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Vampyres
Stars:
Marianne Morris, Anulka, Murray Brown, Brian Deacon, Sally Faulkner, Michael
Byrne, and Karl Lanchbury
Writer:
Diane Daubeney
Director:
Jose Ramon Larraz
Feature
length: 88 minutes
Extras:
Director and Producer’s Commentary, Interviews, Lost “Caravan” Scene,
Galleries, Director’s Bio, Poster And Still Gallery, Trailers
Languages:
English Monaural Sound
Subtitles:
N/A
Packaging:
Keep Case
Chapter
Stops: 21
Sound:
Monaural Sound
Year
of Theatrical Release: 1974/DVD Release: 2003
Home
Video Distributor: Blue Underground
MPAA
Rating: Not Rated
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
The
second film that streets day and date with “Daughter’s
Of Darkness” and “Baba Yaga” on
Tuesday, May 27, 2003, but like the other two is sold separately is “Vampyres.”
If “Daughters Of Darkness” pushed
the envelope in terms of identifying sexual behavior and vampirism,
“Vampyres” took the envelope and tore it open. This is film not for the
squeamish and it is finally being presented on DVD-Video for the first time ever
uncut and uncensored. The visceral attacks of these two bisexual vampires with
their victims screaming in horror as their bodies are torn open and they are fed
upon while they are still alive is only matched by the carnal soft core sex
scenes and nudity between Marianne Morris and Anulka.
Seducing their victims on the English Countryside by any means necessary,
these two creatures of the night have an appetite for blood that is only equaled
by their appetite for each other. I hesitate to call this an “Adult Horror
Film” because the term “Adult Film” has become a sanitized way of
describing pornography, and “Vampyres” is not in my opinion a porn film
though I am sure there are those who might argue this point with me. Basically
this is not a film I’d let kids go and see, at least no one below the age of
17. So by my stating this I can just imagine the discs flying off the shelves
and again I suppose the film is tame by modern cinema standards, but on the
second thought, no, there has never been a film quite like “Vampyres” though
there have been a few that explored the same ground. I can only imagine what the
MPAA might say if they looked at this cut.
Again
for a 1974 cult film that could be considered obscure by mainstream viewers,
this DVD presentation of “Vampyres” looks pretty good with only a few
imperfections left over from the original source material and is presented in an
anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1) aspect ratio. The two-channel English Monaural
Soundtrack is free of popping or crackling sounds. Director Jose Ramon Larraz
and Producer Brian Smedley-Aston provide a feature length audio commentary, but
it suffers from frequent pauses and is more retrospective than screen specific.
The interview with Marianne Morris and Anulka (13:39) is more interesting with
both women candidly discussing the film and the impact it had on their lives
since it was produced. There is photographic reconstruction of the lost
“Caravan” scene that would have appeared close to the film’s conclusion
and there is a huge gallery of color and black and white poster art, press
clippings, behind-the-scenes photos, publicity stills, and lobby cards as well
as a short glamour gallery of modeling stills featuring Anulka. The
international (2:31) and US (3:06) theatrical trailers as well as biographical
notes on the Director are included on the DVD as well. Windows based and
Macintosh DVD-ROM users have access to a bonus essay written by Tim Greaves
entitled “Vampyres – A Tribute To The Ultimate In Erotic Horror Cinema.”
This feature is a PDF file containing tons of photos, a forward Director Jose
Ramon Larraz, and an introduction by Producer Brian Smeadley-Aston and more. The
latest version of Adobe Acrobat is required and there are links to both the Blue
Underground website and the Adobe website to download the latest version of
Acrobat for those who do not already have it. The document can be printed out at
36 pages in length. The interactive menus are easy to navigate.
“Vampyres”
is available on DVD now from Blue Underground.
©
Copyright 2003 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
Read
The DVD Review Of Daughters Of Darkness
Read The DVD Review Of Baba Yaga
Buy This DVD Now By Clicking On The Text Link Below!
Vampyres