6.4 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
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 | 29% |
Surreal | 12% |
Period | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.66:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.66:1
French: LPCM Mono
English: LPCM Mono
English, English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
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 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.
Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.66:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, The Shiver of the Vampires arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films.
Please note that this Blu-ray release and this 4K Blu-ray release are sourced from a brand new 4K master. Identical 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray releases are available for purchase in the United Kingdom as well.
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.
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 is a special event. Indicator/Powerhouse Films have two different releases of The Shiver of the Vampires on the market -- this Blu-ray release and this 4K Blu-ray release. My advice would be to pick up the 4K Blu-ray release because the 4K makeover looks outstanding on it, but keep in mind that the 4K Blu-ray release does not have a Blu-ray copy of it. Both releases are Region-Free. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
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