Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
Black Sabbath
Collapse
X
Collapse
-
Black Sabbath
Released by: Kino Lorber
Released on: July 21sy, 2015
Director: Mario Bava
Cast: Boris Karloff, Michele Mercier, Mark Damon
Year: 1963
Purchase from Amazon
The Movie
Director Mario Bava's 1963 film is rightfully considered one of the cornerstones of classic Italian horror; a picture which still manages to dazzle and impress some fifty-plus years after its initial release, thanks to Bava's timeless talent and uniquely magical vision.
Black Sabbath is an anthology film which combines three separate tales of terror, held together tenuously by horror legend Boris Karloff, who introduces all of the tales, while also acting in the final segment, titled "The Wurdulak." Or, at least, in this Kino Lorber Blu-Ray "The Wurdulak" occurs last, as the version contained here is the Americanized cut from Stateside distributors American International Pictures.
This version of Black Sabbath differs from the cut many Bava fans-including this one-probably remember from the box sets released by Anchor Bay a number of years back. Said sets included the Italian version of Black Sabbath, which holds a number of different shots and plot points, the differences of which are discussed in great detail on this disc's exquisite commentary track from film critic, author and Bava biographer Tim Lucas of Video Watchdog magazine.
The AIP version switches the order of these stores, kicking things off with "The Drop of Water," the most obviously frightening of the three short films. This first story focuses on a thieving nurse who receives her comeuppance from a vengeful beyond the grave, while the second film "The Telephone" builds upon this ghost story theme by setting its focus upon a beautiful-but-tormented young woman, trapped in her apartment by a series of increasingly frightening phone calls. It's this story which receives the biggest overhaul from AIP, as this version eliminates the lesbian subplot present within the Italian version, although there are some quaintly charming insert shots which only make an appearance here in this cut.
"The Wurdulak" closes out Bava's film, and it's a slow burn but beautiful take on the vampire mythos which centers on the doomed Gorca family, victims of a vampyric curse which afflicts their patriarch, played with sublime brilliance by Karloff. It's an infamous trilogy which never loses its luster, and retains every inch of its impact, style and charm, thanks to an excellent Blu-Ray release from Kino Lorber.
Video/Audio/Extras
This transfer, presented in AVC encoded 1080p high definition at 1.85.1, is indeed excellent, with deep, rich colors that pop off the screen with a vibrant luster. There's a bit of pleasant grain here and there, but Bava's amazing production design and cinematography-alongside collaborator Ubaldo Terzano-shines through in fantastic clarity, particularly on "The Wurdulak" and much of "The Drop of Water."
The audio quality, in DTS-HD Mono, is also rock solid on the English dub from AIP, and it's great for fans to be able to own and compare both versions of Black Sabbath, as each cut possesses its own ups and downs. This writer actually prefers the story order here in the AIP version, and it must be said that being able to hear Boris Karloff's actual voice lends his performance some serious gravitas.
The main drawing extra here is the aforementioned, exhaustively informative commentary track from Tim Lucas, who brings his Bava expertise to the table here, big time. Lucas fills the track with tidbits of production info, history and notes upon nearly every facet of the film, while also providing back stories and history for every actor involved, to boot. Tim's immense knowledge of the film never comes across as too stuffy or dry, either, as the historian's honest passion for the film carries the commentary track through with an enthusiasm which never becomes boring for the listener.
The only other extras here are the film's original trailer, as well as a trailer for fellow Kino Blu, The Crimson Cult.
The Final Word
Black Sabbath receives a top notch AV job here from Kino Lorber, while the added bonus of Lucas' expert is simply icing on the cake for this highly recommended disc.
-
#4ScottIntellectual CarrotFind all postsView Profile07-27-2015, 06:31 PMEditing a commentIs this a completely new commentary from Tim, separate from the the one he did for the Italian cut?
-
#5ScytherSenior MemberFind all postsView Profile07-28-2015, 07:48 AMEditing a commentTim is being very specific with his commentary towards the AIP differences, so I'm going to say that this one is unique towards this version. I haven't seen the Italian Blu to compare, though.
-
#6John BernhardSenior MemberFind all postsView Profile07-28-2015, 10:04 PMEditing a commentI have not heard the track on the Kino AIP version but understand it's a brand new one recorded just for this release.
Posting comments is disabled. -
Categories
Collapse
article_tags
Collapse
- album review (218)
- album reviews (274)
- arrow video (271)
- blu-ray (3225)
- blu-ray review (4162)
- comic books (1392)
- comic reviews (872)
- comics (988)
- dark horse comics (484)
- dvd and blu-ray reviews a-f (1969)
- DVD And Blu-ray Reviews G-M (1711)
- DVD And Blu-ray Reviews N-S (1757)
- DVD And Blu-ray Reviews T-Z (878)
- dvd review (2512)
- idw publishing (216)
- image comics (207)
- kino lorber (391)
- movie news (260)
- review (318)
- scream factory (279)
- severin films (298)
- shout! factory (537)
- twilight time (269)
- twilight time releasing (231)
- vinegar syndrome (497)
Latest Articles
Collapse
-
Released by: Grindhouse Releasing
Released on: March 12th, 2024.
Director: William Grefé
Cast: William Shatner, Jennifer Bishop, Ruth Roman, Harold Sakata
Year: 1974
Purchase From Amazon
Impulse – Movie Review:
Directed by the one and only William Grefé, 1974’s Impulse is one of those rare films that allows you to witness what it would be like if a really sweaty William Shatner got mad at a lady carrying balloons. Before that...-
Channel: Movies
04-15-2024, 01:20 PM -
-
Released by: Severin Films
Released on: April 30th, 2024.
Director: Andrew Legge
Cast: Emma Appleton, Stefanie Martini, Rory Fleck Byrne
Year: 2022
Purchase From Amazon
Lola – Movie Review:
Irish filmmakers Andrew Legge’s 2022 movie, ‘Lola’, which was made during Covid-19 lockdowns, is a wildly creative movie made in the found footage style that defies expectations, provides plenty of food for thought and manages to make...-
Channel: Movies
04-10-2024, 04:09 PM -
-
Released by: Vinegar Syndrome
Released on: March 26th, 2024.
Director: Jess Franco, Jorge Grau, Pedro L. Ramírez
Cast: Alberto Dalbés, Evelyne Scott, Fernando Rey, Marisa Mell, Wal Davis, Norma Kastel
Year: 1974
Purchase From Amazon
Spanish Blood Bath – Movie Review:
Vinegar Syndrome brings a triple feature of Spanish horror films of the in this new three-disc Blu-ray boxed set. Here’s what lies inside…
Night Of The...-
Channel: Movies
04-10-2024, 04:02 PM -
-
Released by: Universal Studios
Released on: April 9th, 2024.
Director: Zelda Williams
Cast: Kathryn Newton, Cole Sprouse, Carla Gugino, Joe Chrest, Henry Eikenberry
Year: 2024
Purchase From Amazon
Lisa Frankenstein – Movie Review:
The feature-length directorial debut of Zelda Williams, 20214’s Lisa Frankenstein takes place in 1989 and follows a teenaged girl named Lisa Swallows (Kathryn Newton) who, two years ago, lost her mother...-
Channel: Movies
04-03-2024, 03:40 PM -
-
Released by: Severin Films
Released on: April 30th, 2024.
Director: Gianfranco Giagni
Cast: Roland Wybenga, William Berger, Stéphane Audran
Year: 1988
Purchase From Amazon
Spider Labyrinth – Movie Review:
Professor Alan Whitmore (Roland Wybenga) is an American who works as a Professor of languages studies and has a fascination bordering on obsession with translating pre-Christian religious texts. He was also locked in a closet...-
Channel: Movies
04-03-2024, 03:37 PM -
-
Released by: Mondo Macabro
Released on: April 9th, 2024.
Director: Arizal
Cast: Barry Prima, Eva Arnaz, W.D. Mochtar
Year: 1982
Purchase From Amazon
Special Silencers – Movie Review:
When director Arizal’s 1982 epic begins, we meet a man named Gumilar (W.D. Mochtar), a sinister dude who has constantly bloodshot eyes. He’s meeting with a man about some sort of business deal, but a flashback shows us how some time ago he killed...-
Channel: Movies
04-03-2024, 03:35 PM -