6.4 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Martine is a tough female cop trying to solve the kidnapping of young Caroline by a gang of pornographers. She already has an accomplice inside the gang feeding her information, but progress is hindered by her own police commissioner. In her private live, Martine likes to hang around with her male colleagues, swapping a younger cop for the more mature and experienced Jean.
Starring: Brigitte Lahaie, Michel Modo, Bernard Hug, Richard Allan, Pierre OudreyForeign | 100% |
Erotic | 61% |
Crime | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.67:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.66:1
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
English, English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
There's may just the slightest irony to the opening moments of The Female Executioner, since the story shows several would be pornographers running from policewoman Martine (Brigitte Lahaie). The irony stems from the fact that Lahaie was a porn actress herself, and in fact this film doesn't really shy away from any number of soft core moments, not to mention copious nudity that shows up for no real narrative reason. The Female Executioner kind of suggested to me what a gonzo, naked breast filled French version of Angie Dickinson's Police Woman series might have looked like, and for anyone similarly curious about something like that, this kind of wacky and probably unabashedly smarmy outing should suffice quite nicely.
The Female Executioner is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Severin Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.67:1. The back cover of this release states that this is "the English language home video premiere" of the film while also mentioning it was "scanned in 2K from the original negative". This is yet another little seen or remembered cult film which has been given surprising new life with its high definition transfer, especially with regard to a really nicely suffused palette that offers some almost astonishingly vivid primaries. That said, there are some passing issues with crush in some of the very darkest moments, which I kind of feel go hand in glove with how saturated everything is, which includes blacks. While there are some sequences here which seem deliberately graded toward yellow, but there are some passing moments where there can be either yellow or blue undertones that can marginally affect the overall look. Detail levels are generally very good to excellent, and the film has a suitably gritty looking grain field which gives things some depth and texture. Occasional small moments of wear and tear peek through, mostly in the form of small nicks and flecks.
The Female Executioner features DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono tracks in French and English. The film has a fun poppy score which might have just a bit more energy on the English language track, though I'd argue not by much. Both tracks deliver problem free fidelity and clear presentation of dialogue. Two sets of optional English subtitles are available, one for the French language track, and one for the English language track.
As evidenced by the two supplements featuring Brigitte Lahaie and Michel Caputo included on this disc, Lahaie is a still lovely and preternaturally reserved presence and it's enjoyable to see her kind of quietly bemused by Caputo more or less running his mouth nonstop. The film actually gives Lahaie a bit more to do than take of her clothes and feign lovemaking, though she's pretty good at that, too. This has an undeniably tawdry bent that is nonetheless kind of surprisingly almost sweet at times, with a slightly sly sense of humor helping to elevate what might otherwise be on the eyebrow raising side. Severin offers a rare cult item with surprisingly secure technical merits and some very appealing supplements, for anyone who may be considering making a purchase.
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