Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

They Call Me Macho Woman! Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 24, 2024

Hell hath no fury like a woman prevented from purchasing rural land. That’s basically the vibe of 1989’s “They Call Me Macho Woman,” which pits a seemingly average person against a gang of drug manufacturers in the middle of nowhere. It’s a classic set-up for exploitation cinema, but writer/director Patrick G. Donahue doesn’t have much finesse when it comes to the actual war between good and evil. However, he does have a stunt team, with the endeavor managing to offer a few slam-bang moments of physical danger, and there’s some general oddity when it comes to the creation of tools used to take lives. “They Call Me Macho Woman” is mostly clunky, with Donahue visibly struggling to generate screen danger, but in a B-movie way, there’s fun to be had with the effort, which certainly tries to put on a violent show for viewers.

Susan (Debra Sweaney) is a widow looking to change her life, joining real estate agent Cecil (Lory-Michael Ringuette) on a trip into rural America, with plans to purchase some property and begin again. As the pair venture to their destination, a flat tire halts their progress, allowing Susan to step out of the car and spy Mungo (Brian Oldfield) and his gang of drug manufactures conducting business. The vicious enforcer and his goons quickly target Cecil and Susan, with the woman managing to survive an initial attack, sprinting into the woods for safety. Mungo is in the middle of prepping a major deal for kingpin Mr. Wilson (J. Brown), refusing to allow the witness to ruin his livelihood, setting out to kill the trespasser. Instead of meeting her end, Susan manages to survive, transforming into a killing machine as she turns the tables on her pursuers.

Mungo is not a man to be messed with. He’s got a tight work ethic, staying true to his “no drugs, no money” demands, and if he happens to get upset, he dispatches enemies with a spiked headpiece, delivering the ultimate headbutt. Mungo’s in charge of prepping cocaine shipments for Mr. Wilson, working in a house located in the middle of nowhere, backed by a team of halfwits with names like Apples, Star, and Terk. Mungo is a serious dude, and Susan doesn’t understand what she’s up against when taking a seemingly harmless drive into the wild with Cecil, who lays masculine authority on thick, believing he’s in charge of the situation. Mungo and this soldiers soon prove the real estate agent wrong, launching a hunt scenario for “They Call Me Macho Woman,” with the gang chasing Susan for most of the run time.

Donahue doesn’t have much in the way of resources, going basic with “They Call Me Macho Woman,” with most of the endeavor taking place outside. Suspense should rise with Susan’s panic levels, but the feature comes up a little short in the excitement department, as scenes of pursuit aren’t very intense. What does work for the movie are moments of fighting and self-preservation, with Donahue a bit more imaginative with his kills, especially when Susan gets to take out a few members of the gang. These are predatory men looking to sexually assault Susan if captured, and she’s generally capable about taking out the trash, pushing one goon’s head into a nail. There are other encounters for the character, who eventually meets up with a group of teens trying to set some type of DUI record, and these boys are quickly pulled into the nightmare, giving the production more chances to toss stuntmen around. It’s this kind of energy that keeps “They Call Me Macho Woman” at least passably engaging.

They Call Me Macho Woman! Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "They Call Me Macho Woman" is listed as "newly scanned and restored in 2K from its 35mm original camera negative." The low-budget highlights of the feature are pleasingly preserved during the viewing experience, doing well with detail, which surveys a range of skin surfaces and costuming choices. Textures are present with flesh wounds and murder weapons. Exteriors do well with the rural setting, offering depth. Interiors also retain dimension as the action heads around barns and homes. Color is alert, with distinct greenery and natural skin tones. Clothing choices bring out varied hues, and hair color is vivid. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is film-like. Source is in good condition.

They Call Me Macho Woman! Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 1.0 DTS-HD MA mix deals with the active score for "They Call Me Macho Woman," with synth accompaniment defined, but also competing with the performances at times, which appears to be an inherent issue. Intelligibility isn't threatened, with actors and their skill levels understood. Sound effects are blunt but appreciable.

They Call Me Macho Woman! Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet (18 pages) offers an essay by film historian W. Richard Benash.

• Commentary features film historians William Morris and John Dickson.

• "Shoot Her" (17:07, HD) is an interview with cinematographer Mike Pierce. "They Call Me Macho Woman" was his very first feature, already aware of writer/director Patrick G. Donahue's work. Responding to the action interests of the script, Pierce was immediately involved in the production, also mindful of the "get it in the can" nature of the low-budget shoot, moving fast with sketchy weather and lighting challenges. Stunt work is highlighted, along with the educational nature of the job, with Pierce learning on the go, making the best of what was offered to him. Specific shots are celebrated, noting the work going into some imagery, and the interviewee offers technical detail while on location, providing info on equipment and film stock. Cast and crew are also identified. And the interview closes with a brief assessment of the camp intent of "They Call Me Macho Woman."

• "They Call Me Uncle Lloyd" (8:24, HD) is an interview with Troma Entertainment honcho Lloyd Kaufman, who openly admits Vinegar Syndrome easily tops Troma in the Blu-ray release world. Picking up "They Call Me Macho Woman" for release, Kaufman found the movie fit Troma's interest in revenge cinema, especially female-driven titles. Some discussion of actor Brian Oldfield's sporting glory and Olympic history is offered. Noting the film "was not successful," the interview explores many attempts to make something out of the picture, hinting that a male audience may not have been interested in a female protagonist.

• And a Home Video Trailer (3:30, SD) is included.

They Call Me Macho Woman! Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"They Call Me Macho Woman" isn't polished work, with actors stumbling over their lines and production limitations clearly on view. Not helping the cause is scoring by Emilio Kauderer, who sustains tinny, amplified synth-based emphasis throughout the entire movie, reaching a point where it becomes semi-torturous to hear it. He's trying to inject thrills into a picture that doesn't have that kind of budget, but "They Call Me Macho Woman" eventually reaches its potential in the final act, watching Susan "Home Alone" the great outdoors and stock up on cabin tools to get her revenge. It's this kind of brutality that works best in the feature, helping to distract from Donahue's shortcomings as a filmmaker. He gets right to the point when it matters in the endeavor, making for a passable bottom shelf distraction.