If you look up the word erotic in the dictionary, you will no doubt see a picture of Radley Metzger staring right back at you directly in the face (with a cheeky little smirk no doubt). No one has ever, or will ever make films like this man had. Way ahead of his time (which historically seemed to work against him) Metzger's films have survived in relative obscurity or have unfortunately been presented in poorly transferred abridged versions. Enter Synapse Films to the rescue with one of Metzger's most beloved titles (and most dangerous if you will) The Image (AKA The Punishment of Anne), and a film that absolutely no one could have ever predicted would have surfaced on DVD.

The Image starts out innocent enough at a posh party in which Jean (Carl Parker of Metzger's SCORE!) is introduced to the lovely Anne (Mary Mendum) by his longtime friend Claire (Marilyn Roberts). Anne and Claire have a strange relationship, as they seem to conduct business if you will in a personal and bizarre manner. Claire (Anne's senior) dominates her pet Anne in just about every way imaginable. It doesn't take long for both Jean and Claire to jointly enjoy the submissive Anne in many a compromising position. Whether it's being naughty with a thorny rose at a garden show, or a not so secluded phone booth, or even an unforgettable incident involving vegetables and a busy restaurant, poor Anne always gets her due. It isn't until the question is answered, "who's dominating whom?" that the climactic finale comes to a screeching halt (are you picking up on my double entendres or what?).

The Image is most certainly not going to be a film for everyone. Consisting of scenes of a sadistic and highly sexual nature, The Image could cause even the most hard core of viewers to blush. The lines are blurred as the film shifts into a sexual high gear that verges on hard core itself. Although there is no actual visible penetration per say, there are certain manipulations, oral or otherwise, that are unmistakable. The easily offended or prudish need not apply. There are moments during the chained up and leather clad finale, in which the screams appear a little too real for comfort (poor Anne even has to choose her own whip at one point). If the weakest viewer had stuck around up until this point, here is where they would indeed need to run in terror. Saying The Image isn't easy to watch at parts would be an understatement (needles to skin anyone?). However, fans of Metzger (or the truly adventurous filmgoer) rejoice, as this DVD is without a doubt a true Metzger fan's dream come true.

What is it about The Image that separates it from the common late night fare shown on Skinemax? I think it's partly due to the original and well told story that stemmed from the written work L'Image (written by a woman Catherine Robbe-Grillet, no less) and the completely on target performances. The remaining successes can be placed solely on Metzger. His deliberate pacing and unique storytelling style give The Image its much needed dose of originality.

Synapse presents The Image in a brand new anamorphic (and most importantly uncut) transfer that is nothing short of astounding. Considering the age and relative obscurity of this title, one could never have imagined that this film could appear so breathtaking. Colors are so vibrant and crisp they just leap off the screen. Black levels are dead on, with nice deep rich blacks and virtually no evidence of artifacting. The film itself is in wonderful shape all things considered. There are some minor nicks and specs here and there, but believe me when I say you're probably not even going to notice them after a while. Also worth mentioning is a light scratch that enters the frame about an hour in. This is not a complaint, just an observation as it is very slight and is gone before you even have a chance to really notice it. Synapse also makes mention on the insert of a sudden motion blur about 18 minutes in and that it's a flaw within the original negative. No need to apologize Synapse, as with the slight scratch this is a very minor defect, and the remaining visuals certainly make up for these few slight imperfections.

Sound is presented in the films original mono as well as in a new 2.0 mix. You'd be hard pressed to notice too much of a difference between the two. The new 2.0 mix gives a bit of a richer or fuller sound, with surrounds that are very subtle; definitely a nice touch. It's also nice to see that Synapse included the original mono mix. We're also given the option of listening to the great musical score isolated while watching the film. This is most certainly a welcomed addition indeed.

Extras include a selected Metzger filmography and 5 Metzger theatrical trailers. The trailers included are for Score!, Lickerish Quartet, Camille 2000, Therese and Isabelle and Carmen Baby. It would be silly for one to complain about the lack of any other supplements. I'm sure anyone purchasing this disc will be satisfied with the preservation of the film itself and not be disappointed by the lack of elements to support a true special edition.

Overall, one can't ignore the fact that Synapse did a bang up job with this title. Metzger's classic has obviously been handled with a lot of love and care and it really shows. Most importantly, this disc is a testament to the true talent of Metzger and his ability as a filmmaker. As I said before, nobody does erotic like Metzger, and nobody ever will.