NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Kino Cult #1 Blu-ray (October 2023): Kino Cult #1 have transferred Jesús Franco's Lorna the Exorcist to Blu-ray. This is the first edition of Kino's new sub-label described as "Kino Cult is a deep dive into unapologetically weird genre cinema, blending recent arthouse discoveries with hundreds of outrageous midnight movies and grindhouse classics. These classics have been amazingly restored and have NEVER looked better!" The 1080P image quality has damage (see sample below) and inconsistencies. There was a Le chat qui fume Blu-ray available but we don't own it to compare. This 1080P has a few impressive close-ups and reasonably balanced colors, but is at the weaker end of the scale for the format's capabilities.  

NOTE: We have added 42 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Kino Cult #1 offer DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel tracks (16-bit) in both original French and an awkward English language DUB option. Lorna the Exorcist has few shrieks and sexual moans but no demonstrative effects. There is a haunting double-track guitar score credited to André Bénichou and Robert de Nesle (a Producer on many Franco films including Countess Perverse), that certainly adds to the, occasionally creepy, atmosphere of Lorna the Exorcist. Kino Cult offer optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Kino Cult Blu-ray offers a new commentary by, one of our favorites, novelist (The Book of Renfield: A Gospel of Dracula) and critic (Video Watchdog) Tim Lucas. He describes the film as the most uncompromised horror of Franco's work, talks about its "X" rating in the US, how it is more explicit than softcore films, Spanish actress and future Franco wife Lina Romay (she was listed in the credits of several of Franco's films as a co-director), and others involved in the production, including details on minor performers in Lorna the Exorcist. Tim talks about Jesús Franco, the exterior and interior locations used in the film, he interprets scenes and much more. It's at Tim's usual high standard of commentary quality. There is also a 22-minute interview with actress Pamela Stanford (Fraulein Devil, Helga, She Wolf of Stilberg) by Lucas Balbo (entitled 'Meet Pamela Stanford') where she talks about her career and Lorna the Exorcist. There is also a 2010 interview with filmmaker Gérard Kikoïne entitled Kiko and the Count. He talks about producer Robert de Nesle and Jesús Franco and the use of sound on his films. It is also in French with optional English subtitles. Lastly is a 1/2 hour introduction on Jesús Franco by Stephen Thrower, author of Nightmare USA: The Untold Story of the Exploitation Independents. He discusses him as a cinematic alchemist and share the two Franco films that caused him to re-investigate his work; Venus in Furs and The Erotic Rites of Frankenstein that he observed as creative and imaginative. He talks about the director's incredible output in the 70s with specifics. Stephen is always informative and like Tim, he also improved my appreciation of Franco's work. There are no trailers or liner notes.      

Jesús Franco's Lorna the Exorcist is  fraught with his frequent production budget limitations. If you can get over that and the gratuitous nudity/sexual content - there are interesting facets of filmmaking here. I recall enjoying his Attack of the Robots with Eddie Constantine as a wise-cracking superspy. This, not as much - even with the bolstered apperception I garnered by the Thrower, Lucas disc supplements. There is a wide variety of Franco genre films in his impressive quantity of work including lesbian vampires, women in prison, zombies, sexploitation, spy films, giallo, science fiction, exorcist films, nunsploitation etc. There is a story here in Lorna the Exorcist that can carry the film. Kino Cult's #1 Blu-ray entry will definitely be targeted to a niche audience. Normies beware.

Gary Tooze