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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "Perversion Flash" or "Flash Light" or "She Died with Her Boots On")

 

Directed by José Ramón Larraz (as J.R. Larrath)
Denmark | UK 1970

 

One of the most underrated and oft-neglected genre filmmakers of his generation, Spanish-born director José Ramón Larraz (Symptoms) finally receives his due with this collection of his work, the first of its kind, bringing together a fascinating cross-section of films from the first half of his lengthy cinematic career.

In Larraz's debut feature, the hitherto ultra-rare Whirlpool (1970), Vivian Neves stars as Tulia, a young model invited to a photographer s secluded country home for what purports to be a quiet weekend retreat - but soon transpires to be anything but. 1974's Vampyres - perhaps the best known and most widely-released of all José Larraz's films - sees a duo of blood hungry female vampires prowling the British countryside, from where they lure unsuspecting male motorists back to their imposing, dilapidated mansion for draining... in more ways than one. Meanwhile, in 1978's The Coming of Sin (La Visita del Vicio, in its native Spanish), a young gypsy girl experiences a violent sexual awakening as her dreams of a naked young man on horseback become reality.

***

A young man and his aunt live in a small cottage in the secluded woods in this X rated exploitation murder thriller. The aunt is into group sex and lesbianism while her nephew desires more than one partner for his satisfaction. He takes pictures of the action, particularly when a blonde female model from London joins in the fun. She is willingly seduced by the aunt and the nephew. She is forced to remain at the macabre cottage when she stumbles across photographic evidence in the darkroom. He films an attack and rape of the woman in the woods before the trio settles down to sipping whisky and playing strip poker. Karl Lanchbury, Vivian Neyes and Pia Anderson portray the three sex fiends.

Posters

Theatrical Release: March 28th, 1970

Reviews                                                                                                       More Reviews                                                                                       DVD Reviews

 

Review: Arrow Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

Part of Arrow's Blood Hunger: The Films of José Larraz Blu-ray package:

    

Distribution Arrow Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:26:42.822        
Video

1.66:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 37,803,788,873 bytes

Feature: 25,501,833,792 bytes

Video Bitrate: 34.90 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate Blu-ray:

Audio

LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit
Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps

Subtitles English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio:
Arrow Video

 

1.66:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 37,803,788,873 bytes

Feature: 25,501,833,792 bytes

Video Bitrate: 34.90 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• Brand new audio commentary by Tim Lucas
• Obsessive Recurrence: The Early Films of José Larraz - author and critic Kim Newman reflects on the recurring themes and underlying obsessions linking together the early productions of José Larraz (24:01)
• A Curious Casting - actor Larry Dann on the strange story behind his casting in Whirlpool (09:10)
• Deviations of Whirlpool - featurette comparing the differences between the US Theatrical Cut and a previously circulated, alternate cut of the film (27:12)
• Vivien Neves on BBC's Parkinson (13:19)
• Extract from an archival interview with José Larraz (03:48)
• Image Gallery
• Original US Theatrical Trailer (02:53)

Newly comissioned artwork by Gilles Vranckx
80-page perfect bound book featuring new writing by Jo Botting, Tim Greaves and Vanity Celis


Blu-ray Release Date:
March 25th, 2019
Transparent Blu-ray Case

Chapters 13

 

 

Comments:

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

Arrow Video bring us the wild erotic thriller "Whirlpool" as part of their "Blood Hunger: The Films Of Jose Larraz" 3-disc Blu-ray set. The film is housed on a dual-layered Blu-ray with a maxed-out bitrate. As per the image, the included booklet states, "Whirlpool is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.66:1 with mono audio. The original 35mm camera negative element was scanned in 2K resolution on a 4K Arriscan at Lasergraphics Director at EFilm, Burbank. The film was graded on Digital Vision's Nucoda Film Master and restored at R3Store Studios in London. The original mono mi was remastered from the optical negatives at Deluxe Audio Services, Hollywood.
All materials for this restoration were made available by the UCLA Film & Television Archive. A note on this version: The version presented here is the 87 minute US Theatrical Cut, in keeping with how the original camera negative was conformed. For further information regarding alternate versions of the film, please refer to the bonus feature Deviations of 'Whirlpool', included on the
Blu-ray disc."

While "Whirpool" comes off looking the least polished of the three films in this set, this is most likely the intended look of the film. Grain is heavy throughout, yet certain moments especially close-ups, show a surprising amount of detail. Shadows show a fair amount of information, suggesting a healthy contrast.

Thankfully, "Whirpool" is presented in its original uncompressed linear PCM mono, 24-bit. The score is thanks to the prolific Stelvio Cipriani
 (The Iguana With the Tongue of Fire Nightmare City, The Blood Stained Shadow, Killer Cop, Rabid Dogs, Baron Blood, The Night Child, A Bay of Blood), and though it doesn't constantly underscore the film, it is pretty powerful when it does make an appearance. There are optional English SDH subtitles on this Region Free Blu-ray.

Arrow have loaded this
Blu-ray with a bunch of juicy extras. Tim Lucas gives a typically thorough and fascinating audio commentary. The always fun and well-informed Kim Newman spends 24-minutes reflecting on the career of Jose Larraz in "Obsessive Recurrence: The Early Films of José Larraz". "A Curious Casting" has actor Larry Dann spending 9-minutes describing the strange story behind his casting in Whirlpool. "Deviations of Whirlpool" is a 27-minute featurette comparing the differences between the US Theatrical Cut and a previously circulated, alternate cut of the film, and it is very interesting to see the differences. "Vivien Neves on BBC's Parkinson" is a 13-minute interview with Neves and there is also a 3-minute excerpt from an archival interview with José Larraz. Rounding out the disc is an image gallery and the film's trailer, and of course the box set features an 80-page perfect bound book featuring new writing by Jo Botting, Tim Greaves and Vanity Celis.

This
Blu-ray Box-set of 3 films from José Larraz is an interesting peek into the works of Larraz, and any fan should absolutely pick this up. "Whirlpool" is my least favorite of the 3 films but it still packs quite a punch, even if I find the erotic aspects ineffectual.

Colin Zavitz

 


Menus / Extras

 


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Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

Part of Arrow's Blood Hunger: The Films of José Larraz Blu-ray package:

    

Distribution Arrow Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray


 


 

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