Santa Sangre Blu-ray Review
Score: 71
from 2 reviewers
Review Date:
A stellar Blu-ray for Jodorowsky's 'Santa Sangre' with top-notch A/V quality and extensive bonus features, a must-own for cult classic enthusiasts.
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Disc Release Date
DTS-HD MA
Video: 64
Santa Sangre's Blu-ray debut delivers a high-definition transfer with impressive detail, conserved 35mm grain, and accurate colors, despite some occasional limitations in contrast and black levels. The 1080p/AVC-encoded (1.85:1) presentation maintains a natural, organic image, making this the best version yet.
Audio: 64
Severin/MPI's DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track for 'Santa Sangre' offers clear dialog, balanced dynamics, and good mid-range clarity, despite minor shrillness in some musical scores and noticeable ADR work. Overall, it provides an enjoyable and satisfying audio experience, with no hisses or dropouts.
Extra: 69
Severin Films' Blu-ray of 'Santa Sangre' features a comprehensive suite of extras, including a detailed audio commentary, an in-depth seven-part documentary, numerous interviews, Q&A sessions, and unique short films—all upscaled to 1080p/i. Despite some overlap, the content is informative and highly recommended for fans.
Movie: 76
Jodorowsky's 'Santa Sangre' is an eclectic blend of surreal visuals and visceral storytelling, featuring brilliant compositions that blur the line between the grotesque and the beautiful. Its accessible yet deeply complex plot of love, madness, and redemption makes it a uniquely unforgettable cinematic experience.
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Video: 64
The Blu-ray presentation of "Santa Sangre" makes a commendable debut on home video in the U.S., showcasing a 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer that excels in both detail and color reproduction. The film's 35mm grain structure remains intact, with no signs of DNR, lending an authentic and organic presence to the visuals. While there are occasional traces of mild edge enhancement detectable on certain hard outlines, these are minimal and require a discerning eye to notice. Impressively, the print is remarkably clean, showcasing negligible instances of visible dirt or debris, signifying effective restoration efforts. Skin tones are accurate, black levels are notably deep, and contrast is mostly spot-on, though some highlights appear slightly blown out due to inherent exposure issues in the negative.
Despite some inherent limitations tied to its age and production budget, this Blu-ray presentation remains the best "Santa Sangre" has ever looked. The 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode (1.85:1) does face some constraints, with contrast occasionally appearing restrained and the overall picture slightly flat. However, the color palette, especially reds and other vibrant circus hues, is sufficiently energetic. While black levels can sometimes border on gray, they generally maintain depth without concealing finer details in shadowy scenes. The definition and resolution stand out as the transfer’s key strengths, with objects appearing distinct and clear. Textures on faces and clothing, as well as the unique Mexican architecture, are rendered with impressive clarity.
In summary, while not necessarily a showcase disc that will dazzle viewers with high-definition prowess, this Blu-ray release offers a rich and true-to-source experience that fans of Jodorowsky's surreal cult film will greatly appreciate.
Audio: 64
Severin/MPI's presentation of "Santa Sangre" on Blu-ray includes a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track that retains the integrity of the original stereo elements. This decision results in an audio experience that is clear and balanced, eliminating the need for constant volume adjustments. Dialogue is effortlessly discernible, showcasing Simon Boswell's score with commendable dynamic range and clarity. However, some incidental pieces, such as various Mexican folk numbers, can occasionally sound slightly harsh with strings and horns standing out too sharply. Despite this minor issue, the track remains free from hisses, dropouts, buzzes, or muffling.
While there are some inherent limitations due to the original low-budget production, they are negligible in the overall experience. The ADR work is evident but not overly disruptive, and the dialogue maintains clarity throughout. Although the mix might seem somewhat limited at times, specific mid-range frequencies prove to be precise and surprisingly expansive in select scenes, enhancing the soundstage with a robust presence. The music distribution across the front channels is strong, displaying a well-maintained balance and fidelity. The low end is modest yet sufficient to impart some depth.
Overall, the stereo presentation of "Santa Sangre" on Blu-ray is both enjoyable and satisfying. Technical imperfections are few and far between, allowing viewers to appreciate the film's unique soundtrack in its intended form. The inclusion of English SDH subtitles also ensures accessibility without compromising the viewing experience.
Extra: 69
MPI/Severin Films has compiled a diverse and extensive collection of bonus materials for the Blu-ray release of "Santa Sangre," providing an in-depth look into the film’s production, context, and legacy. The highlight is a detailed audio commentary with Alejandro Jodorowsky and journalist Alan Jones, offering deep insights into the director's thought processes, despite its occasionally dry delivery. A comprehensive documentary, split into seven parts, delves into the film from different angles, including interviews with cast and crew. Other notable extras include historical context on real-life figures inspiring the film, interviews, Q&A sessions, and short films by Jodorowsky’s son. Although upscaled from standard definition to 1080p/i, these materials are essential viewing for any Jodorowsky enthusiast.
Extras included in this disc:
- Audio Commentary: Insightful track with Alejandro Jodorowsky and journalist Alan Jones.
- Forget Everything You've Seen: The World of Santa Sangre: In-depth seven-part documentary featuring interviews.
- For One Week Only: Alejandro Jodorowsky: 1991 British TV show overview of Jodorowsky's career.
- Goyo Cardenas Spree Killer: Featurette on the serial killer inspiring the film.
- On Stage Q&A with Jodorowsky: 2002 London screening Q&A.
- Jodorowsky 2003 Interview: Discusses his influences and filmmaking philosophy.
- Composer Simon Boswell Interviews Jodorowsky: Short interview discussing various topics.
- Blink Jodorowsky Short by Simon Boswell: An unusual short film of Jodorowsky blinking.
- Close Your Eyes Music Video by Simon Boswell: Music video set to film clips.
- Echeck - Adan Jodorowsky Short Film: A unique silent short film by Jodorowsky’s son.
- Deleted Scenes: With commentary by Jodorowsky.
- Theatrical Trailer
- Japanese Trailer
- Severin Trailers
Movie: 76
Alejandro Jodorowsky’s Santa Sangre, now available on Blu-Ray, is a surrealist giallo that merges nightmarish visuals with profound psychological themes. This is Jodorowsky at his most coherent, yet he maintains his signature mystique and symbolic complexity. The film begins in a mental asylum where Fenix (Axel Jodorowsky) reminisces about his traumatic childhood in a circus family. Combining elements of horror, psychological drama, and black comedy, the narrative follows adult Fenix as he reunites with his armless mother, Concha (Blanca Guerra), leading to a bizarre symbiosis where he becomes her physical extension. Together they perform a cabaret act while engaging in a series of ritualistic murders driven by intense psychological control and repressed desires.
Visually, Santa Sangre astounds with its vivid and grotesque tableaux, reflecting Jodorowsky's genius in composition and mise en scène. Scenes range from the shocking to the absurd: a funeral parade for an elephant turned into a chaotic feast, snorting cocaine served to asylum inmates with Down Syndrome, and hallucinatory sequences featuring flocks of chickens attacking Fenix in a Christ-like pose. This dense array of imagery challenges viewers to derive meaning while being immersed in a visceral experience. Drawing thematic parallels to directors like Fellini and Lynch, Jodorowsky explores dichotomies such as sex and death, piety and depravity, forging a unique cinematic journey that is both unsettling and profoundly beautiful.
Santa Sangre offers a deeply intricate examination of redemption, accountability, and the lasting effects of childhood trauma. Collaborating with Italian filmmakers Claudio Argento and Roberto Leoni, Jodorowsky constructs a mythic narrative filled with metaphor while retaining accessibility. The Blu-Ray release provides this masterwork in pristine quality, ensuring that its disturbing beauty and complex narrative captivate audiences, be they admirers or detractors of Jodorowsky’s work. This film stands as an unparalleled piece of horror cinema where pain and salvation intertwine in the pursuit of transcendence.
Total: 71
Alejandro Jodorowsky's "Santa Sangre" emerges as an indispensable addition to any cinephile’s collection with its first-ever legitimate U.S. Blu-ray release, courtesy of Severin Films and MPI Media. The film, long revered for its surreal and enigmatic style combined with a circus performer backdrop, receives an elevated presentation in high-definition. The video and audio quality are notably robust, enhancing the director's distinct vision with vibrant clarity and immersive soundscapes. The packaging includes an impressive five-hour suite of supplementary features, providing deep insights into Jodorowsky’s creative process and the film's unique cinematic language.
Not traditionally recognized for mainstream appeal, Jodorowsky's works have nonetheless carved a niche among art film connoisseurs. "Santa Sangre" stands as one of his most approachable films, yet it retains his characteristic complexity and visual splendor. Severin Films' Blu-ray release preserves these elements impeccably, offering both technical excellence and substantial contextual background through its supplementary contents. This combination ensures that viewers, whether veteran fans or newcomers cautiously exploring Jodorowsky's oeuvre, will find ample value in this comprehensive set.
Conclusion: What a pleasure it is for Jodorowsky fans in the U.S. to finally get their hands on "Santa Sangre" in a legitimate, non-bootlegged form. Better yet, it's on Blu-ray, where the film certainly looks better than ever. With a solid A/V presentation and five hours of bonus features, this release has definitely been worth the wait. If you're new to the Chilean mystic filmmaker, I'd track down a trailer for the movie online first — "Santa Sangre" probably isn’t blind-buy material — but cult classic cinephiles should already have their credit cards at the ready.
Blu-ray.com review by Casey BroadwaterRead review here
Video: 80
The film's 35mm grain structure is wholly intact, there's no evidence of DNR whatsoever, and although there are occasional traces of mild edge enhancement that can be noticed on certain hard outlines,...
Audio: 80
Simon Boswell's score carries plenty of dynamic heft and clarity, but some of the incidental pieces�like the various Mexican folk numbers�are a little shrill, with strings and horns that pierce a bit too...
Extras: 80
Forget Everything You've Seen: The World of Santa Sangre (1080p, 1:36:38): A terrific seven-part documentary that examines the film from all angles, from its origins and production to its characters and...
Movie: 90
A thin man tries to force feed a woman his prosthetic ear, a bodybuilding crossdresser takes all comers, and Fenix, in a hallucination, poses like Christ with his arms outstretched while assaulted by hundreds...
Total: 90
What a pleasure it is for Jodorowsky fans in the U.S. to finally get their hands on Santa Sangre in a legitimate, non-bootlegged form....
High-Def DigestRead review here
Video: 60
Contrast is heavily restrained and often dull, giving the picture a rather flat and somewhat boring appearance....
Audio: 60
Although the mix can seem rather finite at times, the mid-range is precise and surprisingly expansive in several scenes, providing the soundstage with good clarity and an engaging presence....
Extras: 80
The movie finishes with a look at the music, audience and cast reaction, and the film's lasting legacy....
Movie: 100
Like an artist, whose canvas is literally anything in the path of his camera, the Chilean filmmaker arranges and frames wild, vivid spectacles of the grotesque and fantastically absurd....
Total: 80
Of all his movies, 'Santa Sangre' is known as his most accessible with a highly unusual plot of circus performers, yet the story remains mysterious and a challenge to understand in its totality....
Director: Alejandro Jodorowsky
Actors: Axel Jodorowsky, Blanca Guerra, Guy Stockwell
PlotIn the heart of Mexico City, a young boy named Fenix grows up in a circus amongst a colorful yet dysfunctional family. His father, Orgo, is a knife-thrower and cult leader, while his mother, Concha, is a religious zealot who worships a deity of her own making, the armless figure of Santa Sangre. Fenix's childhood intertwines with performance, religion, and bizarre spectacle; these elements shape his world in a traumatic tapestry. Tragedy strikes during a heated argument when Orgo viciously mutilates Concha, cutting off her arms, before he takes his own life in front of Fenix, leaving the boy distraught and doomed to a mental institution.
Years pass, and an adolescent Fenix escapes the mental facility, only to be dominated by his armless mother who persuades him to become her arms, performing on streets and eventually rejoining the showbiz world. This intimate, unholy alliance drives Fenix deeper into a psychological abyss as he becomes an extension of his mother's unfulfilled desires and vengeances. The lines blur between performance and reality, leaving Fenix caught in a twisted battle between his own budding individuality and the overpowering maternal bond that refuses to release him.
Writers: Alejandro Jodorowsky, Roberto Leoni, Claudio Argento
Release Date: 27 Jun 1990
Runtime: 123 min
Rating: NC-17
Country: Mexico, Italy
Language: English