6.6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
A band of female pirates go undercover at a prison camp on a coffee plantation to rescue their leader's sister.
Starring: Jeannie Bell, Jayne Kennedy, Rosanne Katon, Trina Parks, Tony CarreonDrama | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
1976’s “The Muthers” is happy to participate in a multitude of subgenres, hoping to appeal to as many audiences as possible with a relatively simple product. The overall mood is rooted in Blaxploitation, focusing on tough black women and the nonsense they reject, but there are also cinematic avenues to explore that include martial art displays and women-in-prison entertainment. “The Muthers” isn’t classy, trying very hard to follow filmmaking trends, but director Cirio H. Santiago launches an amusing assault, working to keep the endeavor on the go with action encounters and assorted survival challenges.
The AVC encode image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "The Muthers" deals just fine with aged materials, finding Vinegar Syndrome reviving the core viewing experience, which delivers detail throughout. Facial particulars are valued for atmospheric punishment, picking up on sweaty appearances, but exploitation interests are also open for examination, including thin fabrics and bodily harm. Distances offer some clarity. Colors are appropriately refreshed, with strong primaries on costuming and jungle greenery. Blue waters are appealingly pronounced. Grain is fine and filmic. Delineation is secure. Source has its share of scratches and speckling.
The 1.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix delivers the basics of "The Muthers." Due to the age and obscurity of the picture, precise definition is lacking, but as these types of blunt endeavors tend to go, dialogue comes through without any major issues, achieving dramatic exchanges and action intensity. Scoring is thin but supportive, handling various moods. Sound effects are harsh but effective, with louder gunfire and whooshing sound library classics for displays of martial arts.
There is no supplementary material on this disc.
"The Muthers" eventually transitions from the prison to the jungle, delivering more survival situations for the characters, including treatment for a snakebite. There are also chases to enjoy on land and sea, and the intimidation factor for this type of production is reasonably strong. Santiago doesn't always know where to go with his story, leading to a few mid-movie dead spots, but interesting characterizations remain, including Serena's compliance with her captors, with Angela equating her subservience with a cowering slave. Not that "The Muthers" is ever political, but there are hostilities here that spice up the norm, adding some racial sensitivity to a rescue tale. The rest of the feature isn't that ambitious, but there's enough bodily harm, near-misses, and scripted twists to make for an engaging sit. Even if Santiago doesn't go far enough with the women-in-prison routine, he manages to stage an exciting stunt show.
(Still not reliable for this title)
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