7.3 | / 10 |
Users | 3.8 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Stunning identical siblings, one good and the other decidedly evil. One of the young women is a vampire, and the other is the "nice girl next door." When the townspeople decide to burn the vampire at the stake they make a tragic error.
Starring: Peter Cushing, Kathleen Byron, Mary Collinson, Madeleine Collinson, David WarbeckHorror | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.66:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.66:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English SDH
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
DVD copy
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 5.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
What happens when the scary stuff no longer terrifies? Time to bring in the cleavage. 1971’s “Twins of Evil” is a selection from the sexploitation era of Hammer Horror, where the studio, slowly running out of ideas, decided to follow cultural trends and emphasize sexuality as a way to attract attention to their releases. It’s a smart play, as the fusion of lust and death has proven itself to be an irresistible combination, a fact extending to this picture. While short-sheeted in the story department, “Twins of Evil” is an evocative vampire story with a fascinating focal point, trotting out identical twins (and Playboy models) Mary and Madeline Collinson to portray the yin and yang of virginal susceptibility, with the production using their good looks and, ahem, other attributes to create a sensual suspense feature that’s supported in the acting department by the great Peter Cushing.
The AVC encoded image (1.66:1 aspect ratio) presentation is a tad uneven at times, with print discoloration and damage keeping the viewing experience erratic in terms of consistency. Clarity is different from scene to scene, though much of the feature is crisply defined, with stunning close-ups and production textures that sell the gothic mood. Gore zone visits are also vividly detailed, permitting an HD look at the movie make-up magic. Colors are generally stable and inviting, with costumes encouraging bright hues, while blood retains its redness. Cushing's piercing blue eyes also deliver some punch, and skintones are wonderfully pink. Shadow detail solidifies on occasion, making darker outfits and thick hair difficult to detect. Grain is erratic, pronounced on certain shots, but the disc manages it all to satisfaction.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is led by Harry Robertson's muscular score, which comes across as intended, with clean instrumentation and prominent placement on the front stage. The music does kick up loud, but it's always in service of the drama, never drowning out dialogue exchanges. Voices retain their performance power, and while there's little depth to conversations, precision is welcome. Atmospherics are adequate, with exteriors touching on minor environmental changes, and room echo is preserved. Hiss and pops are minimal, never a distraction. An isolated Music and Effects Track is also included.
The third act of "Twins of Evil" is abrupt, hitting required acts of violence before exiting in a hurry, leaving the effort a little top heavy, and feel free to interpret that description any way you wish. The vampire myth seems unfinished in a way, though support by Gustav's anguish is a fine replacement, adding necessary torment to the conclusion. "Twins of Evil" doesn't stand out as a defining addition to the Hammer Horror catalog, but it's well performed, adequately eerie (with terrific lighting), superbly scored, and filled with enough heaving bosoms to pass muster. At the end of the day, that's all one can truly ask of a B-level fright film.
1971
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