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

ADDITION: AGFA Blu-ray (October2020): This new AGFA Blu-ray disc of "Sometimes Aunt Martha Does Dreadful Things" is a lot of fun, for the open-minded exploitation fans. Even the main menu is quite quirky, with "Visit Auntie's House", "Choose A Wig", and "Histrionic Extras" subbing in for "Play Movie", "Chapter Selection", and "Extras". This transfer is listed as being a "2K preservation from the only 35mm theatrical print in existence", and both the SD DVD and Blu-ray use this same source (most obvious from the same damaged screen grab shown below). The Blu-ray shows slightly more detail, as is typically the case when upgrading to 1080p. Colors seem to be slightly warmer, though still wildly fluctuating due to print damage and warping in certain frames (hues will change within a matter of seconds, though this is less distracting and more of an emphasis on the trippy nature of the film). The solarization and fast cutting effects (particularly in the drug orgy / murder sequences) work really well, giving the film a rather avant-garde quality. The film is housed on a single layer Blu-ray, with the film having a modest bitrate. Fans might not feel the need to trade in their DVD to Blu-ray but they absolutely should, as the extras make this Blu-ray upgrade a no-brainer.

The Blu-ray uses a 16-bit 1.0 mono DTS-HD track, which faithfully showcases the wacky music and various sound cues (used by many exploitation films of the time, as mentioned in the fabulous audio commentary). Sadly the DVD does not include subtitles, but this is remedied with English SDH subtitles on the Region 'Free' Blu-ray from AGFA.

The DVD of "Sometimes Aunt Martha Does Dreadful Things" featured a rather enjoyable commentary track by David DeCoteau & Nathaniel Thompson. The Blu-ray omits that commentary and instead gives us an all new track with queer film historian Evan Purchell + AGFA’s Bret Berg. There are many interesting points of discussion here, from the cast and crew to queer cinema in the 70s (note to self, must see "Night of the Demon" which they refer to as 'the one where bigfoot rips a biker's dick off'). The conversation is also fun, with one moment in particular making me laugh out loud, "this is my favorite character in the movie, the sweaty guy". The real meat-and-potatoes of the bonus features lies in the inclusion of a 48-minute bonus feature, "THE DRAG QUEEN’S BALL", as well as the 10-minute short "GAY-IN III" and the 7-minute "CAUGHT IN THE CAN", with the former covering a rather rad picnic featuring the Gay Liberation Front and the latter a short film dealing with drag. The 14-odd minutes of vintage queer cinema trailers are also not to be overlooked, with trailers for; "GAY LIBERATION", "LUSTING HOURS", "MY THIRD WIFE GEORGE" "THE QUEEN", and "SINS OF RACHEL". There is also a reversible cover.

"Sometimes Aunt Martha Does Dreadful Things" is perhaps not as pro-queer as one would hope, though the bevy of extras showcase an interesting time in the sexual liberation of the LGBTQ+ movement. The fabulous commentary and extras are actually the selling point here, with the film itself being a rather odd curiosity more than anything. The film is less John-waters and more of "The Naked Kiss" by way of Herschell Gordon Lewis. Recommended to fans of out-there cinema.

Colin Zavitz