Slaughter Hotel (Blu-ray Review) - Raro Video

Italy/1972
Directed By: Fernando Di Leo
Written By: Fernando Di Leo, Nino Latino
Starring: Klaus Kinski, Rosalba Neri, Monica Stroebel
Color/94 Minutes/Not Rated
Region A
Release Date: December 9, 2014

The Film
A killer is on the loose at a retreat for wealthy women to get over their problems, whatever they may be. Usually it's just a case of beautiful well-to-do women not knowing what to do with all of their money and it drives them mad in their day to day life. Draped in black from head to toe, the killer stalks the usually scantily clad and often nude women with various medieval style implements that he finds have decorated this castle turned asylum. Everything from axes and flails to an actual Iron Maiden itself are used to dispatch the women and none of them are off limits.

Klaus Kinski stars in this slightly off beat, totally insane and properly sleazy horror affair from director Fernando Di Leo who is best known for his legendary work within the Euro crime genre. SLAUGHTER HOTEL is ripe with giallo vibes and sometimes gets lumped in with the genre. I wouldn't call this a true giallo but I won't argue it being discussed among other ones either. Di Leo's direction is trippy and surreal at times, acting more like a lucid dream (or nightmare) than any sort of cohesive straight forward narrative. From wild zooms to hard camera angles and overflowing with blood and skin including plenty of closeups on masturbating vaginas, Di Leo doesn't hold back on the excess or style.

Strangely enough, Klaus Kinski, who was as psychotic in his real life as this film is, does hold back. He gives a strong performance without feeling the need to overdo it or have his presence be known every time he enters a scene. His role, that of a doctor who has taken a strong interest in one of the patients who has taken an even stronger liking to him, provides enough room to show his skill without making him the focal point. The beautiful women here including Rosalba Neri (Lady Frankenstein, French Sex Murders) and Margaret Lee (Venus In Furs) provide endless eye candy but aren't really asked to do much besides look pretty, shed their clothes and die. That's just how it is sometimes and SLAUGHTER HOTEL doesn't try to be anything it's not.

The Audio & Video
Some good and some bad in Raro Video's transfer of SLAUGHTER HOTEL. The 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer has a pretty good sharpness overall with good color representation. Detail levels are generally high as well. Unfortunately the transfer suffers from a heavy hand with DNR, at times making the picture look overly waxy. There is also a thin layer of digital noise over the picture throughout. It only gets to annoying levels a couple of times though but if they were trying to recreate the look of natural film grain they failed big time. Overall I think the picture quality is a step up from what standard DVD would offer even with its faults.

Raro provides us two audio options, English and Italian, both with 2.0 Stereo HD tracks. The Italian option has nice clarity and is largely free of any popping, crackling or other disturbances. Unfortunately I only found this out after watching the film in English where on a couple of occasions the audio drops out totally. This happens at one particular murder scene where the entire reaction to the killing is silent. I can only figure that English audio was never recorded for this segment but Raro should have plugged in the Italian audio for the duration and cut back to English when it came back. That is the standard practice and makes much more sense then just letting the audio drop out completely. The English track does sound good otherwise, as with the Italian track it has good clarity and no background noise. It just seems like a lazy oversight on Raro's part to let that happen.

The Extras
-A pair of newly discovered deleted scenes
-"Lady Frankenstein's Memoirs" featurette (18 minutes)
-"Asylum Of Fear" featurette (15 minutes)
-Booklet by Chris Alexander of Fangoria

The Bottom Line
While this isn't a perfect release by any means there is plenty here to enjoy and is still worthy of a purchase. Recommended!

SLAUGHTER HOTEL is available HERE

Werewolf Woman (Blu-ray Review) - Raro Video

Italy/1976
Directed By: Rino Di Silvestro
Written By: Rino Di Silvestro
Starring: Annik Borel, Tino Carraro, Howard Ross
Color/97 Minutes/Not Rated
Region A
Release Date: October 28, 2014

The Film
After being raped, a woman secludes herself in her family's countryside estate where she becomes obsessed with a family myth that her relative had been a werewolf several generations earlier. It doesn't help that the supposed werewolf looks identical to the woman and her fractured mind allows this obsession to consume her and lead to numerous murderous encounters with men and anyone she encounters on the night of a full moon.

WEREWOLF WOMAN is a unique take on werewolf movies. There are some bizarre sequences with lycantrhopes that feature some makeup effects that on the surface don't look very good but somehow work for the bizarre scenario they're a part of but this is film is driven more by the madness of a woman with a psycho-sexual disorder, than by silver bullets and wolf men. I knew very little about this movie going in to it so all I could hope for was to be a fan of it and I immediately found myself enjoying what I was watching. The acting and writing are solid which isn't always the case in bizarre horror productions of the 1970s. There's an understated score that adds to the film without having to make itself the star of any particular area and there's a good bit of nudity and blood flowing as well.

The film takes a bit of an awkward turn during the final act where it suddenly loses all of its personality and becomes every bit of a rape/revenge film ala I Spit On Your Grave. The shift in tone is a bit jarring and while it does eventually lead back to the film's true tone for the finale the film never quite recovers from it, not giving the viewer enough time to digest what just happened or why. It doesn't make WEREWOLF WOMAN a bad film, not by any stretch, but it does knock it down a notch.

The Audio & Video
Raro Video's 16x9 anamorphic widescreen transfer is very nice. The picture has a good sharpness to it with high levels of detail in surfaces, textures and close ups of actors. Skin tones are natural and not at all waxy. There's no overuse of DNR and no edge enhancement noticeable. The audio comes in a 2.0 Italian track with English subtitles. The audio is crisp and clear, free of any distracting background noise or imperfections. It features a good mix between dialogue and the score. The English subtitles are perfectly timed and seem to be translated nicely as they read quite naturally. 

The Extras
-Video interview with the director
-English theatrical trailer
-Italian theatrical trailer
-Booklet on the film by Chris Alexander of Fangoria Magazine

The Bottom Line
I highly recommend WEREWOLF WOMAN for fans off slightly offbeat but fully exploitative and raunchy horror films. 

WEREWOLF WOMAN is available HERE

Iguana (Blu-ray Review) - Raro Video

USA/1988
Directed By: Monte Hellman
Written By: Steven Gaydos, David M. Zehr, Monte Hellman
Starring: Everett McGill, Michael Madsen, Fabio Testi
Color/100 Minutes/Not Rated
Region A
Release Date: October 7, 2014

The Film
A sailor who is disfigured in the face with a condition that makes his face appear scaly and reptilian escapes the poor treatment he was receiving on his ship and makes his way to a deserted island where he declares himself king. He takes prisoner anyone that makes their way to his island and enslaves them.

IGUANA has a cast full of notable names all of them rising to at least mild stardom at some point during their careers. The cast is capable of handling this fairytale-ish story driven by metaphors in true Monte Hellman style. It takes an interesting look at a man vs nature vs man scenario as our titular character has to deal with his condition and the way he is treated because of it along with acting much like the men who tormented him on the ship when he enslaves other men on his island. IGUANA is not a perfect film by any means as the editing is a bit messy, especially early on as we jump from one story to another before finally finding proper footing but it does have a clearly defined message asking the viewer to take a good hard look in the mirror and deep into yourself. 

The Audio & Video
Raro Video has done a rather good job on the Blu-ray transfer of IGUANA. Colors are strong and clarity is very good for the most part. There are some shots, mostly gazing out into the sea at various ships, that are on the softer side but they don't look bad. Skin tones and detail levels are healthy and strong in this 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen presentation. The DTS HDMA 2.0 track sounds crisp and free of any distortions or annoyances. The levels are mixed nicely so you won't have to fiddle around with the remote because you lost dialogue in the mix.

The Extras
-Interview with Monte Hellman
-Original English trailer
-Booklet on the film by Chris Alexander of Fangoria magazine

The Bottom Line
Monte Hellman has created some truly beloved and weird movies and I think IGUANA will fall somewhere in between with viewers. There's no better way to see this film that was once lost altogether so go ahead and pick up this Blu-ray and check out something a little bit different.

IGUANA is available HERE

The Last Step Down (DVD Review) - Kino Redemption

USA/1970
Directed By: Lawrence Ramport
Written By: Arthur Allen, Phil Miller
Starring: Olivia James, Beatrice Stolen, Uschi Digard
Color/70 Minutes/Not Rated
Region 1
Release Date: September 30, 2014

The Film
A film that starts with a fifteen minute sex scene inside of a Satanic cult's sanctuary pretty much defines itself in those opening minutes. THE LAST STEP DOWN certainly did. In a film with a plot that largely doesn't exist, two gorgeous and voluptuous women help a young virgin to loosen up and experience sex for the first time. Of course that means a little lesbian threesome action before bringing her to the same sanctuary we saw in the opening scene where two cult members have their way with the young virgin and the other two women enjoy each other. Then the three women return home and discuss the newly deflowered girl's future as a high price hooker and have her practice her women pleasing skills on them. Roll credits.

THE LAST STEP DOWN doesn't have much going on and despite the presence of a Satanic cult it certainly isn't a horror film in any way. While the girls are incredibly attractive and sexy as hell this movie has little going for it aside from the girls. There's some great goof like during the last lesbian sex scene where one of the cameramen come into frame for about a minute. The real winner of this DVD is in the special features.

The Audio & Video
Kino Redemption bring this horror themed piece of soft erotica to straight from the 70s to DVD with an okay presentation. It is a perfectly watchable disc but the transfer (1.66:1 widescreen) is full of scratches, dirt and various damage. It is battered but it does add a certain vibe to the film that works. The mono English audio track has a bit of whirring background noise and a few split second dropouts but it is serviceable. 

The Extras
The best part of this disc is the 15 minute shirt film BLOOD LUST. This adaptation of "Carmilla" is an adult film produced for the 8mm home video market and was sold exclusively through adult magazine advertisements. This is a rare chance to get to see a piece of stag and horror history. The film isn't anything special but I think the production values are superior to the main feature and it is more entertaining as Dracula sends one of his sexy vampires to get a virgin to be his bride. There's plenty of nudity and sex, Dracula looks like a nasally accountant and out of nowhere there's a climax to it all. 

The Bottom Line
I would recommend this to fans of erotic horror for the BLOOD LUST short alone with THE LAST STEP DOWN being a bonus. The roles have reversed!

THE LAST STEP DOWN is available HERE

House Of Mortal Sin (Blu-ray Review) - Kino Redemption

England/1975
Directed By: Pete Walker
Written By: David McGillivray, Pete Walker
Starring: Anthony Sharp, Norman Eshley, Sheila Keith
Color/104 Minutes/R
Region A
Release Date: June 17, 2014

The Film
Anthony Sharp stars as Father Meldrum, a corrupt priest who uses the cover of the church to commit nasty and unspeakable crimes against his parishoners.When Father Meldrum records a confessional by a young girl about her abortion his secret crimes become the interest of the girl's friend, a fellow priest. As Meldrum's streak of heinous acts continues his secret world begins to unravel but will the love and care from a good priest be enough to overcome the reign of terror that is Father Meldrum?

Also known as The Confessional, HOUSE OF MORTAL SIN is one of Pete Walker's most violent and dark films. Inspired by the director's time spent in a Catholic school, Walker depicts the antagonist priest beating, setting fire and poisoning those he doesn't approve of for one reason or another. That is just the beginning of it as Father Meldrum truly is heartless taking out anyone loyal to him if it means being able to cover up. Even a woman who has blindly served him for 30 years just to be around the man she loves.

Walker's direction is straight forward, as it usually is, letting the scenes speak for themselves as opposed stylish direction. HOUSE OF MORTAL SIN is very similar to a slasher film that would overtake the horror landscape just a few years after the release of this film. With Anthony Sharp's excellent performance as Meldrum to Sheila Keith as his lovelorn assitant who is willing to do anything to be with him this film is packed with good performances. Norman Eshley is very much a humanitarian in his role as the good priest trying to conquer the devil that is terrorizing the town. HOUSE OF MORTAL SIN is a blatant commentary of Pete Walker's view on the Catholic church and religion as a whole and it happens to be held within an exceedingly well made horror and exploitation film.

The Audio & Video
Kino Redemption knocks this Blu-ray out of the park. HOUSE OF MORTAL SIN was previously released under the title The Confessional several years ago by Shriek Show and there's no comparison to the discs. While the DVD was decent, this Blu-ray is likely the film has ever looked outside of a 35mm presentation and I'd be willing to bet it's the best it will ever look on home video. Skin tones and colors have a natural and healthy look to them while detail levels are high. The source material was kept in great condition and is very clean. There's a bit of speckling here and there but it isn't distracting whatsoever. The English audio track is perfectly mixed between dialogue and score and sounds very crisp. There's a tiny bit of background noise present but nothing to get worked up over as it is barely noticeable. This disc is really top notch.

The Extras
-Audio commentary with Pete Walker and author of English Gothic, Jonathan Rigby
-11 minute interview with Pete Walker
-A selection of trailers for Pete Walker films

The Bottom Line
HOUSE OF MORTAL SIN has become one of my favorite Pete Walker films and this Blu-ray is a damn fine presentation of it. I have no hesitations calling this one essential viewing.

HOUSE OF MORTAL SIN is available HERE

The Demons (Blu-ray Review) - Kino Redemption

France, Portugal/1973
Directed By: Jess Franco
Written By: Jess Franco
Starring: Britt Nichols, Anne Libert, Howard Vernon
Color/118 Minutes/Not Rated
Region A
Release Date: April 29, 2014

The Film
In 1971 Ken Russell released his masterpiece The Devils on the masses. Viewed as disturbingly sexual, violent and obscene it was banned or faced tight censorship just about everywhere. Russell's film was heavy with commentary on the Catholic church and organized religion as a whole, filled with images of naked nuns, harsh violence from church officials and general insanity. It didn't take long for other filmmakers to capitalize on the attention being given to The Devils and make similar films. Jess Franco did just that in 1973 with THE DEMONS.

During a witch hunting craze, an accused witch who is being burned at the stake accuses the head with hunter and his followers of being in with the devil. This sets off a crazy chain of events, where nobody is to be trusted. A series of tests is given to the accused which will point out the witches. These tests are of course designed to be passed (rather, failed) by everyone they're administered to. The manhunt for the accused goes wide when the witchfinder falls in love with a nun who ran away to escape persecution but there will be no shortage of people being burned at the stake. Or nudity. Or witchcraft.

It goes without saying that based on the title and a short plot synopsis that Jess Franco knew what he was doing with THE DEMONS. He was making a sleazier and more self indulgent film for the exploitation crowds to love on the back of Ken Russell's noteriety. This isn't a new practice and one that hasn't shown any signs of slowing down. Franco's film is wildly entertaining, there's sex, torture, violence and bizarre witchcraft that turns people into skeletons! It has none of the social commentary or expert filmmaking that Russel's The Devils has (that isn't to say it is a poorly made film because that isn't the case). It is simply a exploitative ripoff of a true masterpiece of cinema and is a film worth viewing in its own right.

The Audio & Video
Kino Redemption has done a fantastic job with their release of THE DEMONS. The 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer features a crisp and largely very clean transfer. Detail is strong with the period clothing and set pieces and the plentiful amount of skin on display is warm, and natural. Everything looks great and there is no edge enhancement or DNR on display. The French (with German) 2.0 audio track features optional English subtitles which are flawless. The sound itself is perfectly mixed, and free of any background noise. 

The Extras
-An interview with Jess Franco by David Gregory
-Six minutes of deleted footage
-A pair of theatrical trailers
-Trailers for more Franco films

The Bottom Line
Jess Franco has made a highly entertaining piece of nunsploitation with THE DEMONS and this gorgeous Blu-ray is the only way to see the film from now on. 

THE DEMONS is available HERE

Death OccurredLast Night (Blu-ray Review) - Raro Video

 Italy/1970
Directed By: Duccio Tessari
Written By: Artur Braun, Biagio Proje, Giorgio Scerbanenco, Duccio Tessari
Starring: Frank Wolfe, Raf Vallone, Gabriele Tinti
Color/98 Minutes/Not Rated
Region A
Release Date: May 6, 2014

The Film
When a beautiful young woman who is mentally handicapped with the mental development of a three year old goes missing it is feared she has been kidnapped into the local sex trafficking rings. Her distraught father tired of the police's nonchalant attitude about his missing daughter begins his own investigation on the side, taking him and the local police into the underbelly of the city and face to face with some of the most despicable, forlorn and lost people the city has to offer. It also brings them face to face with a cold, harsh reality.

DEATH OCCURED LAST NIGHT, Duccio Tessari's giallo, isn't a fun film. It doesn't have the whirls of style that Argento's gialli have that make them entertaining to watch. After a rather out a of place opening few minutes, Tessari plays this film straight, real straight. We are forced to witness a father come to grips with the nasty reality of it all without any hope of being able to turn our attention elsewhere for a break. She has the mind of a child, and it's Saturday.

Tessari's unyielding coldness in how he presents DEATH OCCURRED LAST NIGHT is what makes the film. Tessari forces the reality down the viewer's throat and tells us to deal with it. Not necessarily to accept it, that would make him the same scum that his villains are, but to deal with it because that's how it is. The road this film takes in discovering the truth just brings us further and further to a place we aren't comfortable going and digs a deeper and deeper pit in our stomach as our fears become reality. As I said, DEATH OCCURED LAST NIGHT isn't fun, but it is a rock solid giallo.

The Audio & Video
Raro Video is on point with their Blu-ray of DEATH OCCURRED. Their anamorphic widescreen transfer features excellent levels of detail- just look at clothing. Colors are full bodied and lively, despite a dingy, overcast city being the location for the film. The 2.0 Italian audio track is very good, it sounds well mixed, with no background noise. Subtitles are well timed and easy to read.

The Extras
-Video Interview with Fangoria Editor Chris Alexander
-Full Color Booklet by Chris Alexander
-International and American Theatrical Trailers


The Bottom Line
Giallo fans will be thrilled with this new Blu-ray from Raro. A damn fine release for a great film. 

DEATH OCCURRED LAST NIGHT is available HERE

The Black Torment (DVD Review) - Kino Redemption

UK/1964
Directed By: Robert Hartford-Davis
Written By: Derek Ford, Donald Ford
Starring: John Turner, Heather Sears, Ann Lynn
Color/86 Minutes/Not Rated
Region 1
Release Date: April 29, 2014

The Film
Richard Fordyce is returning home to his family's estate with his new wife. Upon his return he doesn't quite find the warm welcome he was expecting as he is being accused of rape and murder by the locals. Knowing he hasn't been home in many months, Richard fights back against his accuser's until guilt from a previous marriage and some ghostly happenings have Richard questioning his own sanity.

THE  BLACK TORMENT is a Gothic horror thriller, which burns slow and lets the psychological trauma build. Is Richard guilty of the crimes the locals have apparently seen him commit? Is he losing his mind? Is someone setting him up? These are the questions you'll be asking as you watch the film which aside from a few standout moments is rather boring. The good moments are blessed with some eery photography and imagery but mostly I struggled to stay engaged with the film as those moments were few and far between and all too often the movie turned into an episode of Scooby Doo with people seemingly going in and out of random doors accusing each other. By the time the truth is revealed it comes as no surprise and left little impression on me.

THE BLACK TORMENT isn't a terrible film, there are a handful of strong moments which carried me through. The in-between however, turns into a clock-watching exercise waiting for the next worthwhile moment to come or the credits to roll. I'm a big Gothic horror fan and was rather disappointed with this effort.

The Audio & Video
Kino Redemption have released THE BLACK TORMENT on DVD with a solid 1.66:1 widescreen transfer. The color palette is a bit muted, which adds to the dreary English setting and the haunting atmosphere of the mansion. The print used was kept in rather good condition with only a few intermittent scratches and heavy grain. A single Dolby 2.0 track is included and gets the job done without a problem. There is no background noise to speak of and dialogue comes across clearly without any issues.

  
The Extras
The lone extra is a 13 minute video interview with director Robert Hartford-Davis where he discusses his views on film and film making. 

The Bottom Line
Fans of Gothic horror will want to give THE BLACK TORMENT a look to add to their collection as it features some creepy images and psychological horror.

THE BLACK TORMENT is available HERE

L'Immortelle (Blu-ray Review) - Kino Redemption

France/1963
Directed By: Alain Robbe-Grillet
Written By: Alain Robbe-Grillet
Starring: Francoise Brion, Jacques Doniol-Valcroze, Guido Celano
Black & White/101 Minutes/Not Rated
Region A
Release Date: April 1, 2014

The Film
Alain Robbe-Grillet's debut film is a strange one. The entire thing is shrouded with mystery and it pushes the viewer to extract what you will from it. A man who has recently moved to Turkey to be a professor at a local school meets a beautiful but secretive woman who he spends several days with seeing the sights around the city and the local people. Suddenly she vanishes without a trace and nobody around the city recalls or is willing to recall her being with him. Just as suddenly as she vanished, they meet again, but before she is able to explain her disappearance she is killed in a car crash with the man. The rest of the movie is spent with the man going over the events again trying to determine if he caused the crash or not and psycho-analyzing every little detail of their brief relationship.

L'IMMORTELLE is a stunning film to look at. The gorgeous black and white photography, often shot at severe angles give the Turkish ruins, waterways and tunnels a very stark look. On a deeper level the film is incredibly interesting to look at and break down. From the main man and woman to an art shop keeper, to the stranger and fisherman. Every character symbolizes something and eventually the man finds himself facing a criminal underworld that he isn't prepared to deal with.

This was my first viewing of L'IMMORTELLE and I really like this film. I know my love for it will grow deeper with subsequent viewings as I gather and notice new things. Robbe-Grillet showed instantly that he can create incredible visuals and art with this film and it is something I've learned quickly that he would do again and again.

The Audio & Video
Kino Redemption gives L'IMMORTELLE a stunning HD transfer. The 1.66:1 anamorphic widescreen presentation seems to be taken from a very clean print as there are only a few instances of dirt or scratches. Detail level is strong while the black levels are handled brilliantly and are deep and inky. The 2.0 French language track (with optional English subtitles) is solid, but not perfect. Extremes in the high end mix are a bit of trouble for the mix but it is a rare occurrence.

The Extras
Along with a trio of trailers for other Robbe-Grillet releases and a 2014 promo short, this release features an interview with the writer/director that clocks in at over half an hour.

The Bottom Line
The debut film from the French director is a mysterious, strange and engrossing one. It appeals to many of the senses and this release does it absolute justice. L'IMMORTELLE is certainly worth your time.

L'IMMORTELLE is available HERE

The Flesh And Blood Show (Blu-ray Review) - Kino Redemption

UK/1972
Directed By: Pete Walker
Written By: Alfred Shaughnessy
Starring: Ray Brooks, Jenny Hanley, Luan Peters
Color/96 Minutes/Rated R
Region A
Release Date: March 18, 2014

The Film
An aging seaside theater prepares to open its doors for the first time since a tragic performance of Othello. Now the actors and crew have moved into the theater to begin rehearsal on their musical comedy show but shortly upon moving in people start dying, apparently falling victim to the cursed theater. It takes a bit of investigating the theater's history and people around the area to get to the bottom of the bloody mystery that runs deep into a severely damaged psyche.

The back of this Blu-ray states that THE FLESH AND BLOOD SHOW is Pete Walker's homage to the Grand Guignol. It doesn't take more than a single viewing to cement that statement into fact. There is plenty of bloody horror on display, and even more flesh as girls run around naked like it is the latest trend. This is very much Pete Walker's gift to the slasher genre, almost a decade before the body count film really took off in the 1980s. It is artfully down however, and certainly not based around the plentiful tits and gore, which helped earn it an X rating from the British censors. The 3D sequence could be seen as a bit gimmicky but it aids in really hammering home the nightmarish aspect of the scene. When it is all said and done, THE FLESH AND BLOOD SHOW may not be Pete Walker's finest effort, but it will rank up there as one of most exploitative and deserves to be seen by horror fans everywhere.

The Audio & Video
Kino Redemption brings THE FLESH AND BLOOD SHOW to Blu-ray with a nice looking HD transfer. The 1.66:1 anamorphic transfer has fleshy skin tones and strong detail. The movie was filmed on location so there are some foggy exteriors. The print is in good condition with minimal scratching and wear. The 2.0 stereo audio track comes through loud and clear with no background noise. A simple yet effective track.

The Extras
-"Flesh, Blood, And Censorship" - An interview with Pete Walker
-3-D sequence in both Stereoscopic and Anaglyphic formats
-Original theatrical trailer

The Bottom Line
Another fine Pete Walker film given a loving restoration and release from Kino Redemption. Your collection will only benefit from adding this Blu-ray. Recommended, obviously.

THE FLESH AND BLOOD SHOW is available HERE

Frightmare (Blu-ray Review) - Kino Redemption

England/1974
Directed By: Pete Walker
Written By: David McGillivray
Starring: Sheila Keith, Rupert Davies, Deborah Fairfax
Color and B&W/86 Minutes/Rated R
Region A
Release Date: March 18, 2014

The Film
Dorothy Yates and her husband Edmund are freed from a mental institution after years of treatment after she committed acts murder and cannibalism. Now Dorothy has guests visit their isolated farm home for tarot card readings. Their eldest daughter Jackie also visits hoping to keep her mother sane with the help of her father. Jackie has to deal with her younger sister Debbie who hangs around a biker gang and is generally a nasty brat of an adolescent. Jackie keeps their parents a secret from Debbie, fearing the relationship will be toxic. Unfortunately for Debbie, and her father who is in the middle of a disastrous mess, Jackie is well aware of her mother and they both despise Debbie for keeping them apart.

FRIGHTMARE is a brilliant psychological slow burn from the underrated genre director Pete Walker. Sheila Keith is wonderful as the disturbed mother as is her on-screen husband Rupert Davies who is lost in the mix of a family torn apart by broken minds. Walker's direction is tight, and the story is far from just pure psychological horror as it features some rather nasty murder scenes. If you've never seen FRIGHTMARE you're doing yourself a disservice as it is one of the best horror films to come out of the UK in the 1970s and it gets better with with each viewing.

The Audio & Video
What can I really say about this Blu-ray besides "YES!"? Kino Redemption has delivered a stunning looking and sounding disc. I dare say it is a near perfect presentation. The 1.66:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer is gorgeous, with strong detail, lifelike skin tones, vivid but natural colors and no edge enhancement or DNR. The soundtrack is pristine with no background noise, crackling or popping. The mix is spot on and I doubt this will ever sound better on home video. It is weird to smile during a film such as FRIGHTMARE but when you first experience this disc you will be ear to ear.

The Extras
There are several special features on the disc including:

-Audio commentary with Pete Walker and DP Peter Jessop conducted by Steve Chiball, author of "Making Mischief: The Cult Films Of Pete Walker"
-"For The Sake Of Cannibalism" - An interview with Pete Walker by Elijah Drenner
-"Sheila Keith: A Nice Old Lady?" - A profile on the late actress featuring interviews with former collaborators
-Original theatrical trailer

The Bottom Line
This release isn't a FRIGHTMARE or even a nightmare, it is much closer to a dream come true. From the film that has always been excellent, to the new HD transfer that is the definitive home video presentation of the film, this is a must own.

FRIGHTMARE is available HERE

Successive Slidings Of Pleasure (Blu-ray Review) - Kino Redemption

France/1974
Directed By: Alain Robbe-Grillet
Written By: Alain Robbe-Grillet
Starring: Anicee Alvina, Olga Georges-Picot, Michael Lonsdale
Color/106 Minutes/Not Rated
Region A

The Film
A beautiful young woman is accused of stabbing her roommate to death and is locked up in a convent. While in the convent the woman uses her almost hypnotic sexuality to seduce everyone who enters her room, from the police to the clergymen as she tries to claim her innocence. The dreamlike days pass with more sexual encounters and recollections that may be memories or fantasy until her lawyer brings her back to the apartment to recreate the murder for the police and more skin is bared and more blood is shed.

SUCCESSIVE SLIDINGS OF PLEASURE is an obviously erotic, drama with a bit of crime, a bit of sleaze and quite a bit of artistic flare. There are some striking visuals and scenes that are almost surreal as director Alain Robbe-Grillet makes the viewer question what they feel is reality and what is in the twisted mind of our suspect. Solid performances all around, along with an appearance from Jean-Louis Trintignant, carry the film's writing, also done by Alain Robbe-Grillet, with success. This is a very satisfying viewing experience for something that has a little bit of everything from sex and skin, to art and sleaze.

The Audio & Video
Kino Redemption has done an outstanding job on this disc. The 1.66:1 widescreen transfer is gorgeous. Skin tones are natural and colors shine, especially the seemingly endless amounts of red which truly pop, without ever bleeding or burning too hot. The transfer retains a natural looking grain for the film which has come from very clean elements. There are very few instances of scratches or dirt. The French audio track, while a bit more simplistic than the visuals of the film come through loud and clear with no background noise to speak of. Optional English subtitles are included.

The Extras
Extras include:

- 33 minute interview with Alain Robbe-Grillet
- A trio of Robbe-Grillet trailers
- 2014 Promo short

The Bottom Line
For fans of Robbe-Grillet this disc is a must buy with its wonderful A/V quality and being a satisfying viewing experience. If you're new to the director but fans of Euro-sleaze or even Euro horror with an artful touch you'll most likely enjoy this piece of work as well. Highly recommended!

SUCCESSIVE SLIDINGS OF PLEASURE is available HERE

Trans-Europ-Express (Blu-ray Review) - Kino Redemption

France/1967
Directed By: Alain Robbe-Grillet
Written By: Alain Robbe-Grillet
Starring: Jean-Louis Trintignant, Marie-France Pisier
Black & White/94 Minutes/Not Rated
Region A

The Film
Jean-Louis Trintignant stars in this neo-noir film that plays out almost as a parody and certainly a love letter to the Film Noir genre from director Alain Robbe-Grillet. While aboard a train from Paris to Antwerp a filmmaking team begins to work on the plot of an upcoming crime movie. As they come up with the details to the story we see it acted out as the main meat and potatoes of TRANS-EUROP-EXPRESS (also the name of the movie within the movie). The story pertains to a drug smuggler named Elias (Trintignant) who is being seduced by a woman named Eva (Pisier) who may or may not be working for a rival drug ring. As the filmmaking team changes details around in their story, Elias' world becomes confusing with enemies becoming friends, friends becoming enemies, leads disappearing and seemingly everything he knows being turned on its head.

TRANS-EUROP-EXPRESS is a well made thriller that could easily be seen as being to Film Noirs what Scream is to the slasher film. It's self-referential style pokes around at the genre while still playing out as a fulfilling enough crime tale. Alain Robbe-Grillet's direction is tight, with a bit of flare and a eye for visual appeal. Trintignant is fantastic in the lead role and is quickly becoming an actor who I greatly admire as I become more familiar with his work. Marie-France Pisier is lovely and easy on the eyes as Eva, who plays her seductress role to a T. She manages to tell a story with her eyes alone and the S&M moments are quite alluring. Robbe-Grillet manages to make TRANS-EUROP-EXPRESS both sexy and enthralling while being a bit witty as well.

The Audio & Video
The Redemption Films line from Kino has released some great Blu-rays to date and TRANS-EUROP-EXPRESS is yet another. The beautiful black and white cinematography looks natural and film-like, retaining a suitable amount of grain in the 1.66:1 widescreen transfer, taken from 35mm elements. Black levels are deep while white levels never get too hot. This is an exceptional looking disc. The French audio track is presented with English subtitles and is also great. There is no background noise or any other annoyances. It is a crisp and clean sounding track. 

The Extras
 The main extra on the disc is a 31 minute interview with the director. It accompanies a set of trailers for other Robbe-Grillet films and a newly created promotional short.

The Bottom Line
If you're a fan of the film noir, European cinema of the 60s or just good Blu-ray presentations you should absolutely grab TRANS-EUROP-EXPRESS.

TRANS-EUROP-EXPRESS is available HERE

Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde (Blu-ray Review) - Kino

USA/1920
Directed By: John S. Robertson
Written By: Clara S. Beranger
Starring: John Barrymore, Martha Mansfield, Brandon Hurst
Color Tinted/79 Minutes/Not Rated
Region A

The Film
The classic story by Robert Louis Stevenson gets adapted for the silver screen in this silent era classic from director John S. Robertson starring John Barrymore. Dr. Jekyll (Barrymore) is a brilliant, handsome young man dedicated to serving others whether in his laboratory or helping the less fortunate in his free clinic. Dr. Carew (Hurst), the father of his fiancee Millicent (Mansfield), teases and taunts Jekyll about not experiencing the more pleasurable and sensual side of life, asking the young doctor ""In devoting yourself to others, Jekyll, aren't you neglecting the development of your own life?" Jekyll takes this to heart and begins experimenting with the idea that each person is actually comprised of 2 beings, one of which we largely suppress but he feels it may be possible to keep the soul clean while living out two very different existences at any given time. 

Jekyll's drug works, transforming him into a nasty looking, twisted version of a man, with long, stringy hair, an elongated, sunken face and finger nails that would make any witch cringe in disgust. This is Mr. Hyde. Jekyll informed his caretaker to give Mr. Hyde full use of the house as he pleases and Hyde uses it as a place to hide from the people he disgusts, attacks and the police who want to capture this hideous beast of a man. Jekyll's own life is falling apart as Hyde is taking more and more control over his being. Millicent sinks into a depression wondering why her lover has seemingly abandoned her, and Dr. Carew is concerned for Jekyll's safety as he vanishes for days on end. It is when the drug that Jekyll needs to reverse the transformation into Hyde is depleted all across London that Jekyll locks himself away fearing that Hyde may appear at any moment, and when Millicent comes to check on him and Hyde rears his ugly head that Jekyll finds enough of his prior self within to end his own life before he hurts the woman he loves. 

DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE  is a very well made silent horror film, lead by an excellent performance from John Barrymore in the dual titular roles. His wise, soft and caring nature as Jekyll plays perfectly with his devious, slithering and menacing mannerisms as the grotesque Hyde. There have been uglier portrayals of Hyde in film but the simplicity found within this early adaptation really works well. Early on in the Hyde transformations there wasn't even makeup used for the Hyde effects, just Barrymore manipulating and contorting his face. The set pieces are good, with foggy London streets playing a big part, along with the lab and a music club. For anyone looking for early horror classics or really well done silent films DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE is definitely worth a look.

The Audio & Video
Kino delivers DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE on Blu-ray with a 1.33:1 full frame transfer sourced from 35mm archival elements maintaining the films original aspect ratio. The picture looks quite good for a film nearly a century old with clarity and detail being quite strong. The color tints look very pretty for the various settings and while the picture is full of speckling and scratches the picture quality overall is in good condition. For those who have seen Kino's release of Nosferatu on Blu-ray, JEKYLL AND HYDE has a bit better PQ in my opinion. The score to the film is the only sound of course, and was performed by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra. The track is crisp and clear with no notable disturbances.

The Extras
 This disc is loaded with awesome extras which include:

-Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde (1912 Thanhouser Version) - Early short film adaptation of the story that played in nickelodeons.
-Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde (Rival 1920 Version) - A 15 minute cut of another adaptation from 1920
-Dr. Pyckle and Mr. Pride - A 1925 slapstick parody starring Stan Laurel
-"The Transformation Scene" - A rare 1909 audio recording


The Bottom Line
The excellent job Kino did on the film's presentation is enough reason to check this disc out but the awesome extras that help tie the history of this story's early film adaptations together is just as big a reason.

DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE is available HERE

The Whip And The Body (Blu-ray Review) - Kino

Italy/1963
Directed By: Mario Bava
Written By: Ernesto Gastaldi, Ugo Guerra, Luciano Martino
Starring: Christopher Lee, Daliah Lavi
Color/87 Minutes/Not Rated
Region A

The Film
Daliah Lavi stars as Navenka, the beautiful woman tortured by Kurt Menliff (Christopher Lee), who returns home to his castle at the dismay of everyone else there. After he's found dead the torment continues as Menliff's spirit is vengeful and full of anger. 

The surface level plot of  THE WHIP AND THE BODY isn't anything you haven't heard before. It is the subconcious, the atmosphere, the sadomasochism that the film is steeped in that make it special. The gorgeous photography and excellent staging that make it one of Bava's best films. Christopher Lee is excellent as the Count and Daliah Lavi is so gorgeous and tormented that you feel awful for her, despite how much it drives her actions. THE WHIP AND THE BODY is possibly Mario Bava's cruelest film but it is also one of his most beautiful. This is truly one of the best horror films of the 1960s, a decade filled with incredible horror films.

The Audio & Video
Kino Classics deliver THE WHIP AND THE BODY on Blu-ray for the film's first ever treatment in HD. The 1.78:1 widescreen transfer keeps the film's original aspect ratio in tact and it looks gorgeous. Skin tones are natural and healthy while the colorful lighting and gorgeous gothic castle setting look incredible. Textures are detailed, black levels are deep and inky. The audio side of the disc fares just as well. With 3 separate audio tracks available, English, Italian with English subs and French with English subs. I prefer the English track as there was no live sound recorded and all of the actors were speaking English, either naturally or phonetically, on set The only downside is that another actor was used for Christopher Lee's voice.

Please Note: Images do NOT represent Blu-ray quality

The Extras
Extra features include an older commentary track from Tim Lucas that was ported over from the old VCI DVD release. Also included is the theatrical trailer and several other Bava trailers. 

The Bottom Line
One of horror's greatest director's best films gets a fantastic looking and sounding Blu-ray. Do I really have to say that this one is essential? I shouldn't but I will. This Blu-ray from Kino is essential.

THE WHIP AND THE BODY is available HERE

Shoot The Sun Down (Blu-ray Review) - Kino Lorber

USA/1978
Directed By: David Leeds
Written By: David Leeds
Starring: Christopher Walken, Margot Kidder, Geoffrey Lewis
Color/99 Minutes/Not Rated
Region A

The Film
Christopher Walken stars as Rainbow, an ex-Confederate soldier who left the war due to being ordered to slaughter indians. Now Rainbow spends his time as a bounty hunter, making money taking in wanted criminals dead or alive. He encounters a young woman (Margot Kidder) who is trying to get home to New Orleans from their current location in Santa Fe. She tells Rainbow a story that he doesn't believe, trying to get him to escort her through the dangerous territories back to her home. All the while a nasty man (Geoffrey Lewis) is on the loose, hunting Montezuma's gold and taking scalps along the way. 

The nasty man, gets a hold of the woman, who was sold into servanthood as a young girl, and discovers some golden treasure. Rainbow and some of his Native American friends team up to take down the scalphunters and rescue the damsel in distress. 

SHOOT THE SUN DOWN is, if anything, an uneven film. Made by the time the Euro Western cycle had practically been dead for a few years, this American production, the only credit for writer/director David Leeds toes the line between a piece of avant garde filmmaking ripe with social commentary and a rather dull western that feels like we've been-there-done-that and it was better before. David Leeds is capable as director, but his writing lacks the punch and feeling of urgency that the powerful and climactic moments need to get the audience to feel their full potential. 

The cast is decent. I'd say nobody really drops the ball but before watching the film I found it difficult to picture Christopher Walken as some sort of gunslinging old west badass and after watching the film he did little to change my mind. I think Walken is a good actor, don't get me wrong, but he just doesn't pull off a convincing western character and that is a major detractor for me as he is the lead and main protagonist.  The film features a pretty solid spaghetti western-esque score that is one of the highlights of the film. There is also enough action and fighting to keep things fun. 

The Audio & Video
The anamorphic widescreen transfer maintains the film's original Scope aspect ratio of 2.35:1 and Kino Lorber has done a decent job with the video side of things. As always with Kino they haven't done much in the way of cleaning up the print, there is a bit of white speckling throughout the duration. This is nothing to get annoyed over, it only reminds us that we are watching a film. There are some other instances of dirt, scratches and very minor print damage but nothing major at all. The quality of the transfer is generally good, flesh tones look nice and there is no edge enhancement or digital fuckery to be found. Detail levels are a mixed bag as sometimes they're quite strong and other times the image is soft and muddy. I find this to be more of the source material than anything Kino has done wrong. 

From an audio standpoint SHOOT THE SUN DOWN is great. The 2.0 track is in English and sounds pretty damn good. There is no background noise, and overall there's nothing to complain about the sound quality or audio mix. There are no subtitles available.  

The Extras 
Special features include an alternate opening title sequence with an original song by Kinky Friedman. It is nice to have but I prefer it the standard way. There is also a theatrical trailer.

The Bottom Line
While SHOOT THE SUN DOWN is by no means an essential western, it is decent and filled with familiar names in the cast. Kino did a nice job with the transfer and overall disc presentation so fans of the genre will find enough here to be pleased about. I'd love to see Kino tackle some spaghetti western films as they've shown they're capable of doing solid work within the western genre. 

SHOOT THE SUN DOWN is available HERE

The Hitch-Hiker (Blu-ray Review) - Kino

USA/1953
Directed By: Ida Lupino
Written By: Collier Young, Ida Lupino, Robert L. Joseph, Daniel Mainwaring
Starring: Edmond O'Brien, Frank Lovejoy, William Talman
Black & White/71 Minutes/Not Rated
Region A

The Film
A pair of friends set out on a camping trip when they pick up a hitch-hiker named Emmett Myers, a despicable man on the run from the law and responsible for a double murder. Myers takes the pair captive and into Mexico in an effort to evade capture. What ensues is several days of hell for the men as they're held hostage and abused by the gun wielding maniac of a man. 

THE HITCH-HIKER is based on the murder spree of Billy Cook who killed 6 people over a 22 day span in 1950-51. This film is perhaps most recognized for being the only classic noir that is directed by a woman. The film is deserving of more than just "being made by a woman". This is a fairly cruel story and is certainly well made. The Mexican desert settings leave you feeling the sweat bead off your forehead and you desperately want our antagonists to escape and perhaps turn the table on Myers. 

The film is briskly paced and clocks in at only 71 minutes which make for a brief but dark look into the hell faced by a pair of friends trying to do a good deed. THE HITCH-HIKER isn't a top tier noir but it is well made, well acted and a thrilling ride. 

The Audio & Video
Kino Lorber brings THE HITCH-HIKER to Blu-ray disc courtesy of their Kino Classics line. The film has been beautifully restored from a 35mm elements archived at the Library of Congress. The full frame 1.33:1 transfer maintains the film's original aspect ratio and looks great. Black levels are deep while textures look great. The audio track is crisp and well mixed with the soundtrack. There is no background noise or pops which makes the A/V of this disc pretty damn good. 

The Extras
A still gallery and Kino trailers are the lone extras on the disc.

The Bottom Line
From the film to the technical presentation of this disc I couldn't help but recommend this one highly.

THE HITCH-HIKER is available HERE

Night Tide (Blu-ray Review) - Kino

USA/1961
Directed By: Curtis Harrington
Written By: Curtis Harrington
Starring: Dennis Hopper, Linda Lawson, Gavin Muir
Black & White/85 Minutes/Not Rated
Region 1

The Film
Johnny Drake is a US Navy sailor on shore leave played by a baby faced Dennis Hopper, the innocent and slightly naive young man wanders around the boardwalk attractions of Venice Beach until he meets a young woman named Mora in a bar. Their encounter is brief but Johnny invites himself to walk Mora home. Mora invites Johnny over for breakfast the next morning where the pair hit it off and begin to see each other a bit more often. Mora shows Johnny where she works as a sideshow attraction at the boardwalk as a mermaid who only charges 25 cents admission to get a glimpse of a siren of the sea. 

As Johnny and Mora get closer the people surrounding the pair begin to warn Johnny that his relationship with Mora may be putting him in danger. Johnny learns that she has had several boyfriends turn up dead recently and a fortune teller informs Johnny that his future is clouded with danger. Paranoia begins to set in with Johnny that perhaps Mora is an actual mermaid, or dangerous siren. Johnny's relationship with Mora quickly takes a turn for the worst during a Scuba diving adventure where violence and paranoia reach a boiling point. 

NIGHT TIDE was directed by Curtis Harrington and features some beautiful images throughout. There is a great image of Hopper jumping up on a high railing and doing a balance act on it after he walks Mora home the night they met that is beautiful. The film is a slow burn, featuring more drama than horror but it allows the hints and clues to build paranoia, not only within our star but the audience as well. The strongest point of NIGHT TIDE is Harrington's direction and the photography. It is a rather simple but nice looking film. It is interesting to see such a young Dennis Hopper long before he was Mad Dog Morgan or shouting about Pabst Blue Ribbon in what might be his first starring role. 

NIGHT TIDE is a solid film, a bit short on the thrills but is reminiscent of other early 60s films like Carnival Of Souls and would make a pretty neat double feature with that film. While not overly horrific, NIGHT TIDE is worth seeking out and will hopefully begin getting some more notoriety that it certainly deserves.

The Audio & Video
NIGHT TIDE makes its debut on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber and it looks gorgeous. The 1.66:1 widescreen transfer in full 1080p HD is sharp and clean, with just a bit of white speckling throughout. Detail levels are strong with the texture of fabrics and on some of the carnival attractions being exceptional. Black levels are deep and there are no signs of any DNR or edge enhancement. This is a great example of how older films can look great on Blu-ray. The 2.0 mono track is crisp and clear with no background noise. It is a simple track but sometimes that is all that needs to be done as it is pretty much a perfect audio track for the film. 

The Extras
-Audio commentary featuring director Curtis Harrington and Dennis Hopper - this track is several years old, having been recorded before both men passed away. They recount their time filming and some production details. Harrington recalls most of the details with Hopper chiming in just enough.
-Two part interview with Curtis Harrington clocking in at 55 minutes
-Original theatrical trailer

The Bottom Line
It is great to get films like NIGHT TIDE out on Blu-ray and even better when the release has great A/V quality and some cool features. If you're a fan of older offbeat horror films then I would suggest you check out this disc.

NIGHT TIDE is available HERE

The Devil Bat (Blu-ray Review) - Kino

USA/1940
Directed By: Jean Yarbrough
Written By: John T. Neville, George Bricker
Starring: Bela Lugosi, Suzanne Kaaren, Dave O' Brien
Color/68 Minutes/Not Rated
Region A

The Film
Bela Lugosi stars as Paul Carruthers, a mad scientist of sort who has vowed revenge on his fellow businessmen as he feels they've denied him an equal share in their success and riches. Carruthers plans his revenge by using a giving a special fragrance to his potential victims that will attract his mutant killer bat. 

A simple plot leads to an entertaining film with Lugosi carrying the film and nailing his role. This wasn't a Universal production like Dracula and it is evident that the same production budget wasn't there but that doesn't mean this movie looks cheap. The sets are very well dressed, including a mini Frankenstein lab. THE DEVIL BAT includes a heavy dose of humor and ends up being a very underrated black comedy horror film that deserves better than the budget bin, public domain releases it has suffered through for decades. It finally has the release it deserves. All classic horror fans should check this one out. 

The Audio & Video
Kino Lorber presents THE DEVIL BAT in its original aspect ratio of 1.33:1 full frame with a transfer that is pretty damn impressive for a low budget horror film that is 70+ years old. The overall quality of the materials used were in great condition with just a bit of white speckling throughout. The image is strong with deep black levels and much improved details over the public domain releases fans of the film have become accustomed to. On the audio side of things, the 2.0 Mono mix is just as strong as the video, with dialogue coming through loud and clear. Background noise is at a minimum and the soundtrack level is mixed beauituflly as to not compete with dialogue. A superb job by Kino.

The Extras
The main feature on this disc is an audio commentary track from film historian and Video Watchdog contributor Richard Harland Smith who gives a lively and loving commentary to a film that he's been interested in since he was 10 years old. There is plenty of interesting information here and is a highly enjoyable listen. Other features are a still gallery and a trailer for Lugosi's earlier film White Zombie.

The Bottom Line
While a bit light on the extras, this classic horror film gets a transfer that rivals the Universal horror films (something that can't be said about the production budget!). This disc is without a doubt the best the film has looked in at least one generation and likely the best it'll ever look until someone invents a time machine to go back to 1940. A great release that will get the approval of classic horror fans.

THE DEVIL BAT is available HERE

Five Dolls For An August Moon (Blu-ray Review) - Kino

Italy/1970
Directed By: Mario Bava
Written By: Mario di Nardo
Starring: William Berger, Ira von Furstenberg, Edwige Fenech
Color/81 Minutes/Not Rated
Region A

The Film
A group of friends vacation to a modernist futuristic island retreat. One of them is a scientist who has developed a revolutionary chemical process and is fending off offers of $1million each for the formula. As the greed boils and builds members of the group start dying and the surviving members have to play the game of survival to find out who is behind the killings.

Mario Bava wasn't fond of FIVE DOLLS FOR AN AUGUST MOON, he was hired to shoot the picture and apparently didn't have time to do any rewrites on the script. If that is truly the case then I'd love to see what he could have done given some time because this is a pretty damn good picture as it is. Bava's signature artistic touches and use of lighting and set decoration is truly breathtaking. The design of the house is gorgeous and the film's cinematography is inspired. This film was edited by Mario Bava himself and he shows that he's more than adequate at that job as well. It seems the only job in the filmmaking process that Bava failed to tackle in his career was that of composer or musician. 

This film isn't overly violent, there are about half a dozen murders but most of the violence appears off screen. The true draw of the film is to see a somewhat manic version of Bava making a really solid giallo. Oh, and the chance to oggle Edwige Fenech. That is never a bad thing. 

The Audio & Video
Kino gives FIVE DOLLS the royal treatment as far as picture quality goes. From the strong level of detail and texture to the gorgeous colors and skin tones this is an absolutely stunning transfer. Aside from a couple moments where lines intersect the picture this is damn near perfect and natural looking. The audio also fares well with a present but low level of background noise but it isn't distracting. It would be nice if there were an Italian track but the 2.0 English track is just fine. I wish all classic horror films got this type of A/V treatment.

PLEASE NOTE: The screen grabs in this review do not represent the quality of the Blu-ray disc and are for reference of the film itself only. 

The Extras
Tim Lucas continues to do great work for these Kino releases and who better for a commentary track than the author of the definitive Mario Bava book: Mario Bava: All The Colors Of The Dark. The track is engaging, informative and full of love from Lucas. Otherwise the disc features a handful of Mario Bava trailers for other Kino releases.  

 

The Bottom Line
Mario Bava is one of the finest filmmaker's the world has ever known and the quality of this disc stands right up there with the man's legacy. This is exactly how Bava should be seen on home video.

FIVE DOLLS FOR AN AUGUST MOON is available HERE