Tinto Brass has certainly had an interesting career; covering almost every genre there is. The Howl proves, be it softcore or surreal, that Brass is a master of his craft!
FILM- If you notice in all of my review, I always give a summery of the film, then my evaluation. This was my hardest review yet; because unlike Fernando Arrabal, who's films had a plot, this film has none. It is a rapid fire of images, sounds, and social commentary. A quick sentence would be the best summery I could give- a woman flees her wedding with an ex con and they take several trips to such locations as a cannibal infested forests, a town full of military violence, and give a motivational speech at a prison. See what I mean? It's almost impossible to describe this jewel of images. What I will attempt to put into words is my love for the film. The settings, images, sounds- all amazing. It really reminds me of Alice in Wonderland in some ways, without the innocence. Despite it's nature, it fits together perfectly. It's not like seeing a steak laying in a freshly mowed lawn, which makes no logical sense; everything in this film makes sense in a way that makes no sense. Even giving an evaluation of this films is becoming just a jumble of words and mental images. Be warned, this is not for the casual moviegoer; I'm sure even some surreal fan will not like this movie, because it is insanity put on film. This is an experience. Saying it is a movie is like saying we can see air; possible, yet impossible. Ignore the fact that you are sitting in your living room and let this film engulf you. 9/10.
PICTURE/ AUDIO- A fitting transfer to this surreal masterpiece. Gritty, dark, off balance and scarred. The transfer matches this film exactly like the transfer matched Pig, only in a different way. 8/10.
The audio is the same as the picture. A great fit. One problem was there was some volume fading in a few places. Seeing as this film has blemish free subtitles, it's not really an issue. 7/10.
EXTRAS- Cult Epics included: an audio commentary with Brass, a great still gallery, and trailers. Seeing as how this was a film I had never heard of, I expected no extras- I was pleasantly surprised. 7/10.
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