A SPANISH WEREWOLF CLASHES WITH JAPANESE SAMURAI AND MYSTICISM IN MONDO MACABRO'S NEWEST BLU-RAY RELEASE!
Until recently, I was completely unaware that there were any Japanese werewolf movies other than WOLF GUY and the two KIBAKICHI films, so you can imagine my utter surprise and delight when Mondo Macabro announced their upcoming release of nearly forgotten 1983 classic, THE BEAST AND THE MAGIC SWORD! Featuring Paul Naschy in his role as Waldemar Daninsky, a man forever in search of a cure for his lycanthropy, this film takes our tormented hero to the island nation of Japan where he hopes to end his monstrous curse! Promising werewolf hijinks, samurai battles, and even a duel with a real tiger, I am 100% sold on adding this film to my collection!
Synopsis: THE BEAST AND THE MAGIC SWORD is the last great film from Spanish horror legend Paul Naschy. Although he would go on making and planning films until his death in 2009, he never again attempted the epic sweep and grandeur of this 10th entry into the saga of Waldemar Daninsky, a man afflicted by the curse of lycanthropy.
In this film, we get for the first time an origin story of how the Daninsky curse began back in the 10th century. We then move forward to 16th century Japan where Daninsky has traveled in search of a cure to his affliction. Co-starring Japanese stage and screen veteran Shigeru Amachi, and shot in the studios of Toshiro Mifune, THE BEAST AND THE MAGIC SWORD is a highly successful and colorful melding of European werewolf legends and dark Japanese fantasy. It features a fight between werewolf and tiger, an evil scarlet-cloaked witch who imprisons Daninsky, a sword fight with a troupe of ghost samurai, and many other unforgettable scenes!
Disc Specs:
Not Rated | Color | 115 minutes | Region Free
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.78:1) & Fullscreen (4:3)
Audio - PCM Mono
Extras:
NEW! 4k RESTORATION FROM A FILM NEGATIVE!
NEW! Cover art by artist Rick Melton!
The Smile of the Wolf – Interview with star Paul Naschy.
Introduction to the film by Paul Naschy.
Interview with the writer and critic Gavin Baddeley.
Audio commentary with the Naschy cast. (Rod Barnett and Troy Guinn)
Original trailer.
Mondo Macabro previews.
Mondo Macabro's stellar Blu-ray release of THE BEAST AND THE MAGIC SWORD will be available on Tuesday, February 25th and should cost between $18 - $20! Add this awesome Horror mashup to your personal collection this week by ordering a copy from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, DIABOLIK DVD, or directly from MONDO MACABRO!
SCREAM FACTORY'S LATEST COLLECTION GATHERS TOGETHER FIVE MORE PAUL NASCHY CLASSICS!
Yetis! Werewolves! Exorcisms! Hunchbacks! This set of Naschy flicks has something for everyone! On November 14th, pick up Scream Factory's THE PAUL NASCHY COLLECTION II for over seven hours of Spanish Horror cinema!
THE DEVIL'S POSSESSED (AKA EL MARISCAL DEL INFIERNO - 1974)
Synopsis: Based on the real-life medieval activities of Gilles de Rais, Naschy stars as Barón Gilles de Lancré, an evil ruler who uses witchcraft to terrorize his subjects. But eventually, his reign of terror results in open rebellion!
Disc Specs:
Not Rated | Color | 95 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (?)
Audio - Castilian (Spanish) and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Extras:
Theatrical trailers (English and Spanish)
A DRAGONFLY FOR EACH CORPSE (AKA UNA LIBÉLULA PARA CADA MUERTO - 1975)
Synopsis: Directed by Leon Klimovsky, this giallo features Paul Naschy as Inspector Paolo Scaporella. The Inspector is on the trailer of a serial killer, who murders "deviants" on the streets of Milan, and leaves behind an ornamental dragonfly as his calling card!
Disc Specs:
Not Rated | Color | 85 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio - Castilian (Spanish) and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Extras:
NEW! Audio Commentary By Author Troy Howarth!
Still Gallery
EXORCISM (AKA EXORCISMO - 1974)
Synopsis: A young woman unwittingly takes part in a Satanic ceremony and is possessed by the evil spirit of her father. To save her soul, Father Adrian Dunning (Paul Naschy) must attempt an exorcism!
Disc Specs:
Not Rated | Color | 90 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (?)
Audio - Castilian (Spanish) and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Extras:
NEW! Audio Commentary By Author Troy Howarth!
Alternate “Clothed” Versions Of The Nude Scenes For The Original Spanish Release.
Theatrical Trailers (Spanish And English)
English Credit Sequence
Still Gallery
HUNCHBACK OF THE MORGUE (AKA EL JOROBADO DE LA MORGUE - 1973)
Synopsis: A quasi-prequel to the tale of FRANKENSTEIN, Paul Naschy portrays Gotho, a hunchback that teams with a mad scientist after evading authorities for murders he committed in a morgue! This is one of Naschy's best roles, and actually earned him an award for Best Actor at the 1973 Paris Convention of Fantastic Cinema!
Disc Specs:
Rated R | Color | 87 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio - Castilian (Spanish) and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Extras:
NEW Audio Commentary By Rod Barnett And Troy Guinn Of The Podcast, NaschyCast
Theatrical Trailers (Spanish And English)
Still Gallery
THE WEREWOLF AND THE YETI (AKA LA MALDICIÓN DE LA BESTIA - 1975)
Synopsis: Paul Naschy reprises his most famous role as Waldemar Daninsky in what is perhaps the bloodiest of his El Hombre Lobo films! During an expedition in search of the legendary Yeti, Daninsky is captured by a pair of vampire women who turn him into a werewolf. And if you're wondering if the film fully delivers on the much-touted battle between the titular monsters, the answer is YES!
Disc Specs:
Rated R | Color | 94 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio - Castilian (Spanish) and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Extras:
Still Gallery
Scream Factory's impressive PAUL NASCHY COLLECTION II will be available wherever Blu-rays are sold on Tuesday, November 14th. The 5-film set also includes a 24-page collectible booklet by author Mirek Lipinski, and should cost somewhere in the realm of fifty to sixty dollars. You can guarantee yourself a copy right now by ordering it from AMAZON, BULLMOOSE, DIABOLIK DVD, or SHOUT! FACTORY.
SCREAM FACTORY BRINGS FIVE CLASSIC PAUL NASCHY FILMS TO BLU-RAY IN ONE AWESOME COLLECTION ON JUNE 20TH!
"Paul Naschy (born Jacinto Molina Álvarez) was Spain's answer to Lon Chaney. He has portrayed many classic monsters – the Wolfman, Frankenstein's monster, Count Dracula, the Mummy and more! He was not only a terrific actor, but an accomplished writer, producer and director." - Scream Factory
I've only dipped a toe into the cinematic realm of Paul Naschy, but this set seems like it'd be a great way to fully immerse myself in the work of one of Spain's most prolific genre filmmakers. Featuring five of Naschy's classic films completely uncut, this is definitely yet another must-own title from our pals at Scream Factory! There's a lot of ground to cover here, so let's get to it!
VENGEANCE OF THE ZOMBIES (1973)
Synopsis: Naschy plays an Indian mystic named Kantaka, who creates a small army of zombified women to do his deadly bidding! The film's original title is translated as REBELLION OF THE DEAD WOMEN, so I'm guessing things turn sour for Paul Naschy (who also has two other roles in the film!) towards the end of this movie.
Disc Specs:
Not Rated | Color | 90 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Fullscreen (1.33:1)
Audio - DTS-HD Master Audio Mono Castalian & DTS-HD Master Audio Mono English Dub
Extras:
Complete Uncut Version!
Theatrical Trailers (Spanish and English)
Spanish Credit Sequence
Alternate Clothed Sequences
Still Gallery
HORROR RISES FROM THE TOMB (1973)
Synopsis: Alaric de Marnac (Naschy) is a warlock in medieval France that ends up getting be-headed for practicing the dark arts. (His mistress doesn't fare too well either as she is tortured and killed.) Centuries later, Alaric's head is discovered hidden within a monastery. His head comes to life, and Alaric begins possessing people as he searches for his missing body, and attempts to resurrect his lost love through human sacrifice!
Disc Specs:
Not Rated | Color | 89 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio - DTS-HD Master Audio Mono Castalian & DTS-HD Master Audio Mono English Dub
Extras:
Complete Uncut Version!
NEW! Audio Commentary by Rod Barnett and Troy Guinn of the podcast, NaschyCast.
Theatrical Trailers (Spanish and English)
Alternate Clothed Sequences
Still Gallery
BLUE EYES OF THE BROKEN DOLL (1974)
Synopsis: A drifter named Giles (Naschy) is hired as a handyman at a house in a small French village. At around the same time, a killer is on the loose in the region, that is murdering blue-eyed women and gouging out their eyes as trophies. Is it Giles, or is someone else responsible for the gruesome killing spree?!
Disc Specs:
Not Rated | Color | 90 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Fullscreen (1.33:1)
Audio - DTS-HD Master Audio Mono Castalian & DTS-HD Master Audio Mono English Dub
Extras:
Complete Uncut Version!
NEW! Audio Commentary by Rod Barnett and Troy Guinn of the podcast, NaschyCast.
Theatrical Trailers (Spanish and English)
Spanish Credit Sequence
Still Gallery
NIGHT OF THE WEREWOLF (1981)
Synopsis: Waldemar Daninsky (Naschy, who also wrote and directed this film) is executed alongside Elizabeth Bathory. Centuries later, Daninsky is coincidentally revived, and does battle with the revived Elizabeth Bathory, in this somewhat remake of Naschy's LA NOCHE DE WALPURGIS (aka WALPURGIS NIGHT).
Disc Specs:
Not Rated | Color | 93 minutes
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio - DTS-HD Master Audio Mono Castalian & DTS-HD Master Audio Mono English Dub
Extras:
Complete Uncut Version!
NEW Audio Commentary by Rod Barnett and Troy Guinn of the podcast, NaschyCast
Deleted Scenes
Theatrical Trailers (Spanish and English)
Spanish Credit Sequence
Still Gallery
HUMAN BEASTS (1980)
Synopsis: Also known as THE BEASTS' CARNIVAL, this film was stars Paul Naschy as a hitman that double crosses The Yakuza. Wounded and hunted in the mountains of Spain, he eventually finds shelter with a doctor and his daughters, who have some diabolical plans for their guest!
Disc Specs:
Not Rated | Color | 83 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio - DTS-HD Master Audio Mono Castalian & DTS-HD Master Audio Mono English Dub
Extras:
Complete Uncut Version!
Spanish Theatrical Trailer
Still Gallery
THE PAUL NASCHY COLLECTION has a street date of June 20th, 2017, and is available to order at AMAZON, BULLMOOSE, and DIABOLIK DVD. However, if you order directly from SHOUT! FACTORY, they will ship your Blu-ray set out ASAP so you'll have it before everyone else! Regardless of where you buy it, be sure to pick up this collection because there's no telling if it'll go out of print as fast as the first VINCENT PRICE COLLECTION Blu-ray set did!
