Up! Blu-ray Review

Severin Films presents "Up!" on Blu-ray with an impressive AVC encoded 1080p transfer, derived from a 4K restoration of the original 35mm camera negative. Scanned at Illuminate Studios Hollywood, the restoration retains a filmic aesthetic with no excessive digital processing, yielding a natural grain structure and strong visual fidelity. The 1.85:1 presentation delivers rich contrast and vibrant, well-balanced colors—especially notable in the blues and reds—showcasing Meyer’s penchant for lush outdoor cinematography. The video exhibits excellent depth and definition, with black levels and shadow delineation approaching reference quality throughout most of the runtime.

Minor age-related imperfections are present but limited to virtually imperceptible nicks and brief spikes in grain, typically during optical effects or split-screen moments. A singular segment—approximately one minute during an outdoor scene—displays less polish and introduces a slight blue tint and loss of stabilization, but the transfer swiftly returns to its otherwise high-quality presentation. Despite occasional minor fluctuations in color temperature and grain, the restoration overall achieves an attractive, consistent look. The high-bitrate BD-50 disc ensures the uncut feature's 80-minute runtime is handled without compression artifacts, reinforcing the disc’s technical proficiency. This release stands out as one of the most visually appealing presentations of Russ Meyer's work to date.

The Blu-ray release of "Up!" features a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono track sourced from 35mm release prints, ensuring the film's original sound presentation is largely preserved. The track showcases crisp and relatively clean audio, particularly impressive considering the film’s low-budget, 1976 independent origins. Dialogue reproduction is consistently clear, with sound effects and ambient environmental elements—such as heavy breathing and fleeting background audio—effectively supported throughout the mix. Contemporary music tracks also appear in unexpectedly full fidelity and help anchor the period setting.

Some minor technical imperfections exist within the track. The scoring occasionally betrays a slight brashness, especially during the opening fanfare, and there are brief moments (lasting only a few seconds each) where the audio becomes noticeably muffled without apparent cause. Nonetheless, these instances are rare and do not meaningfully detract from the overall experience. Notable scenes demonstrate nuanced balancing of overlapping sounds, allowing for clean separation between elements like dialogue, musical score, and in-world audio cues such as radio chatter. Optional English subtitles (SDH) are available in a white font for accessibility.

The Blu-ray extras for "Up!" provide a focused but engaging set of supplements that complement Russ Meyer’s film well, albeit with less depth compared to some other releases. The standout feature is the audio commentary by historian Elizabeth Purchell, whose knowledgeable and conversational approach offers an accessible yet appreciative exploration of Meyer’s work, more fan-driven than strictly analytical. An interview with actress Raven De La Croix provides candid, insightful recollections about her experiences on set and working with Meyer, resulting in a substantive look at the film’s production. Additionally, the inclusion of a period radio spot adds charming archival value, creatively echoing key thematic elements from the movie. While the selection is modest, these features are executed with professional polish and provide genuine insight for fans and scholars alike.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary with Elizabeth Purchell: An accessible, fan-oriented discussion covering Russ Meyer’s career and the film’s production.
• No Fairy Tale... This!: Candid interview with actress Raven De La Croix reflecting on her experiences with the film.
• Radio Spot: A brief, era-specific advertisement styled with trucker slang and film references.

“Up!” is quintessential Russ Meyer—an audacious, outrageous trip through sexploitation territory that merges slapstick farce, explicit content, and a deliriously convoluted murder-mystery plot. The film opens brazenly with an aging Hitler figure partaking in a bisexual encounter, setting the stage for a gleefully offensive, unruly narrative guided by Meyer’s bawdy sense of humor and bold visual style. The plot barely contains the chaos: after the offing of “Adolf Schwartz,” buxom newcomer Margo Winchester (Raven De La Croix) drifts into a rural town, drawing the attention of nearly every inhabitant. Alongside her are a Greek Chorus delivered nude by Kitten Natividad—complete with verbose, Ebert-penned monologues—that intermittently untangles the gonzo storyline and infuses a layer of meta-commentary.

Meyer’s signature is stamped on every frame: cartoonish performances, high-energy sexual escapades—often in outdoor settings—and an unwavering commitment to excess. There’s a propulsive, almost overwhelming enthusiasm as the film ricochets between risqué encounters, over-the-top violence (including an axe-vs-chainsaw finale), and absurd comic set pieces, such as characters being electrocuted during a sexual tryst due to a misplaced lightbulb socket. Despite deep dives into sexual aggression and controversial content (notably scenes of assault and gleeful violence), “Up!” maintains a tone that’s more gleeful parody than grim exploitation.

Raven De La Croix commands center stage with magnetism and uninhibited physicality, perfectly embodying Meyer’s larger-than-life female archetype. The film’s technical presentation on this Blu-ray faithfully preserves Meyer’s original branding—the Bosomania imprint and playful poster art—mirroring its provocative visual ethos. While its narrative coherence is frequently sacrificed to spectacle, “Up!” remains an exuberant showcase of Meyer’s idiosyncratic blend of camp, eroticism, violence, and meta-humor—a feverish artifact designed to shock, amuse, and push boundaries in nearly every frame.

Russ Meyer’s "Up!" is a signature example of his provocative and boundary-pushing style, blending exploitation genre conventions with bold, avant-garde touches. The film is undeniably one of Meyer’s more daring works, featuring Raven De La Croix as a compelling lead in a narrative that oscillates between campy humor and moments of genuinely shocking content. The story leans into the outrageous with graphic sexual violence and darkly comedic elements, resulting in an intentionally uneven tone that differentiates "Up!" from some of Meyer’s other, more playful projects.

Technically, the Blu Ray presentation is impressive, with video quality being a particular highlight. The restoration captures the film’s vivid color palette, bringing out the distinctive visual flair Meyer is known for. Audio is competent and serviceable, though it does not stand out as strongly as the video transfer. These technical merits are further underscored by the disc’s partnership with museum curation efforts, indicating both the film’s cultural importance and the care given to this release.

In summary, "Up!" remains an artifact of its era—controversial, unconventional, and gleefully rebellious against mainstream censorship. While its extreme content and erratic mood may alienate some viewers unfamiliar with Meyer’s oeuvre or exploitation cinema in general, it stands as a testament to Meyer’s auteur vision and irrepressible artistry. This Blu Ray edition offers a technically meticulous presentation that befits the film’s legacy, making it recommended for those curious about Meyer’s place within cult cinema history.