6.1 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
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 RizzoHorror | 100% |
Foreign | 54% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.67:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.37:1
Italian: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
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.
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.
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" 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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