This Blu-ray from Arrow Video will be available for purchase on April 27th.
If you’re a fan of B-movies from the 1960s and 1970s, then the name Jack Hill will likely ring a bell. Like many other filmmakers of the era, the writer/director got his start working for legendary producer Roger Corman. Hill ended up creating several memorably pulpy pictures in a variety of genres over a decade or so. Some of these notable efforts include Spider Baby, Pit Stop, Coffy and Foxy Brown. Another one of Hill’s many cult flicks is Switchblade Sisters, a wild and energetic movie about teenage girl gangs. While the movie didn’t make a big impression at the box office during its original run, filmmaker Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) was a huge supporter of the title. In fact, he was such a fan that he paid for its theatrical rerelease in 1996.
The 1996 screenings marked the first time that I saw the movie. It made an immediate impression and won me over quickly, providing exploitation film kicks while sneaking in deeper messages under the surface. This week, Arrow Video are making this movie available to all as a Special Edition Blu-ray. As with virtually all of the distributor’s products, great care has been taken with the low-budget feature’s high-definition transfer. They’ve given it a much sharper but still appropriately gritty and filmic appearance. Besides the impressive image upgrade, the disc includes plenty of enjoyable bonuses featuring Jack Hill and the cast and crew, as well as a few critics offering their analysis on the picture.
For those new to the movie, it follows a female gang of teenagers on the streets of Los Angeles. When Lace (Robbie Lee) and her gang come into contact with Maggie (Joanne Nail) at a diner, the customer manages to hold her own during a confrontation. Impressed by her toughness, Maggie is immediately taken into the fold by Lace, much to the chagrin of second in command, Patch (Monica Gayle). The ladies grow more powerful with their new member, but internal jealousy begins to threaten the unit after Lace’s boyfriend Dominic (Asher Brauner) sexually assaults Maggie. Patch sees it as an opportunity to sow distrust between her best friend and the new member. She warns Lace that she is losing Dominic and her leadership is on the verge of being challenged. It all erupts in violence between not only the gang and their enemies, but each other.
While several elements on display are staples of exploitation movies and can be used in questionable taste, this picture definitely stands as an exception. It’s a polished, stylized movie that feels like it takes place entirely within its own over-the-top universe. The movie has a sense of humor about itself from the casting (which features lead characters being played by performers who look considerably older than teens) to the highly exaggerated costumes. And some of the violent action feels tongue-in-cheek when contrasted by some amusingly odd backdrops. One such scene includes a “family night” roller rink shootout and fight between the gangs as those around them run for the exits.
All of these scenes are a blast to watch and add a sense of surreal charm to the experience. Yet the drama also works because the screenplay focuses on developing its well-written female characters. Each of the main gang members are distinctive and make a strong impression. Lace is particularly fun to watch as she veers between teeth-gritting threats and moments of neediness and insecurity. She makes the most of every scene and is consistently compelling to watch.
The movie has generated controversy over the years because of the way Maggie reacts to an attack early in the film, but the movie is clearly making a point about what the women have to endure by presenting the act as a familiar and common occurrence. And the climax of the story, which involves the female gang gunning down their enemies, does serve as a form of retaliation for their male counterparts disturbing behavior. The finale is also distinctive, unusual and open-ended. While several critics and fans have passionate reads on the final scene, one can interpret it in a couple of ways (which once again, makes this film all the more intriguing).
Some 46 years after its original release, this is still a punchy little B-movie that delivers kicks and also addresses issues that will leave audiences talking long after the film ends. The Blu-ray also provides plenty of bonuses to help inform fans looking for more details. There’s a booklet included with an analysis, as well as a recently recorded commentary track with film historians/critics Samm Deighan and Kat Ellinger. They talk about the movie and discuss it as an early example of female empowerment, while also noting that it isn’t afraid to be complicated. The two also admire the feature for avoiding the recent trend of present these themes in a bland and watered-down manner. It’s an informative listen and the reviewers also mention plenty of other titles from the era that may be of interest to viewers.
The most entertaining extra may be a making-of documentary featuring the director, a few crew members and the cast. Hill is an affable subject who notes using the Shakespearian tale Othello as inspiration, swapping genders to help his particular story stand out. After developing and spinning off the idea from the classic source material, he explains how important it was to develop distinctive characters and cast the finest performers he could find. Hill also notes his preference for shooting on soundstages and sets. He notes that while they did have to use a couple of real locations, in general it was easier (and in his estimation, cheaper as well) to stay in one spot as much as possible and control what was happening while filming on backlots.
In addition to the excellent making-of, you’ll also get archival interviews with Hill, Nail and Lee taken during the film’s release in the late 90s, as well as from a more recent film festival screening in 2007. They repeat a lot of the same information, but it’s still fun to watch them talk about the great time they have making the movie and what it means to them. The disc also comes with loads of publicity materials, including posters from around the world, in addition to lobby cards, still and trailers. In fact, you’ll also receive previews of other titles directed by Hill, including Coffy and Foxy Brown.
Switchblade Sisters is a striking effort that still holds up today as a wild, unpredictable and adventurous genre film, entertaining audiences while taking chances anywhere and everywhere it can. The movie works far better than other similarly-themed titles because of its cast, boldness and independent spirt. It’s wonderful that Arrow Video have done the movie justice on Blu-ray and this release worth a big recommendation to all genre fans.