Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Crypts & Castles: Severin Films Delivers a Double Dose of Christopher Lee on Blu-ray Disc!

Cover art for Severin Films' CASTLE OF THE LIVING DEAD Blu-ray!

TWO FORMER BOXED SET EXCLUSIVES FEATURING THE INIMITABLE CHRISTOPHER LEE ARE NOW AVAILABLE SEPARATELY ON BLU-RAY!

I snapped up Severin's fantastic 9-disc EUROCRYPT OF CHRISTOPHER LEE COLLECTION back in 2021, and at the time it was the only way to watch CASTLE OF THE LIVING DEAD and CRYPT OF THE VAMPIRE on Blu-ray (along with four other feature films and 24 television episodes of THEATRE MACABRE)! But now, nearly two years later, Severin has finally released these two films on their own, which is great news for collectors that wanted them but didn't want to throw down coin for an expensive boxed set (even if it was well worth the price)! If the mere presence of Christopher Lee somehow isn't enough to get you to purchase these two movies immediately (did I mention CASTLE also features Donald Sutherland as a hunchback?!), then perhaps taking a closer look will help you make up your mind!

CASTLE OF THE LIVING DEAD (1964)

Synopsis:
In the final film of his early ‘60s European period, Christopher Lee stars as a 19th century Count who invites a theatrical troupe for a weekend of horrors that boasts an enthusiastically creepy performance by Lee, startling locations in Lazio, Italy’s Orsini-Odescalchi Castle and ‘Park of the Monsters’, second-unit direction by Michael Reeves (WITCHFINDER GENERAL) and the screen debut of Donald Sutherland as both a doofus gendarme and a hunchbacked hag.

Philippe Leroy (THE NIGHT PORTER) and Jacques Stany (VIOLENCE IN A WOMEN’S PRISON) co-star in this 1964 French-Italian co-production from American producer Paul Maslansky – who would go on to produce DEATH LINE and the POLICE ACADEMY movies – and fellow expat writer/director Warren Kiefer – after whom Sutherland would name his son – now scanned in 4K from the Italian negative for the first time ever!


Disc Specs:
Not Rated | Black & White | 90 minutes | Region Free
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.66:1)
Audio - English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono


Extras:
  • Audio Commentary with Mondo Digital's Nathaniel Thompson & Film Writer Troy Howarth!
  • Audio Commentary with Film Writer Kat Ellinger!
  • From the Castle to the Academy – Interview with Master Producer Paul Maslansky!
  • The Castle of The Mystery Man – Roberto Curti, Author of Mavericks of Italian Cinema, on Writer / Director Warren Kiefer!


Severin's CASTLE OF THE LIVING DEAD Blu-ray is now available to purchase through most online retailers and should cost between $20 - $24! Get a copy now from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, DIABOLIK DVD, or directly from SEVERIN FILMS!



 
Cover art for Severin Films' Blu-ray of CRYPT OF THE VAMPIRE!
CRYPT OF THE VAMPIRE (1964)

Synopsis: In a lavish gothic shocker inspired by Sheridan Le Fanu’s immortal novella Carmilla, Christopher Lee delivers a rare ‘hero’ turn as nobleman Count Karnstein whose foreboding castle teems with ancestral curses, unnatural desires, philosophical hunchbacks and grisly acts of vengeance!

Adriana Ambesi (FANGS OF THE LIVING DEAD) co-stars in this 1964 Spanish-Italian co-production – also known as TERROR IN THE CRYPT and CRYPT OF HORROR – directed by Camillo Mastrocinque (AN ANGEL FOR SATAN) as Thomas Miller & Robert Spafford from a screenplay by giallo master Ernesto Gastaldi (ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK) as Julian Berry and Sergio Leone protégé Tonino Valerii (MY NAME IS NOBODY) as Robert Bohr, now featuring a 2k scan from a fine-grain 35mm master print!


Disc Specs:

Not Rated | Black & White | 85 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio - English & Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono


Extras:
  • Theatrical trailer

This bare bones Severin release of CRYPT OF THE VAMPIRE is now available to purchase wherever Blu-rays are sold, and should cost between $20 - $24! Order yourself a copy now from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, DIABOLIK DVD, or directly from SEVERIN FILMS!


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