7/10
The '70s produced a long line of movies that could only be made within the free-wheeling, offbeat sensibilities of that decade – hence “The Mafu Cage,” a weird, downbeat tale of two sisters: button-downed astronomer Lee Grant and her off-kilter sibling Carol Kane. The duo were raised in Africa by their now-deceased primatologist father, with Kane's daffy behavior none too subtly disguising a permanently deranged mind – one that becomes gradually unhinged once her older sister becomes infatuated with one of her co-workers (James Olson).
Director Karen Arthur's movie works because much of it relies on the central performances of Grant and especially Kane, who's dynamic and convincing in a chilling role – it's a shame Kane would end up mostly relegated to comedic turns in the years thereafter, as she's terrific as a dramatic lead in this film. Don Chastain's script does not offer any surprises – and the ending leads exactly where you'd expect it to (after all, it's the '70s) – but between the performances, Carol Littleton's editorial work and John Bailey's cinematography, “The Mafu Cage” scores as a unique, if sordid, tale of sexual repression, mental illness and sibling dysfunction – when it's over, you can safely say you've never seen anything quite like it.
Scorpion's Blu-Ray transfer of “The Mafu Cage” is superb, featuring a new 2K scan of the original, recently-discovered original interpositive (1.78) with clear mono sound. Commentary from Karen Arthur, and a “bonus” commentary with Bailey and Littleton, highlight the supplemental package, with on-camera interviews featuring Arthur, Grant, Kane, Bailey and Littleton, and composer Roger Kellaway. The trailer rounds out a picture worth tracking down for the curious movie buff.
