Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

The Mafu Cage Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 18, 2019

1978’s “The Mafu Cage” began life as a play from writer Eric Westphal, offering tight characterization and a slow descent into madness that fits perfectly with the distance of theater, permitting audiences time and space to process the unfolding psychological mayhem. Director Karen Arthur’s screen version of the work removes all dramatic buffers, pulling viewers into a world of mental illness and bodily harm, dealing with a story of imprisonment by turning the entire feature into a tight grip of claustrophobic events. “The Mafu Cage” is certainly different, with Arthur striving to create an avant-garde experience that’s not easily defined or, at times, bearable.

Ellen (Lee Grant) and Cissy (Carol Kane) are siblings living together in their family home. Cissy is trapped by her bipolar disorder, clinging to memories of her deceased anthropologist father, who raised the women in Africa -- a location Cissy can’t get out of her system, trying to recreate the experience by keeping a “mafu,” or ape, in a special holding cell. Ellen aims for normalcy as an astronomer, romancing her co-worker, while Cissy rides the highs and lows of her illness, losing herself to African fantasy, lashing out in violent ways.

“The Mafu Cage” was initially sold to the public as a horror film, but there’s no pronounced fear factor. Arthur aims to create a journey into a poisonously codependent relationship, and one that gets a lot more complicated than the relative simplicity of mental illness. Cissy is a swinging blade of a women, unable to control herself as she experiences every emotion at once, remaining in the comfort of her house, blending into a replication of the African jungle she adores. Ellen is also unhinged, but she hides it due to her everyday responsibilities. “The Mafu Cage” details challenges to this union, doing so with flashes of insanity from Ellen as she strives to control a sibling who knows no boundaries, unable to achieve any self-control. It’s this central relationship that drives the plot, but time with the sisters is taxing, and Arthur is in no hurry to hit her character beats and go, stretching the run time longer than it needs to be, which is either the work of lackluster editing or a deliberate act of captivity, making sure viewers understand Ellen’s POV when it comes time to tame her malevolent sister.

The Mafu Cage Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Billed as a "Brand new 2K scan of the original interpositive, recently discovered, supervised and approved by John Bailey," "The Mafu Cage" receives new life in HD. The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation secures all the details of the original cinematography, presenting enjoyable textures from highly decorated household interiors and astronomy lab equipment. Skin surfaces are open for study as well, along with costuming, which ranges from work attire to full-blown tribal gear. Colors are tastefully refreshed, with proper primaries emerging from period fashion, while greenery is lush. Skintones are natural. Delineation is secure. Some mild scratches and speckling are detected, along with a few warped frames.

The Mafu Cage Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix delivers the essentials of "The Mafu Cage," with a few sibilance issues popping up from time to time. The picture's layered soundtrack is preserved, generating intended chaos as dialogue exchanges are blended with African music, creating the sonic itchiness Hunter is aiming to achieve. Performances are preserved, with defined voices. Scoring is equally strong, delivered with satisfactory instrumentation. Atmospherics are adequate.

The Mafu Cage Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features director Karen Arthur.

• Commentary #2 features cinematographer John Bailey and editor Carol Littleton.

• Interview (44:32, SD) with director Karen Arthur examines her quest to find something more commercial after work on "Legacy," her artsy debut. In England, Arthur discovered the original "Mafu Cage" play, securing the rights for a single dollar from playwright Eric Wesphal, soon working to fill out the crew as she searched for financing. The helmer's quest for professional acceptance is explored, battling rampant sexism as she made her way to the "Rich Man, Poor Man" production, eventually finding her groove in television with episodes of "Hart to Hart." Investor blues are recalled, with the money nearly vanishing due to a bank closure, and casting is detailed, with everyone coming onboard the project once Lee Grant accepted her part. Arthur recounts her efforts of research and search for workable locations, also sharing her process as a visual storyteller, receiving a directorial education while managing established actors. The interviewee closes with a summary of her time at the Cannes Film Festival, where "The Mafu Cage" made its debut.

• Interview (20:01, SD) with Carol Kane is a bit scattered, with the actress mentioning her casting involved strange attention to nudity requirements, and she details her time with the orangutan, hoping to befriend the animal before she had to simulate beating it with a chain, triggering a painful bite from her furry co-star. The presence of Lee Grant is celebrated, with Kane delving deep into character, feeling a true sisterly bond with the older actress. The psychology of "The Mafu Cage" is dissected, with Kane in tune with behavioral extremes, grateful there's medicine in the real world to suppress manic swings. Kane closes with hope for film preservation and education, appreciation cinema history.

• Interview (16:49, SD) with Lee Grant delves mostly into character and preparation, with parts of the role spilling over into real life, gifting the actress a clear arc. Arthur's upbeat attitude on-set is recalled (while it's not clear, Arthur may be the one conducting this interview), with Grant trying to mute the helmer to better respect the dark psychology the actors were hunting for. The interviewee discusses her own directorial ambition, dealing with a sexist and dismissive Hollywood as she strived to get behind the camera, participating in an AFI workshop that helped to increase female participation in the industry.

• Interview (5:54, SD) with composer Roger Kellaway inspects his personal relationship with Arthur, making collaboration relatively easy. Searching for African influences, Kellaway dived deep into cultural sounds, also tricking out his piano to turn a single instrument into an orchestra. Orangutan memories are offered as well, with the animal making a sizable impression on Kellaway during his time on-set.

• Interview (26:58, SD) with editor Carol Littleton and cinematographer John Bailey is a dry discussion of "The Mafu Cage," with the pair spending a considerable amount of time recounting creative achievements, also sharing what it's like to work in a studio-driven environment. Again, orangutan memories are shared, and the couple goes on about characterization and themes, trying to make sense of a film they've recently revisited. Bailey discusses the pleasures of working with animals, and thespian highlights are recounted, along with praise shared for Arthur.

• Still Gallery (2:02) collects publicity shots, film stills, BTS snaps, costume design sketches, and poster art.

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included.

The Mafu Cage Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Mafu Cage" is competently assembled by Arthur, and there's no denying the power of Grant and Kane in the lead roles, with both talents giving themselves in full to their respective parts, though Kane has the advantage of portraying madness and working with an orangutan, which gives the movie some much needed spontaneity. There's a lot to respect about "The Mafu Cage," but pacing isn't valued, leading to long stretches of mediocre drama while Arthur gears up for her next big revelation. It's experimental in a way, not for all audiences, and perhaps one tighter edit away from becoming something excitingly daring.