6.6 | / 10 |
Users | 4.8 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
This erotic horror film, set in 1905, tells the story of a thief who seeks refuge in a castle owned by two women, Eva and Elizabeth. The women are seductive and teasing, but turn out to be part of a vampiric cult of blood-drinking aristocrats.
Starring: Franca Mai, Brigitte Lahaie, Jean-Marie Lemaire, Muriel Montossé, Jacques MarbeufHorror | 100% |
Foreign | 71% |
Erotic | 30% |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 1.66:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.66:1
French: LPCM Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
4K Ultra HD
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 0.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Jean Rollin's "Fascination" (1979) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films. The supplemental features on the release include archival programs with cast and crew interviews; new audio commentary by author and critic Jeremy Richey; alternate scenes; archival promotional materials; and more. In French, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.
Let's engage in a different kind of ceremony.
This 4K Blu-ray release introduces a brand new 4K restoration of Jean Rollin's Fascination. However, it does not have a Blu-ray copy of it. If you want a 1080p presentation of the 4K restoration, you will need to pick up this release. The 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray releases are Region-Free.
Please note that some of the screencaptures that appear with this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray and downscaled to 1080p. Therefore, they do not accurately reflect the quality of the 4K content on the 4K Blu-ray disc, including the actual color values of this content.
Screencaptures #1-20 are from the Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #23-29 are from 4K Blu-ray.
I like the new 4K makeover a lot. I have in my library the Redemption label's original release of Fascination from 2012, and after performing a number of comparisons, I can comfortably state that the film looks dramatically more convincing now. It has a strong, very attractive organic appearance that essentially allows for a completely different viewing experience, which I enjoyed a lot. In terms of delineation, clarity, and depth, the improvements are substantial, so on a larger screen, there is simply a lot more to see. Also, the new 4K makeover has an all-around superior color scheme. On the previous release, there are several areas where the primaries are destabilized by an awkward yellowish/greenish hue, which is not present on the 4K makeover. As a result, not only are all colors better saturated and healthier, they are more accurate. My only criticism pertains to certain darker areas, where darker nuances are slightly crushed. I spent quite a bit of time comparing the 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray presentations of the new 4K makeover, and I prefer what I see on the latter. I viewed the 4K makeover in its entirety with HDR, and I think that the darker visuals become a tad too dark, causing additional small but noticeable loss of information. On the previous release, there is a lot more crushing that is coupled with other anomalies introduced by filtering adjustments. The 4K makeover boasts an outstanding fluidity as well. All in all, it is very easy to declare that finally there is a proper and definitive presentation of Fascination. My score is 4.75/5.00.
There is only one standard audio track on this release: French LPCM 1.0. Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature.
Fascination benefits from a very interesting and very atmospheric soundtrack, so an excellent lossless track can make the viewing experience pretty special. The LPCM 1.0 track is outstanding and ensures precisely that kind of experience. It is very healthy, too. On the previous release of Fascination from the Redemption label, the audio track is very good, but it has some minor pops and imperfections that are rather easy to hear. The English translation is excellent.
Brigitte Lahaie correctly points out that in some areas the acting is pretty rough, while assistant director Natalie Perrey confesses that the editing could have been managed far more convincingly. But I do not think that these and all other flaws that are attached to them erode the quality of the atmosphere, which is the greatest strength of Fascination. In fact, as odd as it may sound, I think that these flaws are necessary for Jean Rollin's films to appear different from all the other genre films that deal with similar material. Why? Because Rollin recognized the shortcomings of his work and did a lot of creative things to make them appear organic, or at least as far as his vision of cinema was concerned. For this reason, I do not think that bigger budgets, more talented actors, and more experienced cinematographers and editors would have made his films better. Rollin's films are worth tracking down and seeing precisely because they are not great mainstream genre films. This 4K Blu-ray release introduces a very strong new 4K restoration of Fascination. However, if you need a Blu-ray copy of it, you will need to pick up this standard Blu-ray release. RECOMMENDED.
Le frisson des vampires / Strange Things Happen at Night | Indicator Series | Limited Edition
1971
La vampire nue | Limited Edition | Indicator Series
1970
La nuit des traquées | Indicator Series | Limited Edition
1980
La rose de fer
1973
Le viol du vampire | Indicator Series | Limited Edition
1968
Lèvres de sang | Limited Edition | Indicator Series
1975
Les deux orphelines vampires | Indicator Series | Limited Edition
1997
Les démoniaques | Limited Edition | Indicator Series
1974
Caged Virgins | Vierges et vampires | Limited Edition
1971-1973
Special 2-Disc Limited Edition
1971
幽霊屋敷の恐怖 血を吸う人形 / Chi o suu ningyô
1970
La morte vivante
1982
La novia ensangrentada
1972
La fille de Dracula
1972
AIP Cut
1960
AIP Cut | 60th Anniversary
1963
Daughters of Dracula
1974
El retorno del hombre lobo
1981
呪いの館 血を吸う眼 / Noroi no yakata: Chi o suu me
1971
El gran amor del conde Drácula / Cemetery Girls / Dracula's Virgin Lovers / The Great Love of Count Dracula
1973