6.4 | / 10 |
Users | 5.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
A young honeymooning couple stop for the night at an ancient castle. Unbeknownst to them, the castle is home to a horde of vampires, who have their own plans for the couple.
Starring: Sandra Julien, Jean-Marie Durand, Jacques Robiolles, Michel Delahaye, Marie-Pierre CastelHorror | 100% |
Foreign | 73% |
Erotic | 28% |
Surreal | 12% |
Period | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 1.66:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.66:1
French: LPCM Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: LPCM Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English, English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
4K Ultra HD
Region free
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 5.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Jean Rollin's "The Shiver of the Vampires" a.k.a. "Le Frisson des Vampires" (1971) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films. The supplemental features on the release include archival audio commentary by Jean Rollin; new audio commentary by critic and author Jeremy Richey; export inserts; archival interviews; and more. In French and English, with optional English and English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.
At the moment, I only have the Blu-ray disc, which is Region-Free. I am waiting to receive a 4K Blu-ray copy of this release and will update our review as soon as I get one. I decided to use the Blu-ray copy to highlight some of the key differences that exist on the new 4K master that was prepared for the release. (The 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray are sourced from this 4K master).
UPDATE: I received a market copy of the 4K Blu-ray release and was able to test it. I viewed the entire film with Dolby Vision. I did not test the HDR grade.
As I suspected, the 4K makeover looks outstanding in native 4K. For example, in native 4K, the darker areas reveal slightly better ranges of nuances but the difference is enough to avoid the thicker blacks that produce light crushing in 1080p. Also, color reproduction looks even more impressive, with nighttime and darker visuals again revealing some of the best results. There isn't anything else of substance to add. When I viewed the Blu-ray release, it was very easy to tell that the overall quality of the 4K makeover was outstanding, so I just wanted to see how much better it can look in native 4K. It looks great.
***
I have two other releases of The Shiver of the Vampires -- this release from the Redemption label, and this release from Wicked-Vision Media. Both offer different presentations of the film.
The new 4K master produces the healthiest visuals. These visuals have the best depth and dynamic range as well. I assume that they look tremendous in native 4K because on my system the jump in quality is often substantial. Indeed, it is not just specific ranges of nuances that look better, but everything that defines how good these visuals should look. Grain exposure is very healthy and as consistent as it should be on a proper new 4K master. In terms of color temperature, the new 4K master is a lot closer to what you would see on the Wicked-Vision Media release. However, some of the stronger yellow hues that were present on it, which I felt were not quite right, are either much better balanced or fully eliminated. Reds, blues, browns, and greens look richer and healthier. (I assume that they would look even more impressive in native 4K). My only criticism pertains to a couple of darker sequences where it looks like the blacks begin to crush a bit. However, this film, as well as a few other Jean Rollin films, features stylization that tends to emphasize blacks quite a lot. Image stability is very good. The entire film looks impressively healthy as well. My score is 4.75/5.00.
There are two standard audio tracks on this release: French LPCM 1.0 and English LPCM 1.0. Optional English subtitles are provided for the French track, and optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the English track.
I prefer to view the film with the original French track. However, I did test quite a bit of the English track while viewing this release. The French track is clearly the better one. The English track often sounds too thin, plus in some areas, it feels it barely keeps minor distortions at bay. The French track is fuller and with a superior dynamic range. However, it has some unevenness too, which I assume is inherited. The English translation is very good.
UPDATE: I received a market copy of the 4K Blu-ray release and was able to test it. As I expected, in native 4K the new 4K makeover looks terrific. If you are planning to pick up The Shiver of the Vampires for your library, keep in mind that this 4K Blu-ray release does not have a Blu-ray copy of the film. If you need one, take look at the Blu-ray release, which offers a similarly great presentation of the 4K makeover in 1080p.
There is little that separates Jean Rollin and Jess Franco. The two loved exploring and created equally atmospheric films, often while making similar errors and producing very similar controversy. If nowadays Rollin has a better reputation, it is only because he was not as prolific as Franco. The Shiver of the Vampires, regarded by some as one of Rollin's masterpieces, is quite the head trip, so to have it fully restored in 4K and introduced on 4K Blu-ray is a special event. At the moment, I only have the Blu-ray disc. The 4K makeover looks spectacular and I assume that it is jaw-droppingly beautiful when viewed in native 4K. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
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1971
Le frisson des vampires / Strange Things Happen at Night | Indicator Series | Limited Edition
1971
Limited Edition | Indicator Series
1979
La vampire nue | Limited Edition | Indicator Series
1970
Le viol du vampire | Indicator Series | Limited Edition
1968
Caged Virgins | Vierges et vampires | Limited Edition
1971-1973
Lèvres de sang | Limited Edition | Indicator Series
1975
Les démoniaques | Limited Edition | Indicator Series
1974
Les deux orphelines vampires | Indicator Series | Limited Edition
1997
La rose de fer
1973
La nuit des traquées | Indicator Series | Limited Edition
1980
Special 2-Disc Limited Edition
1971
La fille de Dracula
1972
AIP Cut
1960
AIP Cut | 60th Anniversary
1963
La perversa caricia de Satán
1976
呪いの館 血を吸う眼 / Noroi no yakata: Chi o suu me
1971
幽霊屋敷の恐怖 血を吸う人形 / Chi o suu ningyô
1970
Les lèvres rouges | 4K Restoration | Standard Edition
1971
El gran amor del conde Drácula / Cemetery Girls / Dracula's Virgin Lovers / The Great Love of Count Dracula
1973
El retorno del hombre lobo
1981
L'amante del vampiro
1960