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Renato Polselli’s vampire rally ups the on-screen babe count first and provides horror thrills second, yet Ernesto Gastaldi’s screenplay introduces an interesting wrinkle or two to the bloodsucking genre. This new bilingual release is a good presentation of what for American chiller fans has been a long-absent title.

The Vampire and the Ballerina

Blu-ray

Scream Factory

1960 / B&W / 1:66 widescreen / 85 min. / L’amante del vampiro / Street Date May 22, 2018 / available through Kino Lorber / 27.99

Starring: Walter Brandi, Hélène Rémy, Tina Gloriani, María Luisa Rolando, Isarco Ravaioli, Gino Turini (John Turner), Pier Ugo Gragnani.

Cinematography: Angelo Baistrocchi

Film Editor: Renato Cinquini

Assistant Director: Ernesto Gastaldi

Original Music: Aldo Piga

Written by Ernesto Gastaldi, Giuseppe Pellegrini, Renato Polselli

Produced by Bruno Bolognese

Directed by Renato Polselli

We’re told that all of Europe jumped on a horror bandwagon with the success of the first two Technicolor Hammer gothic films, but it took...

An Italian castle is home to bloodthirsty secrets in The Vampire and the Ballerina, and with the early ’60s horror movie out now on Blu-ray from Scream Factory, we've been provided with three high-def copies to give away to lucky Daily Dead readers!

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Prize Details: (3) Winners will receive (1) Blu-ray copy of The Vampire and the Ballerina.

How to Enter: We're giving Daily Dead readers multiple chances to enter and win:

1. Instagram: Following us on Instagram during the contest period will give you an automatic contest entry. Make sure to follow us at:

https://www.instagram.com/dailydead/

2. Email: For a chance to win via email, send an email to contest@dailydead.com with the subject “The Vampire and the Ballerina Contest”. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.

Entry Details: The contest will end at 12:01am Est on May 29th. This contest is only open...

As we get closer to the Memorial Day holiday here in the States, we have a new batch of home media releases this week for those of you looking to spend some quality time on your couches getting caught up with some fantastic films over the upcoming long weekend. Arrow Video has put together a special edition of Joe D’Amato’s Death Smiles on a Murderer, and Scream Factory is keeping busy with their Blu-rays for both Of Unknown Origin and The Vampire and the Ballerina, and for those of you looking to upgrade your Jurassic Park films, there’s a new 4K 25th Anniversary Collection featuring every film in the franchise that should scratch that itch.

Other notable releases for May 22nd include The Matrix in 4K, I Kill Giants, Soft Matter, Daphne & Velma, and Devil’s Weekend.

Death Smiles on a Murderer: Special Edition

A haunting and dreamlike gothic horror/giallo hybrid,...

Scream Factory announced The Vampire and the Ballerina (1960) is coming to Blu-ray, and as usual it's packed with special features, including a new hi-res transfer of the film, as well as an 8mm version.

The Vampire and the Ballerina Blu-ray: "Shot in and around the grounds of an ancient Italian castle, this creepy and atmospheric thriller follows a company of beautiful ballerinas on tour, when they become stranded within its sinister, stony old walls. They have no idea that a horror legend two thousand years old is about to come alive in the form of a group of vampires, all thirsting for blood ... especially their nefarious and brutal queen. "Coupled with the smooth direction of Renato Polselli is some really fantastic cinematography that uses lighting and shadow effectively to make this film really come alive" (The Telltale Mind) ... and keep you firmly transfixed at the edge of your seat!

Bonus...

Here we are again with another installment of Everyone's A Critic, the feature that puts You in the reviewers seat right on the front page of Fangoria.com.

This time we feature Richard A. Ekstedt and his take on a classic Italian vampire film presented by Dark Sky Films, Slaughter Of The Vampires.  If you dig Hammer, A.I. and Amicus, then read on and discover a truly underrated gem...

I've always had a special fondness for this film. The last time I saw it on commercial television was near the end of the 1960's around Thanksgiving while visiting my late Aunt Cheta's house in upstate New York, playing on the old Wor Channel 9. It was very late at night and my Aunt got up and found me watching this old black and white film, and sat down to view it with me. When she saw the rather top-heavy actress Graziella Granata,...