchblade Sisters. I like how rough this film is and I think that it has a very groovy soundtrack. German label Subkultur Entertainment has created a very handsome release that is guaranteed to please fans of the film. It is Region-Free and has a very good selection of supplemental features. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.