The Image

While attending a dull, bourgeois party in the heart of Paris, Jean is transfixed by the shy, yet strikingly beautiful Anne. Although barely able to interact, Jean remains preoccupied by her mysterious and on-edge demeanor. After a chance encounter with Anne's housemate-cum-lover, the stern and older Claire, Jean is delighted by an invitation to join them for an afternoon at the park. However, as the day progresses, he is shocked to discover that Anne is engaged in a strange, sadomasochistic relationship with Claire, in which she must adhere to Claire's every whim, no matter how grotesque. Sensing his enthusiasm, Claire decides to invite Jean to their home and slowly begins ingratiating him into her and Anne's unusual lifestyle.

One of director Radley Metzger's (Camille 2000) most memorable and unsettling films, THE IMAGE, adapted from the controversial novel of the same name written by Catherine Robbe-Grillet, is an equally artful and sadistic study of bondage, submission, and psychological manipulation. Starring Rebecca Brooke (aka Mary Mendum; The 1001 Perversions of Felicia), Carl Parker (Score), Marilyn Roberts (Futz), and Valerie Marron (Wet Rainbow), and featuring some of the most striking visuals of Metzger's career, courtesy of cinematographer Robert Lefebvre (One Step to Eternity), this stylish French-American co-production remained barely seen for decades, while still developing a growing cult following. Newly restored in 4K from its original 35mm camera negative, and featuring an incredibly informative audio commentary track, this perversely beautiful and hypnotic erotic masterpiece at last comes to 4K UHD from Melusine.