6.6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
A gang of pirates rape the two sole survivors of a shipwreck. The violated girls are rescued by the strange inhabitants of a supposedly haunted island, where they are granted supernatural powers to strike revenge against the pirates.
Starring: Joëlle Coeur, John Rico, Willy Braque, Paul Bisciglia, Louise DhourHorror | 100% |
Foreign | 66% |
Erotic | 32% |
Surreal | 9% |
Supernatural | 5% |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
French: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono
English: LPCM Mono
English, English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
4K Ultra HD
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 5.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Jean Rollin's "The Demoniacs" (1974) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films. The supplemental features on the release inlcude new audio commentary by novelist and critic Tim Lucas; new program with author and critic Stephen Thrower; archival program with actor Jean-Pierre Bouyxou; archival program with actor Willy Braque; vintage promotional material; and more. In French or English, with optional English and English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.
Indicator/Powerhouse Films' 4K Blu-ray release of The Demoniacs does not have a standard Blu-ray copy of the film. If you need one, you must pick up the standard Blu-ray release.
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 #1-27 are from the Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #31-35 are from the 4K Blu-ray.
I have two releases of The Demoniacs in my library, but only one is a Blu-ray. It is this U.S. release, which the Redemption label produced in 2012. I did several comparisons with it.
The 4K Blu-ray release introduces a new 4K restoration of The Demoniacs, which in native 4K can be viewed with Dolby Vision and HDR grades. I viewed it in its entirety with HDR and thought that it was a genuine stunner. I liked everything that I saw on my system. Indeed, The Demoniacs has a completely different, vastly superior all-around very solid organic appearance that makes it possible to experience it in an entirely new way. To be honest, there are several sections of the film that now look breathtakingly beautiful. Delineation, clarity, and depth are superb, and the density levels are substantially better. Also, on the old release, some darker footage tends to look quite flat and shaky, while on the new 4K makeover, all darker footage looks terrific. Color balance is fantastic. All primaries look very healthy and lush, as they should, while all supporting nuances are wonderfully balanced. Image stability is terrific.
I also spent time comparing the native 4K and 1080p presentations of the new 4K makeover. Both look equally impressive. In fact, I think that I prefer how some of the beach footage looks in 1080p. On both presentations, fluidity is dramatically improved as well. (On the old release, often times the camera movement is not handled very well by the transfer). All in all, I think that the new 4K makeover is a pretty dramatic upgrade in quality that looks great on 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray.
There are two standard audio tracks on this release: French DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 and English LPCM 1.0. Theatrical Version can be viewed with French DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 track. Export Cut can be viewed with French DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 track. Curse of the Living Dead can be viewed with English LPCM 1.0 track. Optional English subtitles are provided for the French tracks. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the English track.
I viewed the Export Cut. The audio is clear, clean, and stable. Balance is good, but some minor fluctuations can be noticed. Also, dynamic intensity, even during the action footage, is rather weak, but this is an inherited quality. The music does not produce any interesting dynamic contrasts either. The English translation is excellent.
In an archival program, actor Paul Bisciglia recalls how a good friend described Jean Rollin before he had done any work with him. "Rollin sometimes really turns out bullshit, but there is always a fantastic shot. He always has at least one brilliant shot in each film." This description sums up The Demoniacs pretty well, too, I think. It is a film that has several sections with brilliant visuals, but it is a strange mess. And no, the strange is not of the kind that makes many of Rollin's films memorable mind-benders. I do not fully understand it. I think it is either an incomplete film or a hybrid project that combines material that was supposed to be used in two, possibly even three films. Indicator/Powerhouse Films' 4K Blu-ray release introduces a stunning 4K makeover of The Demoniacs, so Rollin completists should have it in their libraries.
Les démoniaques
1974
Les démoniaques | Limited Edition | Indicator Series
1974
Les deux orphelines vampires | Indicator Series | Limited Edition
1997
Limited Edition | Indicator Series
1979
La vampire nue | Limited Edition | Indicator Series
1970
Le viol du vampire | Indicator Series | Limited Edition
1968
Le frisson des vampires / Strange Things Happen at Night | Indicator Series | Limited Edition
1971
La rose de fer
1973
Caged Virgins | Vierges et vampires | Limited Edition
1971-1973
La novia ensangrentada
1972
Lèvres de sang | Limited Edition | Indicator Series
1975
AIP Cut | 60th Anniversary
1963
The Mask of Satan / La maschera del demonio | The Mario Bava Collection
1960
La morte vivante
1982
Nosferatu, a Symphony of Horror | Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens | 2006 Restoration, Hans Erdmann/Heller compilation score
1922
La nuit des traquées | Indicator Series | Limited Edition
1980
La fille de Dracula
1972
Paura nella città dei morti viventi | Standard Edition
1980
Quella villa accanto al cimitero
1981
1972
Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht
1979
La noche del terror ciego | Standard Edition
1972