The Playgirls and the Vampire Blu-ray Movie

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The Playgirls and the Vampire Blu-ray Movie United States

L'ultima Preda del Vampiro / Curse of the Vampire | Slipcover in Original Pressing
Vinegar Syndrome | 1960 | 81 min | Not rated | Mar 26, 2024

The Playgirls and the Vampire (Blu-ray Movie)

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Movie rating

6.1
 / 10

Blu-ray rating

Users0.0 of 50.0
Reviewer4.0 of 54.0
Overall4.0 of 54.0

Overview

The Playgirls and the Vampire (1960)

Made in 1960, Piero Regnoli's THE PLAYGIRLS AND THE VAMPIRE is one of the earliest Italian horror films. After skipping out on an unpaid hotel bill, a busload of curvaceous showgirls is forced off the road by a thunderstorm. They prevail on the hospitality of a nearby castle, where the reclusive Count Kernassy nearly orders them away—until he sees Vera, a leggy dancer who's a dead ringer for his beautiful ancestor Margherita! Unfortunately, Vera is also attractive to the Count's 200-year-old, bloodthirsty ancestor—who's a dead ringer for his descendant!

Starring: Walter Brandi, Lyla Rocco, Alfredo Rizzo

Horror100%
Foreign53%

Specifications

  • Video

    Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
    Video resolution: 1080p
    Aspect ratio: 1.67:1
    Original aspect ratio: 1.37:1

  • Audio

    Italian: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
    English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)

  • Subtitles

    English SDH

  • Discs

    Blu-ray Disc
    Single disc (1 BD)

  • Packaging

    Slipcover in original pressing

  • Playback

    Region A, B (C untested)

Review

Rating summary

Movie3.0 of 53.0
Video4.0 of 54.0
Audio4.0 of 54.0
Extras3.0 of 53.0
Overall4.0 of 54.0

The Playgirls and the Vampire Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 20, 2024

An Italian production, 1960’s “The Playgirls and the Vampire” presents itself as a horror movie, but there’s a more exploitative edge to the feature as it develops. The production is quite aware it isn’t out to make art, more attentive to female characters in eveningwear, often exploring the halls and rooms of a spooky castle. There’s a vampiric angle to the endeavor as well, but director Piero Regnoli doesn’t pay too close attention to the fright factor of “The Playgirls and the Vampire,” keeping up mild sexploitation touches and strange relationships in this passably engaging B-movie.


Manager Lucas (Alfredo Rizzo) and handler Ferrenc (Leonardo Botta) are in charge of bringing showgirls across the country on a bus, keeping their eyes on Ilona (Marisa Quattrini), Erika (Erika Dicenta), Magda (Corinne Fontaine), Katia (Maria Giovanni), and Vera (Lyla Rocco). When their vehicle encounters a closed road during a heavy storm, they’re redirected to Kernassy Castle, hoping to stay the night. Count Gabor (Walter Brandi) reluctantly agrees to offer the gang accommodations, presenting one simple rule: that the guests remain in their rooms overnight. Katia can’t stifle her curiosity about the castle, and she pays a dear price, while Vera is singled out by Gabor, who’s unnerved by her resemblance to one of his ancestors.

It doesn’t take long to catch on to the vibe “The Playgirls and the Vampire” is selling, with the movie opening on Katia seductively fussing with her legs while riding the bus. However, characterization is decent for this style of entertainment, with the writing following Vera’s strange vibes in the castle, with Gabor looking to stay close to the unexpected visitor, who may have ties to his family history. Vampiric elements eventually come into “The Playgirls and the Vampire,” along with haunted house touches, which trigger a few tours of the dwelling, aiming to bring suspense to the picture, especially when Katia makes certain discoveries about the inhabitants.

Fright night events are a little dull, with the movie most alert when trying to photograph semi-nude actresses in sheer nightgowns. The effort basically pulls a full-stop to watch dance rehearsals, keeping the camera trained on striptease movement. Additional storytelling enters “The Playgirls and the Vampire” in the second half of the film, with Vera exposed the darkness in the castle. However, expectations for a more intimidating level of horror aren’t met, with the picture dealing with a small budget and creature feature concept that doesn’t take off, requiring more exposition than “The Playgirls and the Vampire” is willing to give.


The Playgirls and the Vampire Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality  4.0 of 5

The AVC encoded image (1.67:1 aspect ratio) is listed as "newly scanned and restored in 4K from its 35mm fine grain master." The source material does show plenty of wear and tear, with scratches and speckling common, along with some damaged frames. The production also loses the battle with focus on a few occasions. Detail, when presented without issues, is inviting, exploring skin particulars on the cast, who vary in age. Perhaps more important to those who've previously enjoyed the movie on VHS, costuming retains intended sheerness, adding to the creative intent of the feature. Interiors remains dimensional, joined by a few deeper exteriors. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is nicely resolved.


The Playgirls and the Vampire Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality  4.0 of 5

2.0 DTS-HD MA tracks are offered in both Italian and English, with the mixes basically sounding the same. Dialogue exchanges are clear, with a good sense of language and emotionality. Scoring shows some age, but dramatic emphasis is present, and instrumentation is decent. Sound effects are basic but appreciable.


The Playgirls and the Vampire Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras  3.0 of 5

  • "Striptease Gothic" (25:56, HD) is an appreciation piece from Mark Thompson-Ashworth.
  • Alternate Opening Title Sequences (SD) include "The Playgirls and the Vampire" (3:19), "Curse of the Vampire" (1:44), and "Des filles pour un vampire" (3:41).
  • Image Gallery (2:02) collects lobby cards, "exploitation campaign" pages, film stills, and poster art.
  • And a Theatrical Trailer (1:42, SD) is included.


The Playgirls and the Vampire Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation  4.0 of 5

"The Playgirls and the Vampire" isn't a thrilling feature, but it does offer brighter acting than what's usually provided in low-budget endeavors. The cast shows some hustle, and Regnoli aims to keep up with spooky encounters in the castle, especially in the last act, but he's not entirely committed to a developing fear factor. Especially not when there are actresses to photograph in various stages of undress.


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