Eugenie (1970) (4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray REVIEW)
Director: Jess Franco
Starring: Marie Liljedahl, Maria Rohm, Jack Taylor
RATED: UR/REGION 0/2:35/2160p/NUMBER OF DISCS 2
AVAILABLE FROM Blue Underground
1970’s Eugenie is a movie that a lot of folks call a forgotten masterpiece directed by the iconic director Jess Franco. The film is a psychological horror, drawing on the works of the Marquis de Sade and is considered to be one of Franco’s most acclaimed works. It was not widely seen upon its original release in 1970, but has since gained a cult following and is now regarded as a classic of the weird and erotic genre. This review will take a closer look at that but we can’t forget to mention stuff about the actual 4K release either.
Eugenie is a unique and important film in the canon of Jess Franco, who is widely recognized as one of the most influential cult directors in the history of cinema. The film features some of Franco’s signature touches that make his films so interesting and unconventional. For example, the camera movements often capture scenes in an oblique angle, while his editing techniques are often choppy and jumpy, adding to the surrealistic atmosphere of his work. Eugenie also contains one of Franco’s trademark themes—that of sexual freedom. Throughout the film, Franco challenges conventions by pushing the boundaries of what is socially acceptable. This boldness makes Eugenie a powerful statement about human sexuality and freedom, and makes it an important piece of art.
Beyond its progressive and daring themes, Eugenie is also important for its innovative cinematography. As with many of Franco’s films, Eugenie employs many unique camera angles and lighting techniques that create a dream-like atmosphere. This evocative use of imagery and sound transports viewers to another world, making it a truly remarkable experience. In addition to being a great artistic achievement, Eugenie is also important because it was one of the first films to bring attention to the then-little known director, Jess Franco. Through Eugenie, Franco was able to showcase his immense talent and gain recognition for his unorthodox style of filmmaking. To this day, the film remains an important testament to Franco’s genius and is an essential piece of his body of work. That is all captured very well here in 4K, as Blue Underground once again has hit a home run in the transferring old films to 4K department. The disc is a great release and a great example of why it is always worth checking these movies out on a 4K disc.
Extras
- 4K RESTORATION OF THE FILM FROM THE ORIGINAL CAMERA NEGATIVE
- DOLBY VISION/HDR PRESENTATION OF THE FILM
- NEW Jack Taylor in the Francoverse – Interview with Star Jack Taylor
- NEW Audio Commentary with Film Historians Nathaniel Thompson and Troy Howarth
- Perversion Stories – Interviews with Director Jess Franco, Writer/Producer Harry Alan Towers, and Stars Marie Liljedahl & Christopher Lee
- Stephen Thrower on EUGENIE – Interview with the author of “Murderous Passions: The Delirious Cinema of Jesus Franco”
- Theatrical Trailer
- NEWLY EXPANDED! Poster & Still Gallery
- Audio: English (1.0 DTS-HD MA); French (1.0 DTS-HD MA)
- Subtitles: English SDH, Français, Español
- Limited Edition embossed “windowed” slipcover with alternate title (First Pressing Only)
