Ms .45 (1981) (4K Ultra HD Review)
DIRECTED BY: Abel Ferrara
STARRING: Zoë Lund, Albert Sinkys, Darlene Stuto
RATED: R/Region: O/1:85/2160P/NUMBER OF DISCS 1
AVAILABLE FROM Arrow Video
Ms. 45 (1981) is one of those grimy, mean little exploitation films that somehow crawls out of the gutter and into arthouse territory without wiping its boots. Directed by Abel Ferrara at his most confrontational, this is less a “rape-revenge movie” and more a feral scream of rage aimed directly at early-’80s New York. It’s ugly, uncomfortable, and deliberately unpleasant—and that’s exactly why it works.
Zoë Lund (also credited as Zoë Tamerlis) gives a performance that’s shockingly powerful for a film this raw. As Thana, a mute seamstress pushed past the breaking point, she turns silence into a weapon. There’s no cathartic speechifying, no heroic framing—just a slow, unsettling transformation that makes you question whether you’re watching justice, madness, or some nightmarish blend of both. Ferrara refuses to make the violence easy to digest, and the film’s abrasive tone feels intentional rather than cheap.
Arrow Video’s 4K release is a genuine surprise. For a movie that’s long lived in murky, scratchy transfers, this presentation looks far better than anyone had a right to expect. The grain is beautifully preserved, the contrast is strong, and the filthy textures of NYC streets, dingy apartments, and sweaty clubs finally come through with clarity instead of looking like a VHS crime scene. It still looks rough—but now it looks purposefully rough.
What really elevates Ms. 45 is its refusal to comfort the audience. It doesn’t cheer Thana on, but it also doesn’t judge her. It just watches, unblinking, as the city itself seems to push her toward the inevitable. The film’s nihilism won’t be for everyone, but its commitment to mood, character, and moral ambiguity makes it linger long after the credits roll.
In the end, Ms. 45 is confrontational cinema at its most unapologetic—snarly, sleazy, and strangely compelling. Arrow Video’s unexpectedly strong 4K presentation gives this cult classic the respect it deserves, proving that even the grimiest films can look great when treated with care. Just don’t expect it to be polite.
Extras
- Audio Commentary is by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, whose expertise courtesy of her books Rape Revenge Films: A Critical Study and Cultographies: Ms. 45 is on fine display here.
- Interviews
- Director Abel Ferrara (HD; 7:45)
- Composer Joe Delia (HD; 10:06)
- Creative Consultant Jack MacIntyre (HD; 10:32)
- The Voice of Violence (HD; 18:56) is a new visual essay by BJ Colangelo.
- Where the Dream Went to Die (HD; 15:55) is a new visual essay by Kat Ellinger.
- Zoë XO (HD; 6:21) is the first of two pretty remarkable shorts by Paul Rachman, this one featuring Zoë’s husband Robert Lund.
- Zoë Rising (HD; ) is the second Rachman, this one featuring Zoë’s mother Barbara Lekberg as well as a vintage recording of a pretty astounding piano piece Zoe wrote when she was very young.
- Theatrical Trailer (HD; 1:44)
- Image Gallery (HD)
