6.4 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Ghosts and dead bodies infest a small nineteenth-century village. Their souls look for revenge only!
Starring: Stefania NelliHorror | 100% |
Foreign | 66% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.67:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.66:1
Italian: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Note: This film is available on Blu-ray as part of Severin's Danza Macabra: Volume One — The Italian Gothic Collection.
Severin has fired up its trusty candelabra and gone exploring in another bunch of nooks and crannies in whatever castle it keeps it stash of Italian
Gothic horror films, and come up with this interesting quartet of offerings, two from the mid-sixties and two from the early seventies, though rather
interestingly given this set's title of Danza Macabre, there's no inclusion of Castle of Blood, which, as of the writing of this review, is available only as a bonus feature on Severin's release of Nightmare Castle. While the films
themselves in this set may be hit and/or miss for some (maybe even many), they all have moodiness and even style on occasion, and as usual,
Severin has
aggregated some really interesting supplemental features to help sweeten the pot (cauldron?). The fact that this collection has been branded with a
noticeable Volume One probably suggests more exploring in dim, dusty, cobweb laden corners may be in store, though wearing sheer
negligees may
be optional, based on your own preferences with regard to apparel.
The Seventh Grave is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Severin Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.67:1. The back cover of this release touts that this is the film's "worldwide Blu-ray premiere" and that this was "scanned in 2K from the recently discovered negative". This may be the most revelatory of the transfers in this set for lovers of this genre, and while seeing the film now in all its glory (?) may point out some of the deficits in the production budget, there's a nicely consistent accounting of detail on costumes and props, as well as generally solid contrast. Some of the establishing shots of the castle look like they may have come from a secondary, more damaged element (perhaps they were stock footage to begin with), but aside from a few minor blemishes, those are really the most noticeable signs of age related wear and tear. Grain looks filmic and resolves naturally throughout.
The Seventh Grave features a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono track in the original Italian. There's really nothing very elaborate about the sound design here, as was probably necessitated by the small budget. This doesn't have the "song and dance" elements of The Monster of the Opera, but Leopold Perez's score is decently full bodied, and sound effects also reverberate with some energy, though like many of the tracks on this set, there's a noticeable thinness at times. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.
This is another film where the actual feature may frankly be middling at times, but where some of the backstage history of both the shoot and the subsequent "disappearance" of the film provide at least as much mystery as the ostensible story. Technical merits are generally solid, and all three of the supplements on this disc are informative and enjoyable, for anyone who may be considering making a purchase.
(Still not reliable for this title)
Il mostro dell'opera / The Vampire of the Opera
1964
Il castello dalle porte di fuoco
1970
Delirio di sangue / Slipcover in Original Pressing
1988
The Doll of Satan | Limited Edition to 3000
1969
1991
Spettri
1987
El sádico de Notre-Dame
1979
La fiancée de Dracula
2002
Encarnação do Demônio
2008
1971
1989
1986
Standard Edition | El Aullido del Diablo
1988
Standard Edition
1980
口裂け女 / Kuchisake-onna
2007
1976
Estratto dagli archivi segreti della polizia di una capitale europea
1972
El amanti del mostro
1974
1993
2014