Sweden Porno: Blonde Animal – 88 Films (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1972
Director: Masanao Sakao
Writer: Masanao Sakao
Cast: Annette Albisson, Helen Sanderholm, Jim Steffe

Release Date: December 16th, 2024
Approximate running time: 63 Minutes 6 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 18 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: £16.99 (UK)

"Partner swapping and the corruption of innocence and young love are the focus of this uniquely Japanese take on the “Swedish Sin” phenomenon." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "High Definition Blu-Ray Presentation In 2.35:1 Aspect Ratio."

Sweden Porno: Blonde Animal comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 23.8 GB

Feature: 17.4 GB

The source is in great shape; flesh tones look healthy, colors are nicely saturated, black levels are strong, and image clarity and compression are solid. That said, there are moments when grain looks thicker than others.

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Japanese with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds clean, clear, and balanced, and range-wise ambient sounds are well represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a stills gallery with music from the film playing in the background, a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 26 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable), an interview with Johan Nordström titled Swedish Sin (17 minutes 31 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with Rickard Gramfors and Jasper Sharp, removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings and a 16-page booklet with cast & crew information, and an essay titled Pink Sweden - Japanese Smut, Scandinavian Style written by David Flint.

Included is a DVD that has the same content as the Blu-ray.

Summary:

A swinger couple befriends a young couple and convinces them to swap partners. Instead of pulling the young couple apart, the experience brings them closer.

Four films inspired by the Swedish Sin cinema movement of the 1970s were made and released by Nikkatsu. The films made by the same company, labeled as Swedish Sin, differ significantly from romantic pornography films. Two areas where Swedish Sin is different from romantic pornography films are that only Swedish actors (despite being dubbed in Japanese) are in them, and in most sex scenes, underwear remains on. Additionally, Nikkatsu's Swedish Sin films feels tame in comparison to romantic pornography films.

The narrative is nothing more than a means to showcase a series of erotic moments. Dialog is minimal, and the narrative is padded with exterior moments of characters walking and nightclub dancing. At 63 minutes in length, the narrative tends to drag, never gaining any momentum. The acting is impossible to judge, since dubbing all the actors in a language they did not speak creates an awkward vibe. When it comes to the visuals, they are flat and could have been directed by another. Ultimately, Sweden Porno: Blonde Animal is a novelty film and nothing more.

Sweden Porno: Blonde Animal gets a first-rate release from 88 Films that comes with strong audio/video presentation and a trio of insightful extras.

Written by Michael Den Boer