Search - The Mafu Cage on DVD

Terrible transfer of a good movie (OOP VHS are better)

Christopher K. Philippo | Troy, NY United States | 04/11/2005

(2 out of 5 stars)

"My rating refers to the DVD, not to the movie itself.

I own one of the out of print videocassettes of this movie, which I really enjoyed (I'll post a review on the IMDb). One of my favorite horror movies directed by a woman.

I hoped this DVD would be an upgrade. Unfortunately, it's a bad transfer with no extras.  Even my 1989 Magnum Entertainment VHS of it is better.  For example, just looking at the opening shots of the movie, a dark kite-shaped African hanging has white markings on it in the VHS; in the DVD it is pretty much completely black.  When Carol Kane first comes into shot on the VHS, we see her long red hair hanging down off a hammock.  On the DVD, her hair and the background are so dark you can't tell the color or even differentiate the two much.  The DVD does have the apparently original title "The Mafu Cage," while the VHS has just "The Cage."  Even the box art for the VHS is better.  But for people who don't want to shell out for a used copy of the VHS ($10.99-$79.95 on Amazon zShops), I guess the DVD will have to do for now.  Karen Arthur and her cinematographer John Bailey can't be happy though."

In a Class by Itself

mackjay | Cambridge, MA | 07/13/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"THE MAFU CAGE is one of the strangest films ever made with established actors. It really doesn't fit any category very well. Elements of horror and psychology are mixed with modern gothic melodrama to make a heady brew that has to be seen to be believed. Describing THE MAFU CAGE to others may make them laugh, but showing it to them will have another effect. As odd as it is, this film is compulsively watchable. The viewer is never certain what will happen next. It's always fascinating to watch well known actors involved in off-beat material, and this is one of the very best examples. It's unfortunate that the DVD transfer is somewhat murky and out of aspect ratio. But anyone interested should not be deterred by that."