Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

The Corruption of Chris Miller Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 21, 2019

1973’s “The Corruption of Chris Miller” is filled with illness, representing director Juan Antonio Bardem’s creative odyssey into the world of giallo, cooking up (with screenwriter Santiago Moncada) a murder mystery where everyone could conceivably commit crimes. While it’s positioned as a whodunit, “The Corruption of Chris Miller” is more satisfying as a study of moral disintegration and isolation, with Bardem pulling terrific performances out of his cast while bathing the production in style and unease, getting the project to the right level of distress.

Jean Seberg stars as woman with particular control over her stepdaughter (played by Marisol), with the pair’s isolation on their vast estate interrupted by a drifter (Barry Stokes) interested in seducing the pair. Sexual interests are not denied by the script, which leads to an unexpected coupling, but murder is also on the menu, with the opening sequence detailing a monster in a Charlie Chaplin mask killing a film star. Now that’s a cinematic event that catches attention. Bardem struggles to sustain that energy throughout “The Corruption of Chris Miller,” which does grow a bit talky during its midsection, with physical violence replaced by psychological games.

The Corruption of Chris Miller Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Offering a new 4K scan of the OCN, Vinegar Syndrome strives to pull "The Corruption of Chris Miller" out of obscurity. The AVC encoded image (2.38:1 aspect ratio) presentation is outstanding, presenting a fresh look at cinematographic and design achievements, securing a level of detail that makes it easy to study facial particulars and interior decoration for Ruth's mansion, which is filled with luxury items and art. Costumes also benefit from clarity, exposing intended sheerness for seductive intentions. Locations are crisp and dimensional, adding to the expanse of the land. Hues are secure, enjoying period outfits, which offer brighter oranges and reds. Random items, like Barney's guitar case, bring out deep purples, and greenery is always ideal, giving grass and trees proper emphasis. Delineation retains frame information. Grain is retained and quite film-like. Some minor wear and tear is found, including scratches, slight warped frames, hair, and brief discoloration.

The Corruption of Chris Miller Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 1.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is presented in both English and Spanish, with the latter coming through with more clarity, hitting sharper highs. The English track is slightly muddier, but dialogue exchanges aren't smothered, keeping performances alert enough to pass. Scoring needs are met, with satisfactory instrumentation securing the feature's weirdly romantic tone and its suspense needs. Sound effects are pronounced but comfortable. Brief moments of damage are found during the listening event.

The Corruption of Chris Miller Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Archival Career Retrospective (58:23, SD) is a 1994 episode of the Spanish television show "Different Perspectives," with director Juan Antonio Bardem exploring his filmography and philosophy with friend Diego Galan.

• "Jean Seberg: Movie Star" (12:05, SD) is a mournful overview of the actress's early life, career, and personal and political complications, with interviewees including friends, family, and admirers.

• Alternate Spanish Ending (3:55, HD) presents a darker conclusion for the European market.

• Alternate Spanish Title Sequence (1:09, HD) is offered.

• Alternate Spanish Insert Shot (:29, HD) highlights Spanish text on a newspaper obituary.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (3:38, HD) is included.

The Corruption of Chris Miller Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Corruption of Chris Miller" is supported by compellingly unsettled performances (Seberg is the standout, managing character authority that barely masks abyssal disgust), keeping the feature on edge, even when it gets sidetracked by exposition needs and a lack of sustained visual horrors. Moncada keeps working on the mental decay and threats, and Bardem gets the picture back on its feet for the finale, which returns to a vivid display of bloody violence, buttoned with a nifty ending. "The Corruption of Chris Miller" isn't unstoppable like some gialli, but Bardem generates plenty of mood here, backed by impressive technical achievements. It's slow-burn for sure, but it actually manages to reach a point of earned fury, with bookend sequences of murderous appetites providing quite the introduction and payoff to this semi-sicko exploration of dark seduction.