Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

The Vengeance of She Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf February 27, 2019

Suppose they made a sequel to 1965’s “She” and nobody knew? The Ursula Andress-starrer from Hammer Films managed to become a hit, using sex appeal and wild stretches of fantasy, taking inspiration from author H. Rider Haggard. However, Andress didn’t want to return to duty, forcing Hammer to rethink the concept of a sequel, using 1968’s “The Vengeance of She” as a way to semi-remake their original effort, replacing Andress with Olinka Berova, who certainly has the look for the part, but little thespian skill.

“The Vengeance of She” takes an eternity to get going, with the screenplay moving slowly through this redux of “She,” with the production under the impression it’s being paid by the minute to rebuild what was lost with Andress’s exit, returning to realms of reincarnation to get Berova into position as the new object of power/desire, with director Cliff Owen clearly under strict instructions to concentrate on Berova’s outward appeal as much as possible, giving Hammer Films something to sell.

The Vengeance of She Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

With a "New 2K scan of the original film elements," "The Vengeance of She" makes a strong impression for its Blu-ray debut. The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation provides a clear look at production achievements, with location work dimensional, along with set exploration. Close- ups supply ideal skin textures, and costuming is nicely preserved, with smoother, silkier outfits along with coarser desert and fantasy wear. Sheerness is also preserved. Colors are appealing, offering a fresh look at outdoor events on water and land, handling greenery well. Skintones are natural, and clothing brings out brighter, more defined hues, with deep reds and blues. Delineation is satisfactory. Source is in good shape, without major areas of damage.

The Vengeance of She Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix does a fine job securing the essentials of "The Vengeance of She." Scoring delivers as intended, with reasonable instrumentation and position, never crowding performances. Dialogue exchanges are intelligible, showing a few signs of age with slight muddying at times. Atmospherics are adequate, delivering a feel for the expanse of the outdoors and the echo of temple interiors.

The Vengeance of She Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features Monster Party podcast hosts Matt Weinhold, Shawn Sheridan, Larry Strothe, and James Gonis.

• Interview (2:35, HD) with assistant director Terence Clegg quickly identifies star Edward Judd as a "troublesome" presence on the set, or "a bit of a madam." While Olinka Berova was a kindly woman, Judd was difficult, putting pressure on the crew to put up with his complaining. Clegg discusses the Spanish location, with "The Vengeance of She" shooting next to a spaghetti western production, and he has a few brief memories of time at Bray Film Studios.

• Interview (8:02, HD) with visual effects artist Joy Cuff mostly covers the creation of the temple set, with the interviewee sharing creative challenges and identifying technique used to put the environment together. Cuff also identifies her part in the manufacturing of Carol's climb up a mountain, with her own legs standing in for Berova's body to pull off a fall from a plaster cliff. There's a brief mention of a burning hands effect as well.

• Interview (5:42, HD) with clapper/loader tech Trevor Coop highlights the experience of his second job after working on "Quatermass and the Pit." Coop identifies his fellow crew members, with specific attention on focus puller Morris Arnold, who lived to torment underlings who failed to perform their jobs adequately. Coop details the cameras used for "The Vengeance of She" shoot and his time in Spain, which required extremely long hours, fatiguing the young man.

• "World of Hammer: Lands Before Time" (24:40, SD) is a 1990 episode of the television series, narrated by Oliver Reed. Movies covered during the show include "Creatures the World Forgot," "The Lost Continent," "She," "The Vengeance of She," and "One Million Years, B.C."

• Image Gallery (5:27) displays poster art, lobby cards, and publicity snaps, with most imagery focused intently on Berova.

• T.V. Spots (1:22, SD) offer two commercials for "The Vengeance of She."

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:23, HD) is included.

The Vengeance of She Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The film eventually arrives at some form of conflict, but "The Vengeance of She" is a dull picture, glacially moving through tedious interactions and confrontations as it returns to the "She" playground of sacred flames and immortality. Berova looks the part, but she's forced to carry a movie she's not prepared to star in.