Der Autovampir Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.5

Der Autovampir Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov September 19, 2020

Juraj Herz's "Ferat Vampire" (1982) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Ostalgica. The supplemental features on the disc include new audio commentary by critic Lars Dreyer-Winkelmann; interview with auto engineer Stanislav Cink; vintage promotional materials; and more. In Czech or German, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

I have a very special relationship with Juraj Herz’s Ferat Vampire, but I am willing to reveal only a tiny part of it so that this article sounds at least partially legitimate. Viewing and collecting habits are so drastically different now that my relationship would not make any sense to younger readers who are used to discovering ‘different’ films on the internet.

First, a small confession. To this day, I still consider Ferat Vampire the spookiest film to emerge from the former Soviet satellites. I used to watch a lot of these films as part of my job, and while I discovered many truly special ones, Ferat Vampire remained in a league of its own. It was something of an anomaly that was allowed to exist only because, before it, Herz had acquired quite a reputation in and outside of Czechoslovakia and created some very helpful friendships with important communist politicians. Another director would not have been allowed to do Ferat Vampire. If someone else were stupid enough to attempt to shoot such a film, this person’s career would have ended on the spot. Also, the authorities would have quickly relocated this bold auteur to some godforsaken place where, eventually, he would have quietly died while making ends meet as a hard laborer in a ‘developing area’. (Many small and extremely depressing towns emerged near such areas, with the army usually overseeing their expansion and controlling their economies, and they were always the final destinations for rebellious artists who dared to think outside the box).

So, my first encounter with Ferat Vampire occurred some years after it had been completed, during a ‘studio screening’. I did not know what to expect from it, but mentally I was prepared for a silly thriller with some goofy special effects. However, even before the stylish black car appeared on the screen, I could already tell that Herz was going for something entirely different because the music had a very sinister vibe. It was so dark, so intense, and so effectively synced with the visuals that it instantly made me feel uncomfortable. Then, by the time the car temporarily swallowed the hand of the curious Dr. Marek (Jiri Menzel), I was already on the edge of my seat and feeling seriously queasy. I had to walk out and go to the nearest bathroom to put some cold water on my face. I came back ten, maybe fifteen minutes later and finished the screening session, but it was quite the endurance test.

A few years later, I had a similar experience with Sidney J. Furie’s thriller The Entity, which uses music in much the same way Ferat Vampire does. (Interesting fact: both films were released in 1982). But this time, I controlled my emotions substantially better because I was viewing The Entity on VHS. Also, The Entity spooks while it engages the mind with many entirely credible what-if scenarios, so this helped a lot. In Ferat Vampire, it is crystal clear that the car's antics are not real, but the atmosphere becomes so intense that eventually the mind capitulates.

Two years ago, I was quite surprised to learn that a German company was set to release Ferat Vampire on Blu-ray. (I was astonished to see that it was advertised as being English-friendly as well). I never thought that I would have another encounter with it, so I pre-ordered the release and received it approximately two weeks after its official street date. On the day the package was delivered, I screened Ferat Vampire -- and I instantly felt seriously queasy again. Ferat Vampire was fully remastered and looked beautiful on my system, so as soon as the audio flooded my speakers, my mind capitulated. It was a very, very odd feeling, one that I had not experienced in decades.

You have probably noticed already that I have not revealed much about the plot of Ferat Vampire, and this is entirely intentional. However, I wish to mention a couple of important details that may give you an idea of what to expect from it. There is very little in the action footage -- which is everything from the rally footage to the nighttime footage where Dr. Marek’s resilience is tested -- that is staged. It is a communist reality merging with a horror reality for a special blend of thrills. Also, the car is one hundred percent real. It was a cool prototype for Skoda, the jewel of the Czechoslovakian auto industry.

Der Autovampir Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.37:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Ferat Vampire arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Ostalgica/Media Target Distribution.

I don't know much about the current master that was used to produce this release of Ferat Vampire. However, I do know that it is brand new, and I can assure you that it has all of the strong organic qualities we expect to see after a proper restoration. In fact, I would say that had the people who finalized it done some minor cosmetic work to remove the occasional specks and marks that pop up here and there, it would have been perfect. Indeed, I was quite impressed with the outstanding clarity, delineation, and depth. Fluidity was also excellent. The new master is beautifully graded as well, so the spookiest footage looks terrific. (The sequence where Dr. Marek tests the Ferat looked every bit as chilling as I remember it). There are no traces of problematic digital adjustments. Image stability is very good. All in all, while there is some room for minor cosmetic improvements, this really is an outstanding organic presentation of the film that makes it look almost brand new. Very impressive work. My score is 4.25/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Der Autovampir Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are three standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: Czech DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0, German (Retro) DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0, and German DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0. Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I viewed the film with the original Czech audio track and was beyond impressed. I have some very special memories from my first theatrical viewing of Ferat Vampire and the lossless track exceeded my expectations. The terrifying score sounded incredible on my system. Also, the clarity and stability of the dialogue were very impressive. The English translation was excellent.

Der Autovampir Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary - audio commentary by critic Lars Dreyer-Winkelmann. In German, not subtitled.

• The Iron Vampire - new video interview with auto/prototype engineer Stanislav Cinkl. In Czech, with German subtitles. (12 min).

• Ferat Vampir: Close-Up - a look at the original Skoda prototype that was used for the Ferat in the film. Music only. (3 min).

• Alternate Opening Credits - opening credits with the German title for the film. Music only. (3 min).

• Gallery - a collection of production and promotional materials for the film.

• Cover - reversible cover art.

Der Autovampir Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The use of sound in Ferat Vampire is phenomenal. It builds a tense atmosphere that I have encountered only in The Entity, which goes down a similar path but engages the mind in a different way. In the old days, before the internet, I was convinced that Ferat Vampire was the spookiest film to emerge from the former Soviet bloc, and I have not changed my mind yet. Apparently, its very dark sense of humor seems a bit off to some viewers now, but I have to speculate that it is only because they don't realize how accurate its depiction of communist absurdity is. This recent release from the German company Ostalgica is sourced from a very solid restored organic master. Pick up a copy for your collection while it is still available. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. (I recently had to repurchase the release after I sent my original copy to a colleague in Canada. It was more difficult to track it down because of shipping restrictions).