From bloodier and sexier reimaginings of gothic tropes to shameless homespun ripoffs of international hits, 70s Spanish horror films offered wild and unforgettable delights for audiences domestically and abroad. Three key names working in the genre, Carlos Aured, León Klimovsky, and Amando de Ossorio, helped define and refine what genre films in Spain became most infamous for. Presented here is one key work by each auteur, all of which have been newly and exclusively restored by Vinegar Syndrome for this release.
In CURSE OF THE DEVIL (El Retorno de Walpurgis), director Carlos Aured's (Blue Eyes of the Broken Doll) second collaboration with star Paul Naschy (Frankenstein's Bloody Terror), lycanthrope Waldemar Daninsky is back; doomed to become a bloodthirsty werewolf as punishment for his family's involvement in centuries-old witch trials. Co-written by Naschy and focusing on his familiar blend of carefully constructed characters juxtaposed with gruesome gore, CURSE OF THE DEVIL has been newly restored in 4K. It is presented in its uncensored original version, which features extended nudity and bloodier violence as compared to the more commonly seen international cut.
In THE VAMPIRES NIGHT ORGY (La Orgía Nocturna de los Vampiros), director León Klimovsky (The Werewolf Versus the Vampire Woman) skillfully integrates a suspenseful vampire film with a tense survival thriller as a busload of travelers become stranded in an eerie village where, each night after dark, the townspeople transform into ravenous bloodsuckers. Featuring a cast of Spanish genre-cinema luminaries, including Jack Taylor (Female Vampire) and Helga Liné (Horror Express), this atmosphere-drenched drive-in hit comes newly restored in 4K and presented in its nude export version.
In DEMON WITCH CHILD (La endemoniada), one of the first and most shameless European "re-imaginings" of The Exorcist, director Amando de Ossorio (Tombs of the Blind Dead) revels in over-the-top trashiness as innocent tween Susan Barnes becomes possessed by demonic forces after a vengeful witch gives her a strange, cursed doll. From low-fi spinning torsos to late-night human sacrifices, career horror filmmaker Ossorio keeps the entertainment value high, enhanced by a cast of veteran Spanish character actors, including Daniel Martín (A Fistful of Dollars) and Fernando Sancho (Voodoo Black Exorcist), while the film looks better than ever, having been newly scanned and restored in 4K.
directed by: Carlos Aured, León Klimovsky, Amando de Ossorio
starring: Paul Naschy, María Silva, Jack Taylor, Helga Liné, Daniel Martín, Fernando Sancho
1973, 1975 / 256 min (combined) / 1.85:1, 2.35:1 / Spanish, English DTS-HD Master Audio Mono
Additional info:
- 3-disc Region Free Blu-ray Set
- All films were scanned and restored in 4K from their 35mm original camera negatives
- Newly translated English subtitles for both films
- Presented in both their original Spanish language soundtracks with newly translated English subtitles, along with their English language dub soundtracks
- Reversible sleeve artwork
- CURSE OF THE DEVIL extras:
- An interview with Sergio Molina, son of actor / co-writer Paul Naschy (13 min)
- An interview with Sitges Film Festival director Ángel Sala (15 min)
- "Paul Naschy: Interview with the Werewolf" (15 min) - an archival interview with Paul Naschy
- Original Spanish and English language trailers
- Alternate ‘clothed scenes’ from the international version
- Alternate English language main title sequence
- THE VAMPIRES NIGHT ORGY extras:
- An interview with actor Jack Taylor (9 min)
- An interview with Sitges Film Festival director Ángel Sala (13 min)
- An interview with filmmaker Victor Matellano (12 min)
- DEMON WITCH CHILD extras:
- An interview with actress Marian Salgado (22 min)
- Marian Salgado at Fancine de Lemos film festival (6 min)
- Introduction by Ángel Sala, Carlos Benítez and Xavi Sánchez Pons (10 min)
- Featurette with Ángel Sala and Xavi Sánchez Pons (23 min)
- English language trailer as The Possessed
- English SDH subtitles
New arrival
Regular price $26.99Unit price
New arrivalRegular price $25.99Unit price
