They Call Her Death Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		3.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		3.5

They Call Her Death Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 24, 2025

“They Call Her Death” intends to be a homage to many things, including spaghetti westerns and drive-in cinema. Writer/director Austin Snell has his fondness for genre filmmaking, trying to work out his wiggles with a picture that aims to provide violent entertainment to fans who won’t mind an extremely limited budget. Ambition is there from Snell, who constructs a revenge story involving a widow hunting down the corrupt men who killed her loving husband, using such cinematic power to drench the feature in blood, also creating a passably striking figure in the main character and her boiling rage. “They Call Her Death” has a few effective moments, especially when it gets into fiery confrontations, but the rest of the offering resembles a filmed high school play, lacking rougher style and at least some degree of urgency these endeavors are known for.

In the 1870s, on the American prairie, Molly (Sheri Rippel) is trying to live a peaceful life with her husband, Thomas (Patrick Poe), maintaining a pig farm with her love in the middle of nowhere. One afternoon, bounty hunter Diego (Devan R. Garcia) arrives and murders Thomas, claiming a bounty on the man, which leaves Molly in a state of shock. Heading to Sterling City for answers, Molly meets Sheriff Frank (Jeff Boyer), a lawman with his sights set on a future in politics, and he informs the widow that Thomas was wanted for the murder of a lawyer and the theft of his gold. Refusing to believe such an accusation, Molly fights back, turning violent as she realizes how corrupt the system is, transforming herself into a masked outlaw bent on bringing true justice to Sterling City, finding some sympathy from Deputy Bosley (Dane Shobe) as the bloodbath begins.

“They Call Her Death” makes an initial impression with the gold theft sequence, putting Snell to work building a messy scene of violence with help from classical music and some sense of style, introducing the world of the feature with a snappy study of crime and physical harm. And there’s a main title sequence too, introducing viewers to a production that’s hoping to pay proper tribute to its influences, and arrange its own feel for frontier horrors. Such promise is eventually replaced by the reality of the production, which doesn’t have money to spend on visuals, putting Snell and his team to work trying to sell a western world that doesn’t really resemble a western world, finding costuming especially troublesome as characters look like members of a theme park wild west stunt show.

The saga of Molly and her drive to destroy the men of Sterling City offers some interesting scenes of confrontation and hostility, finding her questions turning into actions as Frank downplays her concerns. Snell arranges a fairly gory movie in “They Call Her Death,” keeping the blood flowing as the hunter tears bodies apart, with one belligerent target enduring testicle torture as Molly demands answers to her questions. And there’s a lofty sense of the unknown, as Death is periodically spotted in the feature, connecting to Molly’s vision of doom. “They Call Her Death” finds energy periodically, but Snell is also determined to squash momentum, placing huge amounts of exposition and character business in the second half of the picture, which slows the endeavor down to a crawl just when the offering should begin to gallop to a rousing conclusion.

They Call Her Death Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"They Call Her Death" was shot on 16mm, and the image presentation (1.85:1 aspect ratio) tries to preserve the film-like look of the feature. Grain is present but doesn't always behave naturally, changing from scene to scene, with some blockiness. Detail is softer, supplying a mild sense of skin particulars and textured costuming. Town visits and prairie activity are decently dimensional, and interiors maintain a passable look at set design and decorative addition. Color offers acceptable primaries on clothing choices, and red blood remains deep. Greenery is natural, along with the woodiness of western town buildings. Delineation is satisfactory.

They Call Her Death Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix secures crisp dialogue exchanges, preserving performance choices and dramatic escalation. Scoring supports with sharp instrumentation and dramatic emphasis, exploring orchestral selections and spaghetti western stings. Surrounds aren't utilized much during the largely frontal listening event. Low-end carries occasional weight with violent activity. Sound effects are defined.

They Call Her Death Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features writer/director Austin Snell and producer Adam Jeffers.

• Commentary #2 features the cast of "They Call Her Death."

• Making Of (46:13, HD) examines the creation of "They Call Her Death," featuring interviews with writer/director Austin Snell, producer Adam Jeffers, special makeup effects artists Jake Jackson, sound recordist Stephen Ferrell, and actors Dane Shobe, Patrick Poe, Sheri Rippel, Jeff Boyer, Devan R. Garcia, Jason Puff, Dylan Hart, and Carmen Anello. The story begins all the way back in 2006, when Kansas filmmaker Snell attracted media attention for his directorial ambitions, commencing his love affair with 16mm to create his creative endeavors. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Snell was ready to make "They Call Her Death" happen, teaming with Jeffers to pull off an ambitious project, armed with a camera from the 1960s. The challenges of shooting on film is analyzed, putting pressure on cast and crew to make the most of the situation, while the production carried on for nearly three years. Set construction is highlighted, creating sequences for the picture inside Snell's home, and locations are noted, including work on a farm and around "Cowtown," a western town rented out in the brutal heat of summer. Digital and physical effects are noted, focusing on a testicle torture sequence that required a lot of mental preparation. Various production memories and technical challenges are shared as well.

• Interview (18:32, HD) is a chat with practical effects artist Jake Jackson, who welcomes viewers into his workshop to discuss the making of "They Call Her Death," displaying his gruesome creations for the feature.

• Q&A (41:31, HD) is a 2024 discussion of "They Call Her Death," recorded at the Liberty Hall Theater, featuring writer/director Austin Snell, producer Adam Jeffers, special makeup effects artists Jake Jackson, actors Dane Shobe, Sheri Rippel, Jeff Boyer, and Devan R. Garcia.

• "Storyboard-to-Scene" (HD) offers "The Ambush" (1:55) and "Flashback" (3:18).

• "Austin Snell Visits the Vinegar Syndrome Archive" (15:20, HD) follows the filmmaker into the depths of the company vault, reflecting on titles found on shelves, including one selection that's been bleeped (though he's clearly saying "Firestarter 2"), adding greater mystery to the business practices of Vinegar Syndrome.

• "Behind the Scenes of the Dubbed Japanese Premiere" (2:23, HD) follows writer/director Austin Snell and producer Adam Jeffers as they visit Japan, taking in their surroundings, meeting other filmmakers, and participating in Q&As.

• And a Trailer (1:18, HD) is included.

They Call Her Death Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"They Call Her Death" hopes to be a ride, conjuring a grindhouse approach to deliver rough violence to an appreciative audience. One could certainly celebrate the endeavor on a level of sheer effort, putting Snell to work building his feature one piece at a time, with pure filmmaking intentions. But there's also a reality of watching "They Call Her Death," which is less enticing as stillness and awkwardness take command of the offering, robbing it of lasting horror.