The love witch is a film that was released in 2016 and was written and directed by Anna Biller. The film is a homage to the Technicolor melodramas of the 1960s and tells the story of a modern-day witch named Elaine who uses her magical powers to make men fall in love with her. The film stars Samantha Robinson as Elaine, who gives a captivating performance as the love witch. Robinson's portrayal of the character is both alluring and sinister, and she embodies the role perfectly. The rest of the cast also delivers strong performances, adding depth to the story. One of the standout aspects of the love witch is its aesthetic.
The opening shot establishes the film’s studied expertise as our protagonist, Elaine, drives a red convertible Ford Mustang down an oceanside highway. Her hair whips in the wind as she takes long drags from a cigarette. “I’m starting a new life,” she tells the viewers in voiceover. “I had a nervous breakdown after he left me.” We cut to her ex-husband drinking poison from a goblet. “I devoured everything I could about how to get your man back. According to the experts, men are very fragile.” With her bright blue eyeshadow, long black hair, angular cheekbones, and broken heart, Elaine looks right out of a Lana Del Rey album.
Happily, though, Biller s tribute to the 60s and 70s witchcraft melodrama see George Romero s Season Of The Witch is not just an impressive visual and technical achievement. As she tells her friend Trish, we may be grown women, but underneath we re just little girls dreaming of being carried off by a prince on a white horse.
One of the standout aspects of the love witch is its aesthetic. Biller painstakingly recreates the look and feel of 1960s Technicolor films, from the vibrant colors to the retro costumes. The production design is stunning, and every frame feels like a work of art.
H D - S E N S E I
DTS-HD Master Audio English 2007 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2007 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio English 3237 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3237 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Commentary:
DTS-HD Master Audio English 2057 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2057 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
English (SDH), none
Extras:
• Commentary with director Anna Biller, cinematographer M. David Mullen, star Samantha Robinson, and actor/producer Jared Sanford
• Behind the Scenes with Anne Biller (10:39)
• Interview with cinematographer M. David Mullen (10:55)
• 2 Deleted, 2 Alternate Cuts and 8 Extended Scenes
• Samantha Robinson Dance Audition (2:41)
• Unreleased Trailer (1:47), theatrical trailer (2:36)
Description: Elaine, a beautiful young witch, is determined to find a man to love her. In her gothic Victorian apartment she makes spells and potions, and then picks up men and seduces them. However, her spells work too well, leaving her with a string of hapless victims. When she finally meets the man of her dreams, her desperation to be loved will driver her to the brink of insanity and murder. With a visual style that pays tribute to Technicolor thrillers of the 60s, THE LOVE WITCH explores female fantasy and the repercussions of pathological narcissism.
Writer-director Anna Biller is clearly a fan of the powerful women in Russ Meyer’s sexploitation movies – films like ‘Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!’ (1965). Her work, including 2007’s ‘Viva’ and now the hugely entertaining ‘The Love Witch’, seems plucked from the same Playboy-era universe of huge hairdos, heavy make-up and voracious female appetites. But Meyer could never make a psychodrama as sophisticated as this.
‘The Love Witch’ is cloaked in a retro wardrobe and soundtrack (much of the music, by Ennio Morricone, is sourced from ’60s thrillers) but is loaded with irony and a fluid sense of identity. Samantha Robinson (looking like she’s stepped out of a centrefold) stars as Elaine, who drives up the California coast away from her failed marriage. But don’t call her disenchanted. If anything, Elaine’s got more magic than most, casting sexual spells over unlucky men. We also learn pretty quickly that she’s a serial killer.
Elaine makes her way through a parade of male caricatures – a French literature professor, a frustrated married man, a lantern-jawed cop – but she’s always in control, toying with their sense of entitlement. Biller’s dialogue is intentionally stilted; she draws attention to the banal come-ons that once passed for romantic repartee, but also to the contortions that women had to strike in order to play the game. And nobody, it turns out, plays it better than Elaine does. But at what cost?
If The Love Witch simply raised the profile of its director, Anna Biller—a true auteur who not only wrote, directed, produced, and edited this film but also designed and hand made its sets and costumes—then it would be a success. Biller’s devout attention to detail in her films means we don’t get a lot of them, and it’s been nearly a decade since her last one, the sexploitation satire Viva. Happily, though, Biller’s tribute to the ’60s and ’70s witchcraft melodrama (see: George Romero’s Season Of The Witch) is not just an impressive visual and technical achievement. It’s also a nuanced statement on gender relations whose morals are as flexible as its formal qualities are rigid.
Samantha Robinson—who bears a striking resemblance to the title character in one of Biller’s presumed stylistic touchstones for this film, Stephanie Rothman’s The Velvet Vampire (1971)—stars as Elaine, an enigmatic widow who moves from San Francisco to a small California coastal town after the death of her husband. On the surface, Elaine’s worldview appears pathetically retrograde; she’s obsessed with finding true love through witchcraft and believes that a woman should devote herself to fulfilling her man’s every desire. But there’s a subversive edge to this philosophy, and not just because Elaine kills her lovers if they disappoint her (and they always do).
Image : NOTE : The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.
The Love Witch looks excellent on Blu-ray from Oscilloscope Laboratories. The camera used was the Arriflex 35 BL with the negative and printed film format being 35 mm. It is brilliantly sharp with extremely tight lines. Colors show depth and the visuals are consistent throughout. It was transferred to a dual-layered disc with a supportive bitrate for the 2-hour film. It pristine with a shade of gloss and it seems impressively crisp - notable in the many close-ups. This Blu-ray has reproduced a very strong 1080P presentation. Wow.
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Writer-director Anna Biller is clearly a fan of the powerful women in Russ Meyer’s sexploitation movies – films like ‘Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!’ (1965). Her work, including 2007’s ‘Viva’ and now the hugely entertaining ‘The Love Witch’, seems plucked from the same Playboy-era universe of huge hairdos, heavy make-up and voracious female appetites. But Meyer could never make a psychodrama as sophisticated as this.
The love witch also explores themes of gender and power. Elaine uses her sexuality and magic to manipulate men, but ultimately finds herself trapped in a cycle of desire and disappointment. The film raises questions about the nature of love and the lengths people will go to find it. While the love witch has been praised for its unique style and feminist perspective, it is not without its flaws. The pacing can be slow at times, and the film's plot is somewhat predictable. However, these minor issues do not detract from the overall impact of the film. In conclusion, the love witch is a visually stunning and thought-provoking film that pays homage to the melodramas of the past while offering a fresh and feminist take on the genre. It is definitely worth a watch for fans of vintage cinema and those interested in exploring themes of love and power..
Reviews for "The Love Witch Blu-ray: Elevating the Film's Cinematic Beauty"
1. John - 2 stars - I was disappointed with "The Love Witch" Blu-ray. The movie itself was pretty average, and the picture quality on the Blu-ray didn't enhance the experience at all. The colors looked oversaturated and unnatural, and it was distracting throughout the film. I also found the bonus features on the disc to be lackluster. Overall, I wouldn't recommend spending extra money on the Blu-ray version if you're not a die-hard fan of the movie.
2. Sarah - 1 star - I really did not enjoy "The Love Witch" on Blu-ray. The visuals were overdone and the picture quality was subpar. The film itself was slow and lacked a compelling story. I was expecting a witchcraft-driven thriller, but instead, it felt more like a cheap soap opera. The audio quality was also disappointing, with some dialogue being muffled and difficult to understand. Save your money and watch something else.
3. Mike - 2 stars - "The Love Witch" Blu-ray did not live up to my expectations. The film itself was a slow burn, and while some may appreciate its homage to '60s horror, I found it tedious. The picture quality was decent, but not exceptional for a Blu-ray release. The special features were also lacking; there was not much to explore or learn about the making of the film. Overall, I was left underwhelmed by the Blu-ray experience and would recommend seeking alternative viewing options.
4. Emily - 1.5 stars - The Love Witch Blu-ray edition was a letdown. The film itself had potential with its unique concept, but the execution fell flat. The picture quality was average at best, lacking the vibrancy and depth one would expect from a Blu-ray release. The bonus features were hardly worth mentioning, as they provided little insight into the filmmaking process. Overall, I found the Blu-ray version to be a waste of money and would discourage others from purchasing it.
5. David - 2.5 stars - "The Love Witch" on Blu-ray had its flaws. While the visuals were impressive at times, the overall picture quality left much to be desired. The colors felt too subdued, and the image lacked the sharpness expected from a high-definition release. Additionally, the film itself was too slow-paced and failed to fully captivate my attention. The bonus features were also mediocre, offering little substance. Overall, I wouldn't consider "The Love Witch" Blu-ray a must-have for collectors or fans of the film.