Why So Blu?

Thriller: A Cruel Picture (Blu-ray Review)

While we have two labels putting out Thriller: A Cruel Picture this year, Synapse Films announced and has released theirs first. Later this summer, Vinegar Syndrome will debuting the film on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray with a different transfer and extras. Synapse Film’s Blu-ray was released on March 8th. They previously had put the film on DVD in two different editions. The DVD featuring the censored US cut They Call Her One Eye is included in this release and the extras from their 2-Disc edition are ported over here. Vinegar Syndrome’s release is going to come with a heftier price tag, so I imaging Synapse Films is putting theirs out for a more affordable option for folks or for that attractive, quick pickup at the convention booth. Nonetheless, if that’s you or you’d like to support them, you can order a copy from their site or the paid Amazon Associates link following the review.

Film

Growing up mute after a childhood sexual assault, a young girl (Christina Lindberg) spends years working on a remote farm. After missing the bus one day, she is picked up by a suave young man who takes her out to dinner, drugs her and forces her into a life of prostitution. Torn away from home, she rebels against her captor, only to have one of her eyes gouged out as punishment. After learning of the death of her parents, she secretly trains herself in martial arts, defensive driving and gun use! Transformed into a one woman killing machine with a sawed-off shotgun, she uses her new skills to enact bloody revenge on those who’ve done her wrong.

Given a big boost by the praise of Quentin Tarantino, Thriller: A Cruel Picture was always going to carry an exploitation legacy even without that highlight. They film’s heroin is incredibly iconic with her look of having the eyepatch, trench coat and shotgun. Christina Lindberg’s “Madeleine” very much comes from the vein of Meiko Kaji’s “Matsu” from the Female Prisoner Scorpion series, even in appearance. Both of them coming for sweet, gory, painful revenge.

The film is one of pure, raw shock and awe. There are many degrees of this in Bo Arne Vibenius’ film. First, just the subject of what happens and is decided to be depicted in any way on screen is pretty disturbing. Then, its how he goes about doing it and what he’s exactly showing. For those who are not privy to he film, it contains not just full frontal nudity or sex. There are close ups of full on penetration, both vaginally and anally, masturbation and also ejaculation. There are also some gory deaths and mutilations, including an eye gouging scene that would delight Lucio Fulci.

Some might feel the content is exploitative, but the way Viebenius goes about it in terms of footage, edits and sound design, makes me feel that is actively trying to make you feel dirty and like you need a shower. Films angle to make you feel certain ways as part of an experience, and in my eyes’ this is his intent. Now, that is not for everyone, and I personally probably can’t just pop this one in all the time for a good time, so I understand those who would be off put. Though, getting through it makes the plotting and revenge such a sweet pay off. And its there that the filmmaking improves and really becomes something more special.

This cruel picture really does pull off what it is going for and does it in an unapologetic manner. Whatever your feelings on the first half of the film, I think we can all agree that the back half of the film rocks. Lindberg is quite terrific through all of it and she really makes a believer out of you throughout the film. And they give her such ruthless schmucks to go after as well. No, the film isn’t one for everyone and even the slightly curious should proceed with caution. Personally, my memory of the film was a lot worse that what I revisited, if that gives you an idea of what kind of effect it can have on you. I’m much more likely to revisit it again when the next edition comes out thanks to this one paving the way.

Video

Encoding: MPEG-4 AVC

Resolution: 1080p

Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1

Layers: BD-50

Clarity/Detail: Thriller: A Cruel Picture a new 1080p presentation. Comparing it to the transfer of the old DVD provided on this release, it looks like this is an upscale from that one. Its not a pretty looking image and the source has could use a restoration. There’s a lot of flicker and some crush within the image. On the plus side, the colors are much better saturated and the sharper image provides much more clarity than before. You can make out details much easier and the look is a lot less smeary and blurry. The source is pretty hands off, leaving in some streaks, scratches and stains throughout.

Depth: The image is more on the flat end of things and part of that probably has to do with the condition of the source. Though SD upscale be damned, there are some really nice, spacious outdoor country scenes that feel open and of good scale. Movement is filmic and smooth, not too much issues with any blur or jitter though they can be found.

Black Levels: Blacks are deep and kind of swallows some information up in the shadows and fabrics on display in the film. Crushing does find itself about throughout the film.

Color Reproduction: Colors are pretty solid here, with good use of yellows, reds, oranges and greens. Saturation is pretty strong, especially when held up to the DVD that comes with this disc.

Flesh Tones: Skin tones are natural and do find some flicker throughout scenes. Facial features and textures aren’t the strongest, but do find clarity in close ups and some medium shots.

Noise/Artifacts: There’s plenty of noise in areas in scenes featuring heavy grain.

Audio

Audio Format(s): Swedish 2.0 LPCM, English 2.0 LPCM

Subtitles: English

Dynamics: Thriller: A Cruel Picture has an LPCM track that carries some age with it, including some analog hiss that adds some of that exploitation flavor. Where it handles best is in the slow motion scenes. Much of the sound has an impact where it lacks some deep tones in the regular speed scenes. Overall, with appropriate expectations, this will get the job done.

Height: N/A

Low Frequency Extension: N/A

Surround Sound Presentation: N/A

Dialogue Reproduction: Vocals are plenty audible and decent throughout the film.

Extras

Thriller: A Cruel Picture is a 2-disc set, including the DVD release of the original truncated US version and reversible cover art.

Blu-ray Disc

Theatrical Trailer (HD, 1:29) – They Call Her One Eye, in English, with Spanish subtitles.

TV Spot (HD, :28) – The Call Her One Eye

Double Feature Trailer (HD, 2:51) – “Hookers Revenge and The Photographer’s Model”

“Thriller” Trailer (HD, 1:25) 

Outtake Reel (HD, 1:06)

Alternate Harbor Fight (HD, 5:41) – A reconstructed alternate ending to a fight scene in the film using some trims found.

Movie In Pictures (HD, :39) – A quick playing still reel of the film start to finish.

Still Galleries (HD) – In Bed With Christina, Behind The Scenes, Advertising and Promotion, Deleted Fight Scene, Production Photos

DVD

Theatrical Trailer (SD, 1:25)

Summary

Thriller: A Cruel Picture is one of the essential revenge thrillers and grindhouse staples of the 1970s. Synapse Films basically has done an upconvert of their DVD transfer here for their Blu-ray output of it. The Blu-ray includes some trailers and stills for extras. If you’re not in the market for the Vinegar Syndrome 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray release coming in a few months and are looking for a release that’ll get the job done on a more budget-friendly dime, then this is the version for you.

This is a paid Amazon Associates link