Flesh+Blood | Blu-ray Review

A film easy to admire but equally hard to love, Paul Verhoeven’s 1985 film Flesh+Blood, his last title to make it to DVD about a decade ago, gets an exciting Blu-ray transfer this month. Notable in multiple regards, this was the last infamous collaboration between Verhoeven and his star Rutger Hauer, the pair having completed five previous films. Reportedly a grueling shoot, and the rising tensions between director and star didn’t help anything, this was also Verhoeven’s first English language film, the first time he didn’t use storyboards, and the last film he would make in his native Netherlands for two decades. While this sounds like a recipe for disaster, there is more to praise than damn in this ambitiously realized portrait of Medieval Europe that’s worthy of reconsideration.

It’s Western Europe in 1510, and amidst the bloodletting, Bubonic plague, and scourging of lands, a good man is hard to find. Ousted from his kingdom, angry nobleman Arnolfini (Fernando Hilbeck) promises a crew of mercenaries led by warrior Martin (Rutger Hauer) that if they help him reclaim his castle, he’ll let them pillage the homes of the rich for twenty four hours. But Arnolfini doesn’t live up to his promise and dispatches Hawkwood (Jack Thompson) to rid his kingdom of Martin’s people. Hawkwood’s son, Steven (Tom Burlinson) is hardly pleased with these happenings but there’s little he can do to stop Arnolfini’s wishes. Cast out of the kingdom, Martin and his men plot revenge, which they are able to exact by kidnapping Steven’s virginal bride-to-be, Agnes (Jennifer Jason Leigh). However, Agnes develops considerable feelings for Martin, which causes strife for Martin’s previous main squeeze, Celine (Susan Tyrrell).

Verhoeven’s intention was to right the cinematic wrongs of medieval representation. It was a time of chaos and depravity, and hardly the mannered, just environment that classic depictions seemed to cherish. Spewing with blood, rape, and violence, there is no good vs. evil, only man vs. man. For these reasons, Flesh+Blood may be one of the best examples of its ilk. Sprawled somewhere into a certain region of Europe, it doesn’t help that English is so readily used, but curiously this would be Verhoeven’s entry into the language, which brought him next to Hollywood for Robocop (1987).

Always keen to explore the baseness of humanity, generally through an exaggerated fury, this film is no exception. Sexuality is at the forefront of the tableau, and Verhoeven, against popular rhetoric of the time, even includes a gay couple, one of whom is played by Bruno Kirby. And then there’s the gang rape scene with Jennifer Jason Leigh, an actress handpicked by Verhoeven (Rebecca De Mornay was originally sought but she demanded boyfriend Tom Cruise be the lead). It’s actually not the only 1980s gang rape scene with Leigh, and is perhaps less perverse than what she undergoes in Uli Edel’s Last Exit to Brooklyn (1989).

Both Leigh and Hauer give standout performances in a large cast, and it was reputed that there was high competition for screen time, so much so that the film was dubbed Flesh+Blood+Elbows. Verhoeven also makes excellent use of the great Susan Tyrell, once again a perversely monstrous feminine creature.

Disc Review

Even in this Blu-ray transfer, some significant damage to the film’s print is often quite evident, with many instances of pronounced grain making a continual appearance. Despite this, it’s certainly the best way to be able to see the film, though it’s too bad that a more enhanced restoration wasn’t possible. Kino Lorber includes audio commentary from Verhoeven that is highly recommended.

Composing Flesh+Blood Featurette:
Basil Poledouris speaks for about twelve minutes on his creation of the score for the film and reveals a few anecdotes about working with Verhoeven.

Final Thoughts

An examination of medieval Europe that attempts to correctly reconcile romantic notions with exaggerated realism, Flesh+Blood is a lost mid-80’s classic from an underrated and challenging auteur.

Film: ★★★½/☆☆☆☆☆
Disc: ★★★½/☆☆☆☆☆