Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Thriller: A Cruel Picture 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 27, 2022

In the supplementary materials on the release of 1973’s “Thriller, A Cruel Picture,” interviewees discuss writer/director Bo Arne Vibenius’s frustration with the failure of his first feature, a family movie offering softness to a wide audience. Inspired to create a hit film, Vibenius set out to manufacture an effort guaranteed to offend, hoping the endeavor would be banned in his native Sweden, giving him the perfect marketing hook. His plan worked, turning “Thriller, A Cruel Picture” into a buzzy sensation, pushing down on viewers with its extreme nihilism, graphic violence, and hardcore sex footage. Vibenius achieved his creative goals, but such severity doesn’t automatically make for an arresting viewing experience, with the helmer getting lost in his quest for atmosphere, slowing this revenge story to a full stop far too many times.

Madeleine (Christina Lindberg) was sexually assaulted as a child, leaving her mute for the next 15 years, now keeping up with daily chores on her family farm. On her way into town one afternoon, Madeleine is approached by Tony (Heinz Hopf), a slick man in a fast car who shows romantic interest in the young woman. However, it’s all a ruse, with Tony keeping Madeline prisoner in his home, getting her hooked on heroin and turning her into a prostitute with violent clients. Fearing all hope is lost, Madeleine is inspired by a fellow captive, working secretly to attain weapons and learn the skills necessary to seek revenge on all the predators in her life.

“Thriller, A Cruel Picture” is a simple story of a psychological breakdown, following Madeleine’s experiences with Tony, an evil man maintaining a stable of women for sale to unsavory clients, many seeking to unleash aggressive kinks on the drugged-out victims. Tony initially charms before he turns into a monster, taking one of Madeleine’s eyes for her insolence, and he masterminds a letter-based plan of familial rejection, causing Madeleine’s parents to commit suicide. “Thriller, A Cruel Picture” certainly has a diabolical side, quite vivid at times, and Vibenius tries to accentuate the horror of it all by including hardcore footage during Madeleine’s rape scenes. These extreme close-ups of genitals and semen certainly shock, but they also confuse the tone of the feature, crossing over to sexploitation interests in a clumsy way.

A revenge tale slowly comes into view in “Thriller, A Cruel Picture.” The production is in no hurry to get anywhere with the movie, often focusing on real-time events, including walking, making it one of the most pedestrian-heavy offerings of the 1970s. Vibenius wants viewers to stew in the unease, watching as Madeleine is corrupted by wicked men and women, but his sense of pacing is way off. The feature becomes a test of patience surprisingly often, but there’s an endgame in mind for “Thriller, A Cruel Picture,” watching Madeleine sneak off to learn how to shoot guns, drive a car, and master martial arts. Montages are stacked on top of montages, but the mission is clear: kill ‘em all. But this plan only takes shape in the final act, making for a long sit where little happens besides procedural activities and more walking.

Two viewing options are offered on this set, including the original “uncut festival version” of “Thriller, A Cruel Picture” (108:15) and a shorter cut, titled “They Call Her One-Eye” (90:04), prepared for American audiences in 1974.

Thriller: A Cruel Picture 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screenshots are taken from the Blu-ray release.

It's a big year for "Thriller, A Cruel Picture." In March, Synapse Films released their version of the movie on Blu-ray (the company did not make the release available for review), and now Vinegar Syndrome has their way with the picture, delivering UHD presentations of "Thriller, A Cruel Picture" and "The Call Her One-Eye." Listed as "newly restored from its 16mm original camera negative," the feature goes 4K in a major way, securing a fresh look at the 1973 cult endeavor, with clarity reaching as far as possible. Detail is retained with skin surfaces and facial particulars. Costuming keeps texture, along with gory events. Dimension is preserved. Color is alert, with strong primaries, and rich greenery and autumnal exteriors. Skintones are ample and natural. Red blood is distinct. Blacks are deep. Highlights are tasteful. Grain is heavy and film-like. Some mild scratches are present, and debris is periodically detected on the bottom of the frame.

Thriller: A Cruel Picture 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Two 2.0 DTS-HD MA tracks are offered, one in Swedish and the other an English dub offering. "Thriller, A Cruel Picture" (and "They Call Her One-Eye") is largely a silent film, with dialogue exchanges a rare event, but performances are appreciable, securing thespian nuance and clarity. Scoring leads the listening event, with a heavy and clean synth sound, supporting the strange and unsettling aural experience the production has prepared. Sound effects register as intended.

Thriller: A Cruel Picture 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Thriller, A Cruel Picture

• Commentary features film historian Alexandra Heller-Nicholas.

• "Thriller, A Cruel Documentary" (42:57, HD) is a 2022 making-of, featuring interviews with actress Christina Lindberg, stunt driver Per Hessman, race car driver Gunnar Palm, and stuntmen Bo Sunnefeldt and Lasse Lundgren. The documentary provides introductory information about writer/director Bo Arne Vibenius, referred to here as "Film Lover," exploring his upbringing, where a love of cinema couldn't be silence by everyday responsibility. A film obsession led to a chance at production, initially bombing with a family movie before starting work on "Thriller, A Cruel Picture." Lindberg also tracks her early days, becoming a top model before agreeing to work with Vibenius on the revenge feature. Training and stunt challenges are recalled, along with co-star Heinz Hopf. Lindberg clarifies her participation in dangerous shots and claims she took no part in the endeavor's hardcore sequences. The Cannes Film Festival experience in 1973 is explored, and Vibenius's post-"Thriller" career is inspected, including a failed attempt to put together a "Thriller 2." The cult resurrection of the effort is detailed, and Lindberg shares a few anecdotes concerning her time with Quentin Tarantino.

• T.V. Spot (:31, HD) for "They Call Her One-Eye" is offered.

• A Teaser Trailer (1:46, HD) and Theatrical Trailer (1:27, HD) for "Thriller, A Cruel Picture" are included, along with a Theatrical Trailer (1:33, HD) for "They Call Her One-Eye" and a Theatrical Trailer (2:54, HD) for "Hooker's Revenge."

They Call Her One-Eye

• "Adrian and Christina" (57:25, HD) is a 2017 interview with actress Christina Lindberg, conducted by filmmaker Adrian Garcia Bogliano.

• "The Paris Interview" (59:44, HD) is a 2015 conversation with actress Christina Lindberg, conducted by Christian Valor.

• "Alamo Drafthouse Q&A" (31:43, HD) is a 2017 interview with actress Christina Lindberg, conducted by Joe Ziemba and Annie Choi.

• Gallery #1 (2:36) collects poster art and publicity materials.

• Gallery #2 (3:21) collects publicity shots and film stills.

• Gallery #3 (1:58) collects BTS snaps.

• Radio Spots (1:51) present two commercials for "They Call Her One-Eye."

• Outtakes (5:54, HD) are provided.

• "Christina Lindberg Single" (6:59) is a song from the actress during the pop star phase of her career.

• Commercial (1:02, HD) is a "Thriller, A Cruel Picture"-style ad for Saab, directed by Bo Arne Vibenius.

Thriller: A Cruel Picture 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Thriller, A Cruel Picture" doesn't exactly explode in the climax, but Vibenius has some vision for revenge, employing high-speed cameras to capture the slow death of Madeleine's enemies, which is used quite often, threatening to inspire unintentional laughs. Clunky exposition doesn't help the cause, but performances are effective, with Hopf quite memorable as Tony, adding necessary urgency to his potential comeuppance. Lindberg has a defined look to help with her silent role (creating an image so powerful, Quentin Tarantino lifted it for "Kill Bill"), and she does what she can with the general airlessness of "Thriller, A Cruel Picture." The film has its influence and mercilessness, and it's exploitation gold to some viewers capable of finding the groove of the endeavor. Vibenius is definitely after something with the project, but he's easily distracted with artful pursuits and an attempt to conjure a mood that's mostly made up of stillness. But hey, the movie absolutely gets its step count in.