6.9 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
The patriarch of a wealthy family fears that he will show up one day in vampire form. Should this happen, he warns his family not to let him back in his house, no matter how much he begs them.
Starring: Gianni Garko, Agostina Belli, Roberto Maldera, Cinzia De Carolis, Teresa GimperaHorror | 100% |
Foreign | 64% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Italian: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English, German
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
“The Night of the Devils” arrives with a little extra pedigree than the average Italian shocker. The 1972 release was based on Aleksey Tolstoy’s 1839 story, “The Wurdalak,” providing inspiration that’s more interested in mood than overt scares, aided by leadership from director Giorgio Ferroni (the mind behind “Mill of the Stone Woman,” in his penultimate film), who embraces the hauntingly straightforward interests of the material. Startlingly fulfilling while remaining minimal in its terror output, “The Night of the Devils” is an engaging viewing experience, perhaps best suited for those open to its simplistic narrative design, odd sensuality, and period-rich macabre details, shaped into an entertaining examination of trauma and vampirism, sold with all the sustained stares and zooms a viewer could ever want.
The AVC encoded image (2.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation does an excellent job resurrecting a long forgotten cult offering, giving it a little HD heft. Outside of some white speckles and the occasional blip of debris, the print is in wonderful shape, providing a solid foundation for the soft viewing experience. Some noise is detected in the corners of the frame, while another unidentifiable abnormality on the right side of the frame intermittently pops into view, but these are small issues in an otherwise satisfactory picture, with period-restrained colors (and mild fade) showing life, offering the ideal punch of red when blood begins to flow. Costumes are equally communicative with hues, while skintones are defined, moving between red blooded bedroom interests and ashen, undead monster pallor. Shadow detail is a touch too thick during evening encounters, but remains in good shape, with adequate blacks and comfy contrast. Grain is restrained, yet the image is filmic and welcoming, with fine detail quite healthy, clarifying textures on wounds and prosthetics (the reveal of a severed hand inadvertently showcases its rubber origins), while facial particulars are open for careful inspection.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix has a bit of an uphill climb here, fighting the presence of hiss and pops, while some of the broader acts of violence test the limits of the upper range. It's a thin track, but one that's not too much of a concern, tending to dubbed dialogue exchanges with a hearty sense of verbal personality, maintaining performances without clutter. Scoring is substantial, carrying the picture as intended, with a full sense of orchestral control when called upon. Balance is satisfactory and horror cues are preserved, while atmospherics are expectedly thick and loud. Again, it's not a clean track, but quite pleasing considering the obscurity of the title.
"The Night of the Devils" is a solid effort all around, boosted by a mournful score from Joe Gaslini, who conjures a mood of lost romance and tragedy to backdrop the horror happenings, bringing unexpected elegance to the low-budget effort. Although it never reaches a peak of insanity inherent to the genre, "The Night of the Devils" achieves a balanced sense of the unknown, the sympathetic, and the ghoulish, focusing on character to embellish suspense as it creeps around in a most inspired manner.
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