Ms.45 – BLU-RAY | 4K UHD LIMITED EDITION

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Abel Ferrara, a director known for pushing boundaries, has created an extensive body of work – 54 films so far – including notable titles like King of New York and Bad Lieutenant. At 73, he continues to direct. He first gained attention – and controversy – with his 1979 film Driller Killer, which was banned in the UK, and followed it up with another provocative film, Ms. 45, in 1981.

The 1980 film takes place in New York City and follows Thana (Zoe Lund), a seamstress who is brutally attacked twice – first on her way home from work, and then by a burglar in her own apartment. This time, however, she defends herself, seriously injuring her attacker with an iron, taking his gun, and dismembering his body. Haunted by her experiences, Thana becomes convinced that danger lurks around every corner and decides to take matters into her own hands, arming herself with a .45 caliber pistol.

Similar to Driller Killer, this film was co-written by Nicholas St. John, and despite the director’s claims, it’s clearly an exploitation movie. The original release was cut due to scenes of rape and dismemberment, but this new 4K UHD limited edition restores that footage. The upgrade also enhances the gritty depiction of New York City, which was famously filmed guerilla-style due to the film’s low budget and lack of filming permits. As the story unfolds, the main character, played by Lund, becomes increasingly disturbed by the violence, killing men – who are almost all portrayed as unlikeable – whenever she gets the chance. She also becomes more sexualized, wearing increasingly heavy makeup and ultimately a nun’s habit with stockings. The film culminates in a striking party scene – complete with a musician playing a trumpet that sounds like a saxophone – reminiscent of Brian De Palma’s style, shot in slow motion.

Despite difficult filming conditions, Ms.45 is a surprisingly effective thriller, largely thanks to a compelling performance from Zoe Lund, who was just 17 at the time. Lund’s own life was remarkable and could have been a film in itself. She secured the audition by contacting director Abel Ferrara directly, and quickly won the role. However, her life soon took a dark turn. She moved to Italy and became addicted to heroin, which severely impacted her mental state. She falsely claimed involvement with the Red Brigade, even asserting she had re-edited Ms.45 and toured Italy showing it to raise funds. Sadly, Zoe Lund died in 1999 at the age of 37 from heart failure related to her drug use.

This limited edition 4k UHD & Blu-ray has a host of bonus features that includes….

  • Brand new 4K restoration by Arrow Films from the original 35mm camera negative
    • 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
    • Original lossless mono audio
    • Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
    • Brand new audio commentary by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, author of Rape Revenge Films: A Critical Study and Cultographies: Ms. 45
    • The Voice of Violence, a new featurette with film critic BJ Colangelo
    • Where Dreams Go to Die, a new featurette with film critic Kat Ellinger
    • Archive interview with director Abel Ferrara
    • Archive interview with composer Joe Delia
    • Archive interview with creative consultant Jack McIntyre
    • Zoe XO, a 2004 short film directed by Paul Rachman
    • Zoe Rising, a 2011 short film directed by Paul Rachman
    • Theatrical trailer
    • Image gallery
    • Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sister Hyde
    • Perfect bound collector’s book featuring new writing by Robert Lund, previously unseen photographs of Zoë Lund, plus select archival material including writing by Kier-La Janisse and Brad Stevens
    • Double-sided fold-out poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sister Hyde

The most engaging parts of this release are the short interviews. It would have been even better with commentary from the director and star, but instead we get a scholarly analysis by film critic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas. The featurette ‘Where Dreams Go to Die’ feels like a film school thesis project. However, the film itself looks great thanks to a solid transfer, and it’s a compelling watch. It’s similar to ‘Death Wish,’ but told from a female perspective, and came out in 1974 – the same year Charles Bronson started his ‘Death Wish’ sequels in 1982.

Fans of Italian filmmaker Luigi Ferrera, or those who enjoy classic exploitation films, will definitely want to own this movie. It’s also a quick watch, clocking in at just under 80 minutes.

Here’s the Ms.45 trailer…..

Ms.45 is released on Limited Edition 4K UHD on 27th October 2025

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2025-10-25 02:24