Blu-Ray Review: Ms. 45

By Brad Henderson

Drafthouse Films kills it yet again with another fantastic release. A few years after Abel Ferrara made Driller Killer, he hit us in the face with a smaller flick called Ms. 45. This was a rape and revenge film that pushed the limits back in 1981 and received an X rating during its release.

Abel Ferrara is known for his rawness and brutality but goes a little above and beyond in Ms. 45. A young girl who is mute gets assaulted twice in one evening and then decides to go on a rampage, killing any man that gets in her way. She uses her looks and a .45 to go hunting at night, looking for males on the streets of New York.

Drafthouse Films has gone out of their way to bring us the best possible transfer of Ms. 45 and packed it with many special features and interviews, along with something I consider something very personal and special: a 32-page booklet including an essay written by the star of the film, Zoe Lund. It also includes entries from critics and film lovers on how much this film means to them.

Ms. 45 needs to be seen by everyone and I think that’s Drafthouse Films’ ultimate goal. They have quite the catalogue now and with these older films getting reissued, they are making a name for themselves fast. With films like Wake In Fright, Miami Connection, The Visitor, and now Ms. 45, they are showing their diverse taste and taking us on a journey to the bizarre side of cinema.

Yes, these films are completely different and don’t really share anything in common aside from being what I consider landmarks in entertainment. It’s true that these films didn’t do too well upon their release and have been mostly forgotten, but they’ve all gathered a cult following, being resurrected and loved by thousands. That is the point of Drafthouse Films; they are noticing what the public shunned long ago and giving these films another chance. I would say a couple of these were released before their time and others were just ignored because they were in such limited release at the time or just too goofy for people to take seriously.

I’m excited to know what other lost gems Drafthouse Films will be releasing and will be right here waiting. . . like Richard Marx. . . oh yes, Richard Marx.

Ms. 45 will be released on Blu-Ray from Drafthouse Films on March 25.