Plot: What’s it about?
Susan (Maribel Martin) has just been married to her lover (Simon Andreu), but things are not as warm and wonderful as they should be. She is attacked & raped by a man inside a closet, then decides not to tell her new husband and just move somewhere else the for time being. But this isn’t the end of her problems, as her husband has some sexual fantasies that don’t make her too pleased and in fact, some of them downright scare her. In an effort to seek help and figure out what to do, she solicits advice from another woman and that turns things down even stranger path. Soon enough, she is having some serious sex with the woman and then she becomes a slave of sorts to her. Susan carries out this woman’s wishes and ends up killing a bunch of folks, which just isn’t like her at all. Is it her newfound sexual desires that fuel this spree, or there much more here to uncover that meets the eye?
With such a romantic name, you just know The Blood Spattered Bride is going to be a classic tale of rape & murder. I think no matter how cool an act of violence is, it is much cooler if done by a hot chick in a wedding dress. Call me a psycho if you will, but I know what I like and I like that. This film has all the elements you could ask of a European horror flick such as blood, suspense, atmosphere, enticing visuals, but all that is just start of a true must see for horror fans. I can see how this movie can be seen from two angles, a mature one and also a blood crazed one. For the sake of this review, I will stick to my personal choice and discuss it like a blood crazed sicko. You have a beautiful woman who just married, then she gets raped, then she dabbles in lesbianism, and in the end, she goes through a living hell and back. Add in liberal doses of blood & flesh and that is The Blood Spattered Bride, which is a lot of good if you ask me. If you’re a horror fan in the mood for something different, then check out this flick and I think you’ll be pleased with what you find.
So what sort of genius created this unusual horror classic? Vicente Aranda of course and while he did make a couple other pretty good films, this is his finest work in my opinion. Aranda served as writer & director for The Blood Spattered Bride and I think he excels in both realms, as his visual choices compliment the written word very well. The film seems like a nightmare most of the time and in a movie like this, that is a terrific idea and it works quite well here. The visuals add to the atmosphere and given the correct circumstances, this can be a damn disturbing movie at times. But that is what makes it so good, right? Where else can you see such unusual antics on the open & legal market. This one isn’t for everyone to be sure, but horror nuts will be very interested. Other films helmed by Aranda include Girl With The Golden Panties, The Exquisite Corpse, Turkish Passion, and Change of Sex. The cast of The Blood Spattered Bride includes such performers as Maribel Martin (The House That Screamed), Dean Selmier (The Hunting Party), Simon Andreu (The Rose & The Sword), Alexandra Bastedo (Casino Royale), and Rosa Rodriguez.
Video: How does it look?
The Blood Spattered Bride is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This looks good for a lower profile horror flick from the early ’70s, even if a little dated at times. The image seems a little soft here & there, but this to be expected from a film of this nature and age, so no real issues in that realm. The contrast is accurate and I found no signs of detail loss, while colors appear bold and true, with no traces of smears or oversaturation. I also saw no compression flaws, another low profile title gets a nice transfer, thanks to the folks at Anchor Bay Entertainment.
Audio: How does it sound?
In terms of mono, the included track isn’t too bad, so long as you don’t expect too much in the end. I think the music sounds pretty good in this mix, but the limits of mono and the age of the materials do hinder it somewhat. But while it might sound a little dated, the music is still cool and adds a lot to the atmosphere of the picture. Not too much to speak of in the realm of sound effects, but what is present sounds decent enough and never overpowers the other elements. I was pleased with the dialogue clarity & volume also, as no problems were evident in the least. This might not be a memorable audio option, but it gets it all done without too much trouble.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The disc includes a very humorous trailer for a double feature of The Blood Spattered Bride and I Dismember Mama.
