Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.0

The Female Executioner Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman November 10, 2022

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 film is bookended by a completely gratuitous scene of Martine cavorting about naked in a hot tub, not that there's anything wrong with that, but it's just the first sign that despite director Michel Caputo's energetic assertions that he simply wanted to make a "Belmondo movie" with a female protagonist, you rarely if ever saw Jean-Paul dropping trou to cavort about naked, and this opening scene simply sets the stage for quite a few other scenes of naked frolicking, including but certainly not limited to scenes involving Brigitte Lahaie. And in fact the film at least kind of has a sense of humor about it with regard to Martine's penchant for bedding a certain type with a certain look, which is almost used as a running gag throughout the film.

There's a patently weird element involving a tough looking female named Madame Wenders (Dominique Erlanger) once Martine starts digging into the people behind the porno enterprise, an element which again ironically tends to bring in the very kind of lesbian S&M element that the porn feature shown being shot as The Female Executioner opens also exploits. There's another patently weird and pretty obviously Freudian side to the relationship between Wenders and her son, and there's a none too surprising "twist" involving these two that plays into yet another relationship which won't be spoiled here, though the film doesn't ever try to keep it secret. Suffice it to say that Martine's investigative efforts are often stymied by her supervisor (Michel Modo) for supposedly unclear reasons.

If all of the above weren't enough to keep the subplots humming, there is also a whole set of side relationships that enter the fray, including the supposedly fractious interplay Martine has with her partner Valmont (Pierre Oudray). And it's arguably in the sheer number of characters and interconnected plot strands where The Female Executioner may get lost in the weeds on more than one occasion. Even Caputo seems to sense that, as suddenly there's another scene featuring some kind of nudity, as if to remind everyone what the point might really be.

It's kind of funny that Severin describes Caputo as a "EuroSmut veteran" on the back cover of this release, and in fact there's an undeniably Eurotrash ambience to this outing (not that there's anything wrong with that). Lahaie actually acquits herself quite well in this ostensibly less pornographic role, and the supporting cast, especially the kind of amazing Erlanger, are also fun.

The Female Executioner Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

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 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

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.

The Female Executioner Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• The Cop in Nylon Stockings (HD; 19:19) is an enjoyable interview with Michel Caputo and Brigitte Lahaie, though Caputo does most of the talking. Subtitled in English.


• Hold On Tight, Girly! (HD; 2:08) is another enjoyable if brief piece with Michel Caputo and Brigitte Lahaie, here revisiting a location which is revealed to have belonged to the producer (one assumes Lahaie's main squeeze at the time, Rene Chateau). Again, Caputo does most of the talking. Subtitled in English.


• Les Volets Bleus The Blue Shutters (HD*; 44:37) is a 1987 short featuring Brigitte Lahaie. Haydée Caillot directs Lahaie and Jacques Mandréa in a two character dissection of a relationship which kind of incredibly was produced by Éric Rohmer. Subtitled in English.


• Trailer (HD; 2:36)

*720

Additionally packaging features a slipbox.

The Female Executioner Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

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.