Reform School Girls Blu-ray delivers great video and superb audio in this exceptional Blu-ray release
Jenny is sent to a women's reform school. It is run by evil warden Sutter and her henchwoman Edna. Jenny will stop at nothing to escape but she also has to deal with Charlie the bully.
For more about Reform School Girls and the Reform School Girls Blu-ray release, see Reform School Girls Blu-ray Review published by Brian Orndorf on March 25, 2022 where this Blu-ray release scored 4.5 out of 5.
Women in prison pictures already contain elements that border on parody, but co-writer/director Tom DeSimone offers a comedic take on the harsh
realities of such an experience with 1986's "Reform School Girls." A veteran of two similar features ("Prison Girls" and "The Concrete Jungle"),
DeSimone loses patience with playing it straight, going a bit wild with this offering of juvenile delinquency and institutional madness. The camp factor
is dialed up just a bit from the usual women in prison routine, but it's clear DeSimone is trying to have fun with this one, playing to his appreciative
audience with grand displays of overacting, intimidation, and chaos, endeavoring to throw a screen party with the movie, which plays right into cult
film sensibilities.
Jenny (Linda Carol) is busted after participating in an armed robbery, sentenced to three years at the Pridemore Juvenile Facility. She's joined by
another newcomer, Lisa (Sherri Stoner), with the pair soon experiencing the tough routine set by Edna (Pat Ast), the head matron of Pridemore,
who delights in tormenting the teenage girls she's in charge of. While Warden Sutter (Sybil Danning) attempts to be an authority figure, the inmates
are out of control, with Lisa encountering threats from Charlie (Wendy O. Williams), a longtime resident of Pridemore who's created a gang to back
her up, looking to physically brand new members. Jenny, eager to escape, hunts for a way out of the facility, facing the corruption of Edna and the
violence of Charlie as she tries to survive inside.
DeSimone pays attention to the formula of women in prison pictures in "Reform School Girls," with Jenny representing the newcomer to such
menacing confinement. She faces disdain from Charlie, the top inmate who doesn't take kindly to others, and there's gleeful humiliation from Edna,
who lives to make the young woman miserable, riding the high of power. More sensitive is Lisa, who comes to Pridemore unwillingly, rattled by her
past, which is filled with abuse and neglect, bringing her to a point of psychological shut-down while dealing with the tough realities of the facility.
DeSimone introduces a few unnervingly real emotions during the run time, but the majority of "Reform School Girls" is devoted to exploitation, with
the women parading around in skimpy sleepwear and underwear, and time is set aside for shower sequences, supporting the movie's R-rating.
Something of a story develops in "Reform School Girls" concerning Jenny's desire to escape, trying to sneak and sleep her way out of Pridemore,
which never works as she imagines it will. There's Dr. Norton (Charlotte McGinnis) as well, with the Pridemore psychologist gradually becoming
aware that all is not well with Warden Sutter's leadership. Conflicts are present to make the picture a bit more dramatically meaningful, but
DeSimone seems to know what he's here to do, highlighting rising tensions among the inmates, with Charlie looking for any opportunity to assert
her dominance. Williams makes an impression in the part, even with her amateur actor status, and she successfully classifies "Reform School Girls"
as a fantasy film with her casting as a teenage character, actually pushing 40 years of age at time of production. She looks it, but that's part of the
feature's appeal, as DeSimone strives to exaggerate nearly everything in the movie, including Ast's take on Edna.
The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is sourced from a 2K scan of the 35mm interpositive. Detail offers slight softness, but certain
textures are present throughout the viewing experience, especially with skin particulars, which are plentiful in the movie. School interiors are
dimensional and costuming is reasonably fibrous, handling a lot of undergarments and crisper uniforms on the staff. Exteriors also retain depth. Colors
are handled well, securing school decoration and clothing choices, which present distinct primaries. Skintones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory.
Grain is heavy but film-like. Source is in good condition.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix maintains the rock mood with a louder presence and clear instrumentation for soundtrack selections. Scoring offers distinct
synth support. Dialogue exchanges are satisfactorily defined, handling broad performances and school commotion without distortive extremes.
Commentary #1 features writer/director Tom DeSimone.
Commentary #2 features film historian Elizabeth Purchell.
"So Young, So Bad, So What" (HD) is the making-of for "Reform School Girls," with Part 1 (10:13) exploring early career
ambition with writer/director Tom DeSimone, who was desperate the collect experience in the industry, making finding his way to the adult film
business. With 1977's "Chatterbox" and 1981's "Hell Night," DeSimone had hits, which gave him a chance to build his career. With two women in
prison pictures on his filmography, the helmer was finally ready to go camp with "Reform School Girls." Superfans Michael Varrati and Peaches Christ
also appear to discuss the male gaze of the movie, and its appeal to both straight and gay audiences. The pair also detail the ingredients of every
women in prison endeavor.
"Namby Pamby" (11:47) is Part 2 of the making-of, delving into casting stories with DeSimone, who pursued Pat Ast for
her part, and had to be talked into working with Sybil Danning, with New World Pictures adamant she join the film to spice up the poster. Wendy O.
Williams had a list of demands, but she brought something special to her part, with Peaches Christ and Varrati detailing her status as punk rock
royalty. Kat Guerra and Laura Lee Kasten join the documentary to explore extras casting, and actresses Darcy DeMoss, Tiffany Helm, Winifred
Freeman, and Lorrie Marlowe share their memories from the shoot, noting the cliquish behavior on-set.
"Blue Moonlight" (16:08) is Part 3 of the making-of, introducing cinematographer Howard Wexler to the conversation, who
shares his early interests in film and desire to make movies. Locations for "Reform School Girls" are recalled, with time spent inside an abandoned
high school, and Wexler details his visual choices, feeling a bit embarrassed by the use of excessive blue light in the picture. The cast returns to share
anecdotes about Wendy O. Williams and Pat Ast, and the shower scene is analyzed, with Tiffany Helm fired from the production for backing out of
nudity requirements.
"Break the Establishment" (16:18) is part 4 of the making-of, exploring the long days encountered during the "Reform
School Girls" shoot, including the riot sequence, which involved a few injuries. Dan Siegel arrives to discuss his music for the film, and all the creative
challenges he encountered. The release of "Reform School Girls" is recalled, and the interviewees examine the cult longevity of the movie.
"Pat Ast: Superstar" (7:34, HD) is an interview with press agent and theatrical producer Alan Eichler, who tracks the life
and times of the "Reform School Girls" star, also sharing his working experience with her on the play, "Women Behind Bars."
"Ode to Wendy" (6:44, HD) is an appreciation piece for Wendy O. Williams from journalist Breanna Whipple.
"Women Behind Bars" (72:07, SD) presents video footage from the play.
And a Theatrical Trailer #1 (2:21) and Trailer #2 (:56) is included.
"Reform School Girls" naturally concludes with a riot scenario, but there's hellraising throughout the endeavor as DeSimone tries to get his money's
worth out of Williams and her natural way with raspy intimidation. Not everything clicks in the feature, as the writing periodically runs out of ideas, and
Danning isn't used to her full potential as Warden Sutter, weirdly turned into wallpaper as the rest of the cast goes hog wild in their roles. "Reform
School Girls" isn't a completely wild ride, but it has many highlights and acts of insanity to maintain entertainment value, successfully pantsing and
participating in the strange world of women in prison pictures.
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Vinegar Syndrome will release a standard retail edition of Tom DeSimone's Reform School Girls (1986), starring Linda Carol, Wendy O. Williams, Pat Ast, Sybil Danning, and Charlotte McGinnis. The release will be available for purchase on April 26.
Vinegar Syndrome has announced its March match of 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray releases. They are: Reform School Girls (1986), Talons of the Eagle (1992), X-Ray/Schizoid (1980-1982), and Hard Rock Zombies/Slaughterhouse Rock (1985-1988).
Use the thumbs up and thumbs down icons to agree or disagree that the title is similar to Reform School Girls. You can also suggest completely new similar titles to Reform School Girls in the search box below.
