Also arriving from Carlton this
month (October 2002) is this three disc package, of long
awaited Hammer vampire fests. Eagerly anticipated, there
hasn't even been a good video available for these three
films for some time. Inventful, complex, provoking and a
return to form. As the standards dropped generally,
Hammer proved there was life in the old dog yet, and this
set is essential viewing for any fan of the genre.
dvd review
countess dracula
Ingrid Pitt bares all as the historical Countess
Bathory, playing up on the tales that she acted as a real
life Dracula, bathing in the blood of virgins, believing
the blood to contain rejuvinating properties.
Discovering the quality by accident, the prosthetic-bound
Pitt, is a delight in her youthful state, edging closer
and closer to madness as the lust for youth increases,
spurning Nigel Green's advances for those of a much
younger man, bound for her own daughter (being held
captive on instructions from the countess). For Hammer to
push into historical fact, is a little bold, but needless
to say, elements are played up for the cameras and the
sake of the narrative. This is not a by the book
historical account of the Countess' reign. Its is a
delightful shocker, whose centrepiece must be Pitt naked
bathing in the blood of the virgins (Pitt bathing, can
also be found in The Wicker Man).
Peter Sasdy's direction keeps things rattling along, the
Hungarian director reveling in the European flavour of
the script and casting.
twins of evil
Two beautiful twins arrive from Vienna to Karnstein,
following hte death of their parents. One of them gets
involved with the sinister Count Karnstein, and is turned
into a vampire. Their uncle is a witchhunter, and the
Puritans are turned on the twins...
After Peter Cushing's wife died, there must have
been those who doubted he would return to the screen,
dropping out of Lust for a Vampire (thank goodness)
and Blood
from the Mummy's Tomb. However, just a couple of
months after Helen's death, Cushing returned in the
performance of his career. Owing much to the bleak
portrayals in films such as Witchfinder General, Cushing's
Gustav Weil is a Bible-bashing, hippocritical, misguided
upholder of England's morality. The conviction of the
crusader is admirably expressed, and the decadence by
contrast courtesy of Damien Thomas (a poor man's Dracula)
and the piss-poor Collinson twins (fabled for being
Playboy's first twin centrefolds), whilst looking
delicious enough, are simply not actors.
The production design is quite good, despite the demise
of Hammer's regular designer Bernard Robinson, and the
score by Harry Robinson is simply beautiful. The whole is
better than the parts, and is refreshingly good fun.
vampire circus
A circus arrives in a quiet Serbian
village, bringing some cheer to the people who are
suffering the after-effects of a curse laid upon them
many years previously by the vampire Count Mitterhouse.
Soon the children from the village disappear, and the
circus is revealed to be something more than it seems...
Goodness knows why I used to hate this picture. It comes
highly acclaimed and full of praise, for being a deeply
erotic, sensual and different vampire movie. Sterling
character work all around (watch out for the young Lala
Ward, later to find fame in Doctor Who). The imagery is
very sensual, and the circus performances are a visual
delight. The cat-woman dance is extremely provacative,
and certain dvd buyers will delight in the ability to
freeze frame and zoom in on the nakedness.
Robert Yong's direction plods a little in places, but on
the whole remains rather exciting and tense. This is a
mood film with a very real threat presented. A delight.
transfer
Transfers are again good. Some problems with blacks. Each
has been nicely touched up and looks very fresh and good,
with anamorphic 16:9 presentation. Sound is also good in
mono.
Design
A nice red box which can come apart quite easily
(a glue problem), as well as the individual attractive
serious boxes. Good choice of colour, with a good
suggestion of horror with the lightening motifs. DVD
menus are fine.
extras
Appaling is the decision to not include
real extras. Simply subtitles, and trailers for Countess
Dracula and Vampire Circus. Come on Carlton,
you can do better.
Subtitles English
SUMMARY
At just over £6 per film, the quality is better than a
budget priced video of same. Excellent value for money. A
little cheated on the extras front, but a welcome
addition to the collection, with three of Hammer's best
vampire pictures of the 1970s. Buy Buy Buy.
RJES
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PURCHASE
R2 DVD AT BLACKSTAR
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DISC:
Release Date: October 2002 (UK)
Feature length: 257
mins
Year of 1st release: 1971
Rating: 18 (UK)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 anamorphic
widescreen (colour)
Audio: Dolby Digital Mono
No of Discs: 3
Region code: 2
Catalogue no: 37115 03883
Distributor: Carlton Visual
Entertainment Ltd.
Price: £19.99
Cast: Peter Cushing, Ingrid Pitt, Nigel Green,
Maurice Denham, Lesley-Anne Down, Dennis Price, Damien
Thomas, David Warbeck, Mary & Madeline Collinson,
Adrienne Corri, Laurence Payne, Thorley Waters
Director: Peter Sasdy, John Hough,, Robert Young
SPECIAL FEATURES:
See full details in main review on left
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