Santa Sangre

After over 20 years, Severin Films announces the release of Alejandro Jodorowsky's internationally acclaimed 'SANTA SANGRE'. The 1989 production, rarely seen since its U.S. theatrical release, comes to Blu-ray and DVD featuring a restored print of the film's European version as well as 5 hours of Bonus Material.

Jodorowsky exploded onto the international scene in the early 70's with his bizarre sensations 'EL TOPO' and 'HOLY MOUNTAIN'. Endorsed by John Lennon, who released 'EL TOPO's soundtrack on the Beatles Apple label, and embraced by underground culture worldwide, these films redefined movies as both art and entertainment while almost single-handedly creating the 'midnight movie' genre. Legal frustrations with the films' owner (and Beatles' disreputable manager) Allen Klein, as well as a failed attempt to direct a 14-hour movie adaptation of `Dune' starring Orson Welles and Salvador Dali, kept Jodorowsky from making films for 16 years until his triumphant return with 'SANTA SANGRE'.

Blanca Guerra, Guy Stockwell and the filmmaker's sons Axel and Adan Jodorowsky star in this surreal epic about a young circus performer, the crime of passion that shatters his soul, and the macabre journey back to the world of his armless mother, tattooed-strongman father and deaf-mute lover. "This is a movie like none I have seen before," wrote Roger Ebert in his original four-star review, "a wild kaleidoscope of images and outrages, a collision between Freud and Fellini." It contains blood and glory, saints and sinners, drug addicts and dealers, pimps and prostitutes, side-show freaks and the disenfranchised, circuses and churches, the pious and the perverse, as well as other unspeakable secrets of the night. And it's delivered to us wrapped in a parade of bold and flamboyant imagery, with Alejandro Jodorowsky as the circus ringmaster. SANTA SANGRE is a movie in which the inner chambers of the soul are laid bare.
A bizarre love triangle turns deadly when a circus strongman, Orgo, is caught fooling around with a tattooed woman by his wife, Concha, an aerial performer. Incensed, Concha throws acid on him, and Orgo retaliates by sawing off her arms before killing himself. All of this transpires before the eyes of their young son, Fenix (Adan Jodorowsky), who goes insane and is sent to an institution.
Years later, Fenix (now portrayed by Axel Jodorowsky, Adan's older brother, in a fantastic performance) is rescued by his armless mother and returns to the circus. Embittered by the tragic events, Concha now plans revenge, but needs assistance from her emotionally broken son. Violence spawns more violence in this terrifying, color-saturated psychedelic and unforgettable film by a master visionary who is worthy of more recognition than he's ever received. Maybe now?

Bonus Features on the Blu-ray and two-disc DVD include deleted scenes, domestic and international trailers, an audio commentary with Jodorowsky, multiple documentaries, new on-camera interviews with the majority of the film's cast and crew, and the 81-year-old Chilean-born filmmaker/playwright/graphic artist/shaman.
This film must be seen several times to be believed - I have never viewed a nightmare brought to life with such conviction, beauty or perversity.

I had heard about this movie for years and always wanted to see it. I kept waiting and waiting and waiting for it to come out on DVD and it never did...at least not here in the U.S. So, I finally got fed up and bought a bootleg. A lot of the time the anticipation and hype cannot come close to living up to the reality. In this case, it did and then some. I literally loved this movie from the get-go. From the look, feel, characters, structure, music, etc...It was truly an incredible viewing experience. Unlike anything I have seen before.

Now that this Blu-Ray has come out I don't have to look at my washed out bootleg dvd anymore. I knew it would look great and it did not disappoint. The Tattoo Lady's tattoos really pop and you can make out every single one in fine detail. Little things I didn't notice before are now so very apparent, like Concha's earrings...they are arms!

The extras are also A+! I found them very informative and while some of it is repetitive from extra to extra you will find out a lot of new things about Santa Sangre.

Overall, top notch job by Severin with this Blu-Ray. Great care and work were put into an excellent release of this movie! I will state that this is not a movie for all tastes, but for those that "get" it this is a true cinematic experience. 5 stars and then some!!

Santa Sangre (Saint Blood) another film by visionary writer / director Alejandro Jodorowsky who also acted & directed El Topo and The Holy Mountain , I saw El Topo and The Holy Mountain on Video Years ago , didn't mind El Topo but didn't think much of The Holy Mountain back than so may watch it again as for Santa Sangre never saw it till now on Blu Ray even better and just to give some of you readers an idea what this movie is about a young circus performer , deaf and mute girlfriend who's mother is the tattooed woman who has an affair with the knife thrower , the father of the young circus performer & his wife catches them on the act , the mother of the young circus performer enrage with what she has seen throws acid on his privates and he takes revenge on her by amputating both her arms , the crime of passion that shatters his soul and the macabre journey back to the world of his armless mother , deaf mute lover and murder , starring Axel Jodorowsky , Blanca Guerra and Guy Stockwell who appeared in 30 movies and 200 television shows star in this epic surreal movie fully restored and featuring more than 5 hours of extras a Well Recorded Blu Ray with a Good Clear Picture but wasn't the best sounding Blu Ray I've heard only English 2 Channel Stereo & Italian Stereo and Spanish Mono than again this movie was filmed in 89 & from especial feautures and interviews I like Alejandro Jodorowsky's attitude and sense of humor , maybe weird and bizarre in some ways but a Good Psychological Thriller .

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