After the disappearance of her two children, nightclub hostess Eileen Maloney (Suzy Amis, The Ballad of Little Jo) is confronted in her home by an aggressive police lieutenant (Fred Ward, Henry and June) who subjects her to a series of ruthless interrogations. Detective Brann initially underestimates Eileen, but as their combative relationship deepens, the balance of power begins to shift, and the investigation becomes knotted with erotic tension. Directed by Beth B (Salvation!) and based on the play by Neal Bell (who co-wrote the screenplay), Two Small Bodies manages to be both a taut psychological thriller and a provocative dissection of the politics of sex and power.

For thoughts on Two Small Bodies, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/DfA60BshMLU?si=qcktd2wq1pTjJ54y&t=3221]

Video Quality

Two Small Bodies debuts on Blu-Ray with a digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1 from a new 5K restoration performed by Kino Lorber and IndieCollect under the supervision of Beth B. The new presentation provides a magnificent viewing experience that represents the film in its ideal state. Clarity and detail are in top form, and skin tones are consistent and natural with some distinct facial features apparent in closeup. Colors are slightly stylized to fit the mood of the narrative with good saturation. Black levels are deep with crush never becoming an issue within the pockets of darkness throughout the house. The source has been cleaned up well to eliminate virtually all nicks and scratches. The natural film grain of the presentation is well maintained and resolves favorably. This presentation is a wonderful treat for fans of the director.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that translates the material exactly as desired. The score sets the tone of the narrative, and it complements the visuals on screen quite admirably. Dialogue comes through crisp and clear as it never allows itself to be drowned out by environmental elements. These competing sounds are subtle within the sonic ambitions and are rendered well. We did not spot any signs of significant age-related wear and tear or distortion that might otherwise hurt this track. This is a great representation of the film. There are optional English SDH subtitles provided.

Special Features

Interview with Beth B: A new 12-minute interview with Beth B in which she discusses the creation of this movie, the work of the performers, the power dynamics between the characters, the therapeutic nature of her work, her philosophy behind intimate scenes, and more.

Interview with Suzy Amis: A new eight-minute interview with the lead actress in which she discusses where she was at during this point in her career, what it was like to work with Beth B, working with Fred Ward, how the film lingered with her, and more.

The Beth B Collection Trailer: A minute-long trailer for the films of Beth B is provided.

Final Thoughts

Two Small Bodies is an engaging two-hander from Beth B that subverts expectations pretty consistently with its shifting power dynamics. Suzy Amis and Fred Ward take you on a palpable journey that straddles the line between sensuous and terrifying. The theatrical nature of the production occasionally feels a bit limiting, but the themes are strong enough to account for the reserved nature of the production. Kino Classics has brought this one to Blu-Ray with a 5-star A/V presentation and a couple of fun special features. If you are a fan of Beth B or simply appreciate experimental ‘90s indie filmmaking, this is worth a viewing. Recommended

Two Small Bodies is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.