Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

The Shiver of the Vampires 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov April 24, 2023

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.

There are horror films, there are Gothic horror films, and then there are Jean Rollin’s films. There are a few of Rollin’s films that perhaps fit nicely between the first and second group, but the majority of them don’t. They are quite simply in a category of their own, bending genre rules in unique ways that make them virtually impossible to compare to other genre films. This does not automatically make them brilliant, they are just very different films that demand to be viewed and appreciated without traditional genre expectations.

The Shiver of the Vampires was completed in the early ‘70s, at a time when Rollin was already playing with different themes and looking to alter the type of ambience that traditional Gothic horror films promoted. There is a whiff of the dark elegance that defines some of Mario Bava’s early films in it, but halfway through it Rollin dramatically shifts its tonal balance and turns it into a wacky psychedelic rebel that might have had a few too many joints. It is true. The film’s entire attitude changes, and at one point it looks like Rollin might have been only a reel away from asking the stars to get rid of their clothes so that he can continue shooting an adult fairy tale of some sort. (By the way, some decades later Italian director Joe D’Amato, who earned the respect of many horror and exploitation fans with several wild films during the ‘70s and ‘80s, actually did precisely that and ended his career in the adult business. Rollin also did some adult films, under an alias, but he went back and forth between softcore and hardcore material while continuing to shoot standard films). So, the film undergoes a very significant transformation and in the end leaves its audience in a very different place.

So how effective is this shift?

The general rule with all of Rollin’s films is that the bolder they are, the more interesting they become. However, there are films in his oeuvre where the ‘different’ material becomes either too silly or the production values are so poor that the entire project essentially self-destructs. (Once Upon a Virgin is a perfect example of such a film). The Shiver of the Vampires is one of the more entertaining Rollin films, though not one of his most effective. It follows closely two newlyweds (Sandra Julian and Jean-Marie Durand) who have just started their honeymoon trip but temporarily change their plans and decide to visit an ancient castle somewhere in the countryside owned by distant cousins of the bride. Shortly after they enter the castle, however, they discover that the cousins have disappeared and that a mysterious beauty (Dominique) who emerges from a giant clock is now calling the shots. The newlyweds still decide to spend the night there and by the early morning hours, their relationship is forever changed.

The title of the film makes it obvious that there will be at least one vampire that will do some naughty things, so what is unclear is just how much fun there really is to be had. Some quite bizarre twists poke fun at horror/vampire film clichés but ultimately this isn’t the wild psychedelic romp that Rollin likely would have delivered with a bigger budget. So, expect to see a very different film that does not play by the rules, but at the same time keep in mind that as wacky as the narrative might be, this isn’t one of Rollin’s wildest efforts.

The Shiver of the Vampires 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

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.

The Shiver of the Vampires 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

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.

The Shiver of the Vampires 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Introduction - archival video introduction to the film by Jean Rollin. The introduction was included on the Wicked-Vision Media release of The Shivers of the Vampires. In English. (5 min).

• French Trailer - presented here is a restored French trailer for The Shiver of the Vampires. In French, with English test. (5 min).

• English Trailer - presented here is a restored English trailer for The Shiver of the Vampires. In French, with English test. (5 min).

• Export Inserts - presented here are seven export inserts. The majority feature erotic content. Fully restored. (25 min).

• Rouge Vif - Le Frisson des Vampires - this archival program includes clips from interviews with production assistant Jean-Noël Delamarre, production assistant Natalie Perrey. and others. The program was included on the Wicked-Vision Media release of The Shivers of the Vampires. In French, with optional English subtitles. (18 min) .

• Commentary One - this archival audio commentary was recorded by Jean Rollin. In it, Rollin discusses in great detail how The Shiver of the Vampires was shot, lit, and edited, as well as the unique tone of its narrative. The commentary is in French, with optional English subtitles.

• Commentary Two - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by Jeremy Richey, author of Sylvia Kristel: From Emmanuelle to Chabrol. Mr. Richey considers The Shiver of the Vampires one of Rollin's greatest cinematic achievements and offers an in-depth analysis of the film that validates his opinion.

• Jean Rollin: Fear and Desire - in this archival interview, Jean Rollin discusses his fascination with vampires and the atmosphere that surrounds them, the women and eroticism in his films, and their stylistic appearance. The interview was conducted by Patricia MacCormack in Paris in 2004. In English, not subtitled. (41 min).

• Virgine Selavy: Macabre Psychedelia - this new video essay was created by critic and author Virgine Selavy. In English, not subtitled. (8 min).

• Image Gallery -
  
  1. Original promotional material
  2. Behind the scenes

• Book - limited edition exclusive 80-page book with a new essay by David Hinds, an archival introduction by Jean Rollin, an archival interview with the director by Peter Blumenstock, an archival interview with actor Marie-Pierre Castel, Andy Votel on Acanthus, the mysterious group behind the film's soundtrack, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and technical credits.

The Shiver of the Vampires 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

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.