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Dull vampire pix were once as ubiquitous as zombie pix are now, but when a good one came along we’d certainly take notice. The predatory Fran and Miriam are a wholly new twist on the ‘Wicked Lady’ highwayman theme — the picture transcends the softcore horror genre with class and style. Fringe director José Ramón Larraz found himself filming in England, and his output outclassed what were passing for Eurotrash horror epics across the channel. How did he do it? The answers become clear in Arrow’s special edition. Although only available in a boxed set, it’s reviewed here separately.

Vampyres

Blu-ray

Arrow Video USA

1974 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 88 min. / Street Date March 26, 2019 / Available in the collection Blood Hunger: The Films of José Larraz, from Arrow Video / $72.89

Starring: Marianne Morris, Anulka (Dziubinska), Murray Brown, Brian Deacon, Sally Faulkner, Michael Byrne, Karl Lanchbury, Bessie Love.

Cinematography: Harry Waxman

Film Editor: Geoff R. Brown...

Blood Hunger: The Films Of Jose Larraz will be available on Blu-ray March 26th From Arrow Video

One of the most underrated and oft-neglected genre filmmakers of his generation, Spanish-born director José Ramón Larraz (Symptoms) finally receives his due with this collection of his work, the first of its kind, bringing together a fascinating cross-section of films from the first half of his lengthy cinematic career.

In Larraz s debut feature, the hitherto ultra-rare Whirlpool (1970), Vivian Neves stars as Tulia, a young model invited to a photographer s secluded country home for what purports to be a quiet weekend retreat – but soon transpires to be anything but. 1974 s Vampyres – perhaps the best known and most widely-released of all José Larraz s films – sees a duo of blood hungry female vampires prowling the British countryside, from where they lure unsuspecting male motorists back to their imposing, dilapidated mansion for draining… in more ways than one.

The original Vampyres made our The 10 Best Sex Scenes in Horror Movies and The 10 Best Exploitation Horror Films of All Time lists on the site. Bhm writer Giovanni describes the film as Having all an exploitation horror fan could want two gorgeous frequently fully nude women in the form of Marianne Morris and Anulka who also partake in smoldering hot lesbian and bisexual scenes and lots of bloodletting. This is all in the context of a well acted well made and beautifully shot movie. In all this is a true unsurpassed high mark in erotic horror cinema.

1974′s Vampyres marks another entry into the lesbian vampire sub-genre. At the time, the film was a controversial hit, in part due to it being censored in many countries where it was released. It’s not the sleaziest nor the most high brow take on the exploitation of lesbian vampires, and its methodic pacing does it no favors. However, the film does have two leading actresses who bring a lot to the film, and a director who is able to set a strange and eerie mood, helping things along when they need it most.

The plot to Vampyres is very similar to the urban legend of the female hitchhiker who leads male drivers to their deaths. Two beautiful women, Fran and Miriam (Marianne Morris and Anulka Dziubinska, billed as ‘Anulka’), catch rides with lonely men back to their deserted estate only to keep them captive and drain them of their blood.

A few months back we gave you the first scoop on a brand new festival called the Boobs and Blood International Film Festival, and now that it is almost upon us, we thought we would check back in to get all the newest details!

Boobs and Blood will take place in Los Angeles, CA from September 24th-26th at the world famous New Beverly Cinema. It’s best summed up as an event dedicated to fans of Grindhouse, Psychotronic Kitsch and Japanese Pink Films. There will be many rarities at this festival, too. For one, there will be a screening of the only remaining print of Fred Olen Ray’s 80s classic Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers (Ray and star Michelle Bauer will also be in attendance).

The pink vampire film Twilight Dinner will screen on Sunday as part of the festival’s Lesbian Vampire Day, and the film’s curvy star...

Chicago – José Ramón Larraz’s 1974 cult classic “Vampyres” isn’t about vampires any more than “Troll 2” is about trolls. It’s a flat-out porn flick with fangs, or at least very unnatural teeth. The filmmakers harbor no artistic aspirations apart from terrifying and titillating their audience. Perhaps I’m merely jaded by the plethora of sex and violence in our modern media, but I found the film to be a complete snooze, even in its much-ballyhooed uncensored version.

Three minutes of the picture have been routinely cut by censors, primarily because of its lesbian content, and this Blu-Ray release restores the missing footage. This will mean quite a lot to fans of the film, and not much to anyone else. Though the film is competently made, and holds a certain campy charm, its repetitive plot grows quickly tiresome. It mainly consists of characters wandering around in the darkness, inching...

This week sees the release of several new movies and TV shows, some for the first time ever on Blu-ray. Of the ones coming out this week, we’re excited for not as many as last week. But still, the release of An Education, Collateral and Sherlock Holmes (pictured above with Robert Downey, Jr and Jude Law) is reason enough to be excited. Plus, there’s always next week. . . and the week after that.

Check them out:

Film

Alice in Wonderland (2-Disc Special Un-Anniversary Edition) ~ Kathryn Beaumont, Ed Wynn, Richard Haydn (DVD)

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel ~ Anna Faris, Christina Applegate, Justin Long (Blu-ray and DVD)

An Education ~ Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard (Blu-ray and DVD)

Collateral ~ Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx (Blu-ray)

I Sell the Dead ~ Dominic Monaghan, Ron Perlman (Blu-ray and DVD)

Rivals of Sherlock Holmes: Set 2 ~ Derek Jacobi, Judy Geeson, Jean Marsh (DVD)

Sherlock Holmes ~ Robert Downey Jr.,...

DVD Playhouse: March 2010

By

Allen Gardner

Precious: Based On The Novel “Push” By Sapphire (Lionsgate) In-your-face, but undeniably powerful film that follows the plight of an overweight inner-city teen (Gabourey Sidbe, a real find) who must deal with an abusive mother (Mo’Nique, in a career-making turn for which she won a most-deserved Best Supporting Actress Oscar), a baby born of her abusive, and absent, father, and trying to survive day-to-day with few people to offer her help, save for a sympathetic teacher (Paula Patton) in a special ed program. Director/producer Lee Daniels, a former personal manager/producer-turned-filmmaker, brings a kitchen sink authenticity to the proceedings, along with a cast of famous powerhouse performers, who manage to disappear into their roles. Tough stuff, but not to be missed. Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay (Geoffrey Fletcher). Bonuses: Commentary by Daniels; Featurettes; Interviews with Sapphire and Daniels; Deleted scene. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.

During our brief downtime this past week a slew of new release dates and DVDetails have emerged for some upcoming genre fare set to invade the home market. Fangoria has details and updates on the upcoming releases of Paranormal Activity, Surrogates, Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever, Rob Zombie's Halloween II, District 9, Blood Creek, She-wolf Of London, and more.

Paramount has announced that Oren Peli's runaway hit Paranormal Activity is slated for a DVD & Blu-ray release on December 29th, 2009.

The Paranormal Activity DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 televisions with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround and Spanish 5.1 Surround (theatrical version only) and English, French and Spanish subtitles. The two-disc Blu-ray is presented in 1080p high definition with English 5.1 DTS-hd Master Audio and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital (theatrical version only) and English, English Sdh, French and Spanish subtitles. Special features include:

Unrated version with alternate ending not seen in theaters...

Blu-Underground are releasing themselves yet another vintage film on to Blu-ray! This one filled with lots of vampires, lesbians, gore, ... and oh yeah, lesbians! Man, how we love lesbians.

Look for Vampyres to hit Blu-ray Uncut on March 30th, 2010. Extras will include commentary with Director José Ramón Larraz and Producer Brian Smedley-Aston, Interviews with Stars Marianne Morris and Anulka, the international trailer, and the U.S. trailer.

Synopsis:

“They share the pleasures of the flesh, and unleashed the horrors of the grave!” screamed the ads. The beautiful Marianne Morris and stunning Playboy centerfold Anulka star as bisexual seductresses who roam the English countryside with an insatiable lust for the blood of mortals as well as the succulent bodies of each other. Director José Ramón Larraz packs this landmark adult hit with chilling atmosphere, shocking bloodshed and some of the most torrid sexuality of any vampire movie in horror history.

Also known as Daughters of Dracula,...

Blue Underground has announced a Blu-ray release for the cult classic Vampyres , which will street on March 30th. The film will be presented in a "stunning new High Definition transfer" that restores all of the controversial gore footage missing from other versions. Extras will include commentary with Director José Ramón Larraz and Producer Brian Smedley-Aston, interviews with Stars Marianne Morris and Anulka, the international trailer and the U.S. trailer. Synopsis and cover artwork below. "They share the pleasures of the flesh, and unleashed the horrors of the grave!" screamed the ads. The beautiful Marianne Morris and stunning Playboy centerfold Anulka star as bisexual seductresses who roam the English countryside with an insatiable lust for the blood of...