Bizarre

Better known as Secrets of Sex, this oddball mixture of suspense and softcore sex (narrated by a mummy, no less) gets an attractive North American DVD release from the folks at Synapse Films. While packaged as Bizarre, the print used for this edition still features the Secrets of Sex title card, and has been transferred to disc in letterboxed format at the widescreen aspect ratio of 1.66:1. The source print is in beautiful condition, and the transfer makes the most of the film's vivid color scheme. The audio has been mastered in Dolby Digital Mono, and the results sound sharp and well defined. The dialogue is in English, with no multiple language options or subtitles included. Bonus materials include an onscreen interview with screenwriter and actor Elliott Stein; a commentary track from the film's executive producer Richard Gordon (who, prompted by writer and cult film historian Tom Weaver, delivers a dry but informative chat); the film's original trailer; an entertaining essay on the film from Chris Poggiali; and two experimental films from the film's director, Anthony Balch, Towers Open Fire and The Cut Ups, both of which were made in collaboration with underground literary icon William S. Burroughs. While this movie is hardly a masterpiece under any title, Synapse has certainly given it a great presentation on disc, which certainly plays to its campy strengths.