7 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
A young woman, muted after a sexual assault as a child, is trained to seek violent revenge on those who have wronged her after being kidnapped and forced to work as a prostitute.
Starring: Christina Lindberg, Heinz Hopf, Despina Tomazani, Per-Axel Arosenius, Solveig AnderssonForeign | 100% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 1.67:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.66:1
Swedish: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
English, English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Three-disc set (3 BDs)
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 5.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
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.
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.
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
"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.
Hooker's Revenge / They Call Her One Eye
1973
They Call Her One Eye
1973
They Call Her One Eye
1973
バトル・ロワイアルII 【鎮魂歌】
2003
Rape Me
2000
Director's Cut | バトル・ロワイアル
2000
1973
Naked Massacre / Die Hinrichtung
1976
2017
La ragazza del vagone letto
1980
Unrated Director`s Cut
1980
Exposé / Trauma
1976
獨臂拳王 / Du bei chuan wang
1972
Emanuelle's Revenge / Emanuelle e Françoise / Blood Vengeance
1975
1974
怪談昇り竜 / Kaidan nobori ryû
1970
Hēi tài yáng 731 xù jí shā rén gōng chǎng / 黑太陽731系列:殺人工廠
1992
Day of the Woman
1978
La banda del gobbo
1978
La città sconvolta: caccia spietata ai rapitori
1975
Vivre pour survivre
1985
Gli occhi freddi della paura | Indicator Series | Limited Edition
1971
2019