Who Wants to Kill Jessie? – Second Run (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Czechoslovakia, 1966
Director: Václav Vorlícek
Writers: Milos Macourek, Václav Vorlícek
Cast: Dana Medrická, Jirí Sovák, Olga Schoberová, Juraj Visny, Karel Effa,Vladimír Mensík, Karel Houska

Release Date: August 25th, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 82 Minutes 25 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 12 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Czech
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: £14.99 (UK)

"A scientist creates a serum designed to calm the dreams of restless cows but tests it out on her husband, who has been dreaming about the adventures of comic book heroine Jessie. Disaster ensues when the drug causes the characters from her husband's dreams to manifest in the real world...." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Presented from a new HD transfer of best existing materials by the Czech National Film Archive."

Who Wants to Kill Jessie? comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 43.1 GB

Feature: 23.2 GB

The source has moderate debris and other imperfections. Flesh tones look healthy, image clarity, contrast, and black levels are strong, there are no issues with compression, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 4/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Czech with removable English. The audio sounds clear and balanced, and ambient sounds are well represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an interview with film historian Michael Brooke on crazy Czech comedies (47 minutes 4 seconds, LPCM stereo English with removable English subtitles for Czech film clips), a short film by Václav Vorlíček titled Directive (23 minutes 28 seconds, 1.37:1 aspect ratio, LPCM mono Czech with removable English subtitles), a Projection Booth audio commentary with film historians Mike White, Jim Laczkowski, and Jonathan Owen, and a 24-page booklet with an essay written by Jonathan Owen and cast & crew information.

Directive (Direktiva): A directive is given to a composer who recently married a singer in a socialist youth group going to Warsaw to perform that he should not accompany her.

Summary:

Who Wants to Kill Jessie? was co-written and directed by Václav Vorlícek, whose other notable films are The End of Agent W4C, You Are a Widow, Sir!, The Girl on a Broomstick, and Three Wishes for Cinderella.

A scientist invents a machine designed to filter out nightmares, replacing them with soothing imagery. While using it on her husband, who is dreaming about a comic book character, she discovers an unexpected side effect: the machine brings objects and people from dreams into the real world.

Who Wants to Kill Jessie? is a fantasy/sci-fi film that’s laced with absurdist humor and infused with pop art cinema that rose to prominence in the 1960s. The premise—an invention that brings comic book characters into the real world—is exceptionally well-executed. The narrative is filled with exaggerated scenarios that seamlessly integrate with the humor, which consistently lands effectively.

Although things start off straight in the opening setup, they take a dramatic turn into the realm of fantasy once the comic book characters are unleashed from the husband's dreams. The wife's invention not only brings the comic book's heroine to life but also resurrects her two nemeses, who then chase her in the real world. The wife and the authorities attempt to eliminate Jessie and her two adversaries, only to fail miserably every time.

All around, the cast delivers outstanding performances, particularly Jirí Sovák as Doctor Jindrich Beránek, the absent-minded husband who has lost himself in Jessie's world. His character has many moments of comic relief, and his timing is impeccable. The main attraction is Olga Schoberová’s (The Vengeance of She) portrayal of Jessie. Although her character only speaks via comic book thought bubbles, through her physical presence she’s able to convey so much.

Despite the narrative being essentially a series of outrageous moments, it is always engaging and, more importantly, a lot of fun. That said, the narrative is briskly paced; it does a phenomenal job building to a Keystone Cops-like chase finale that culminates with one more tongue-in-cheek twist. Ultimately, Who Wants to Kill Jessie? is a perfect blend of reality and fantasy that fans of whimsical cinema should thoroughly enjoy.

Who Wants to Kill Jessie? gets a solid release from Second Run that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and insightful extras; highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer