Twins of Evil 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Twins of Evil 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov December 12, 2025

John Hough's "Twins of Evil" (1971) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Imprint Films. The supplemental features on the release include exclusive new documentary; multiple audio commentaries; archival interviews; vintage promotional materials; and a lot more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

John Hough’sTwins of Evil highlights quite well the main strengths and weaknesses of the classic Hammer horror film. It tells a story that features colorful aristocrats and charlatans, witches and vampires, gore and nudity. It has a couple of legitimate stars, both fully invested in their parts, and several talented supporting actors, all genuinely trying to match the quality of their work. It is a handsome genre film, but not one that produces memorable visuals. It is a very British film whose grasp of the material it was given to impress with is distinctly British, which is why it is absolutely impossible to mistake it for a European film.

Sometime during the nineteenth century, Gustav Weil (Peter Cushing), the aging leader of The Brotherhood, a powerful organization of witch-hunters, is slowly losing his mind. But the only one brave enough to confront him with the truth is Weil’s wife (Kathleen Byron), which is why every couple of days an innocent young woman is burned alive at the stake.

When Weil’s nieces, teenage twin sisters Frieda (Madeleine Collinson) and Maria Gellhorn (Mary Collinson), arrive in the area, Count Karnstein (Damien Thomas), a notorious playboy worshipping the Devil, takes notice. Soon after, while secretly visiting Count Karnstein’s castle, one of the twin sisters is seduced and transformed into a vampire. As the other twin sister becomes aware of the transformation, an intelligent local schoolmaster (David Warbeck) steals her heart and then convinces The Brotherhood that, despite being protected by the Emperor, Count Karnstein can be destroyed.

Twins of Evil is the final film in the Karnstein Trilogy, which also includes The Vampire Lovers and Lust for a Vampire. All three films rehash very similar material penned by Tudor Gates, who borrowed various characters and themes from Sheridan Le Fanu’s novella Carmilla.

As is the case with all Hammer horror films from the same period, Twins of Evil operates with a limited imagination, so all of the genuine surprises in it have everything to do with the enthusiasm of its leads. For example, the Collinson twins max out the sexual innuendo and show as much skin as a Hammer production would have been able to host without enraging the censors. Cushing and Thomas also look equally unhinged, though it is not long before the former creates the impression that he is too frail for his part. Warbeck looks and sounds believably intelligent, so his call to raid the Karnstein castle has a proper ring.

Unfortunately, numerous areas of Twins of Evil have the appearance of typical filler material that should have been managed significantly better. For example, the wonderful Dennis Price is effectively wasted playing a shady character named Dietrich, who assists Count Karnstein whenever he feels the urge to recharge his obsession with the Devil. All material with Price is instantly forgettable. Byron is good while confronting her witch-hunting husband, but the sequence in which she does is oddly edited and made to look like an insert.

In the hands of an Italian director, the same material would have produced a vastly wilder and more atmospheric genre film. Also, this fictional film undoubtedly would have supercharged the erotic content, and probably without showing significantly more skin either.

Twins of Evil 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Imprint Films' release of Twins of Evil is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray and the Blu-ray are both Region-Free.

Please note that some of the screencaptures included with this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray and downscaled to 1080p. Therefore, they do not accurately reflect the quality of the 4K content on the 4K Blu-ray disc.

Screencaptures #1-21 are taken from Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #26-37 are taken from the 4K Blu-ray.

The release introduces an exclusive new 4K restoration of the film. In native 4K, the 4K restoration can be viewed with Dolby Vision and HDR grades. I chose to view it with HDR.

I must immediately mention that the entire film looks noticeably different in native 4K, and I much prefer how this presentation of it. In 1080p, the encode has a difficult time retaining all subtle details, plus in darker areas some darker nuances do not look as good as they should. On a larger screen, these discrepancies between the native 4K and 1080p presentations are unmissable. In native 4K, all visuals boast a very pleasing, attractive organic appearance. In several areas, the cinematography produces small fluctuations, but I think that even some of the thicker blacks and overexposed grain that are associated with them still look fine. I would describe color reproduction and balance as good. However, I felt that occasionally select primaries became a bit cool, lacking the punchiness that is needed for different visuals to look as great as they should. On the other hand, the dynamic range of the visuals is still pretty impressive. The HDR grade handles darker areas well, but where the aforementioned fluctuations emerge, some spots could appear a tad too dark. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections. Image stability is good. I noticed a few small blemishes, but there are no large distracting cuts, debris, marks, warped or torn frames to report.

Twins of Evil 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this release: English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

Twins of Evil benefits greatly from a rather surprisingly good and effective score that is tasked to create various critical contrasts. I thought that lossless track reproduced the score's strengths very, very well, and a few times I was quite surprised by its dynamic potency. All exchanges are very clear, sharp, and easy to follow.

Twins of Evil 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K BLU-RAY DISC

• Bloodlines: Inside Twins of Evil - this exclusive new documentary takes a closer look at the production and style of Twins of Evil. Included in it are clips from interviews with author Jonathan Rigby, critic Kevin Lyons, and director John Hough, amongst others. In English, not subtitled. (22 min).

• Commentary One - this audio commentary was recorded by critics Kim Newman and Stephen Jones. The commentators explain why the three films in the Karnstein Trilogy do not share any of their major characters, which is true, but they do rehash very similar material penned by Tudor Gates. Also, even though they were directed by different filmmakers, the three films have practically identical appearances and tone. The commentators discuss the production history of Twins of Evil, the cast that was assembled for it, and its reception and cult appeal.

• Commentary Two - this audio commentary was recorded by Hammer historians Jonathan Rigby and Kevin Lyons. The commentators argue that Twins of Evil is the best of the three films in the Karnstein Trilogy, and discuss in great detail what they think are its strengths and a few weaknesses (like the less than impressive boar hunt). Later, they share good information about the lives and careers of different cast members.

• Isolated Score Track - presented as Dolby Digital 2.0.

BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary One - this audio commentary was recorded by critics Kim Newman and Stephen Jones. The commentators explain why the three films in the Karnstein Trilogy do not share any of their major characters, which is true, but they do rehash very similar material penned by Tudor Gates. Also, even though they were directed by different filmmakers, the three films have practically identical appearances and tone. The commentators discuss the production history of Twins of Evil, the cast that was assembled for it, and its reception and cult appeal.

• Commentary Two - this audio commentary was recorded by Hammer historians Jonathan Rigby and Kevin Lyons. The commentators argue that Twins of Evil is the best of the three films in the Karnstein Trilogy, and discuss in great detail what they think are its strengths and a few weaknesses (like the less than impressive boar hunt). Later, they share good information about the lives and careers of different cast members.

• Director's Cut of "The Flesh and the Fury: X-posting Twins of Evil" - presented here is a completed director's cut of Daniel Griffith's documentary, which explores the history of the Karnstein Trilogy and Hammer's evolving output. Included in it are interviews with Joe Dante, author Wayne Kinsey, and critics Kim Newman and Tim Lucas, among others. In English, not subtitled. (90 min).

• Satanic Decadence and the Legacy of Sheridan Le Fanu in Hammer's Twins of Evil - this visual essay was created by critic Kat Ellinger. In English, not subtitled. (21 min).

• The Props That Hammer Built: The Kinsey Collection - this archival program takes a closer look at some of the more interesting props that were used in various Hammer productions, including Twins of Evil. In English, not subtitled. (24 min).

• John Hough - in this archival program, John Hough reveals what inspired him to become a film director and discusses his involvement with Twins of Evil. Hough also has some interesting comments about the working methods of the stars he interacted with, like Peter Cushing. In English, not subtitled. (22 min).

• Damien Thomas - in this archival program, Damien Thomas discusses his career and some of the more interesting characters he played over the years, including the vicious vampire in Twins of Evil. The program utilizes footage filmed at the Festival of Fantastic Films held in Manchester in 2008. In English, not subtitled. (50 min).

• Super-8 Version of the Film - presented here is a somewhat rough Super-8 version of Twins of Evil. In English, not subtitled. (10 min).

• Deleted Scenes - a short deleted scene featuring David Warbeck's schoolmaster and several singing girls. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Double Feature Trailer - presented here is a vintage double feature trailer for Twins of Evil and Hands of the Ripper. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• TV Spots - presented here are a couple of vintage TV spots for Twins of Evil. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Motion Stills Gallery - presented with music. (2 min).

• Isolated Score Track - presented as Dolby Digital 2.0.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT

• Book - an exclusive 60-page hardcover book featuring over 100 photographs and a reprint of the original 1971 press kit.

Twins of Evil 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If Twins of Evil is a film you often revisit, and you want the best presentation of it in your library, you should give yourself a Christmas present with this Deluxe combo pack, produced by Australian label Imprint Films. In native 4K, Twins of Evil looks lovely, and the 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray discs are packed with exclusive new and archival bonus features. Also included with the release is a terrific 60-page hardcover book featuring over 100 photographs and a reprint of the original 1971 press kit for the film. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to the fans.