toys are not for children

Dismissed upon release as a "porn movie without the sex," 1972's Toys Are Not for Children certainly matches that description often enough, built around shag carpet, noisy wallpaper and painted ladies. Shot on the cheap, director Stanley H. Brassloff's film isn't pretty to look at; but that ugliness is a good match for the psychological baggage carried around by its main character, Jamie, whose childhood fixation on her absent father has left her a frigid mess, unable to consummate her marriage and obsessed with the toys of her youth.

As the twisted melodrama careens towards a tragic conclusion, Jamie's friendship with a prostitute pushes her naively into the same career, turning tricks for men who see her daddy issues as nothing more than a kinky turn-on. But Jamie's emotional issues run deep, and Brassloff's film isn't afraid to go where you think it shouldn't. The sexual component, however, is never overt. And Toys is obviously the work of a filmmaker who's reaching for art over exploitation (Jamie's last name is "Godard"...read into that what you will).

Built around a non-linear narrative and employing some creative flashback editing techniques, Brassloff goes all in, crafting a disturbing melodrama with a surprising amount of strong performances to boot. Much like the twisted work of David Lynch or Todd Solondz, Toys will often make you feel dirty and uncomfortable. That it aspires to do so with no apologies or concessions is what makes it worthy of discussion at all.

Arrow Video's new special edition Blu-ray still feels a bit grungy...in a good way. The 2K restoration cleans up with image but retains the unpolished look. Extras include a commentary, critical analysis by Stephen Thrower and Alexandra Heller-Nicholas (who profiles the film's lesbian and feminist angles), trailer, theme song and collector's booklet.