The Long Hair of Death Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

The Long Hair of Death Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 24, 2015

Director Antonio Margheriti made a name for himself with 1964’s “Castle of Blood,” a gothic horror effort beloved by fans of the genre. That same year, the helmer returned to duty with “The Long Hair of Death,” a similar feature in tone and candlelit threat, continuing a career quest to explore dark shadows and eerie events. “The Long Hair of Death” is stocked with ghoulish developments and duplicitous characters, but that lack of pace ends up crippling a promising chiller. As much as Margheriti would like to scare the pants off viewers, he would be better off trying to keep them awake.

A tale of witchcraft and generational ruin at the close of the 15th century, “The Long Hair of Death” has the right idea for scares, working with the revival of dead bodies and malicious mischief to generate a creepy sense of surprise and occult justice. The picture also wins points for its sexuality, using unnerving couplings and personal submission to add a tinge of unrest to the tale as it gradually finds its way to ghostly occurrences. However, it’s a long, slow ride to death’s door, with simple acts and behaviors gobbling up minutes of screentime, feeling more like padding instead of suspense.

The Long Hair of Death Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation does showcase Raro's habitual fear of filmic textures, with filtering present throughout the viewing experience. Detail isn't pronounced, but close-ups capture faint particulars of skin and fabric, while some of the gothic touches suggest depth. Blacks provide passable delineation but remain far from ideal, solidifying a few frame details when the drama enters the darkest corners of the castle. Print shows signs of chemical damage, and scratches and speckling are present. Judder is also detected.

The Long Hair of Death Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 LPCM sound mix doesn't have to do much to command the room, with scoring loudly dominating the listening experience, carrying immense presence, just shying away from shrillness. Dialogue exchanges as adequate, perhaps too quiet at times, but emotions are open for assessment. Atmospherics come through as intended, with thundering storms and group commotion accurate. Hiss is present throughout.

The Long Hair of Death Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet (six pages) contains as essay by Fangoria editor Chris Alexander.

• Introduction (3:51, SD) enters Alexander's basement for a brief discussion concerning his love for "The Long Hair of Death" and star Barbara Steele's "vibrating shell."

• Interview (10:31, SD) with Margheriti's son, Edoardo, is primarily an overview of career achievements. Explaining his father's love for the horror genre, but his desire to make broader entertainment, Edoardo provides interesting insight into creative choices and professional longevity.

• Interview (6:17, SD) with writer Antonio Tentori covers Margheriti's strengths as a director and his diverse career.

• An Italian Trailer (3:37, HD) and an American Trailer (3:37, HD) are included.

The Long Hair of Death Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The star of the show is Barbara Steele, a genre icon with a look that fits all macabre intentions, and she manages to keep "The Long Hair of Death" compelling with her unusual screen presence. Gothic touches and special effects also carry cinematic pleasures, but there's just not enough of the grim stuff to keep the effort involving.