BADass SINema Unearthed - Blu-ray 4K UHD Review

Movie Review

For Sylvia Morel, suddenly becoming a Countess with her very own castle doesn't go to her head in this cult classic of camp; it goes to her teeth!

Equal parts Hammer Horror and a cheeky Roger Corman production, the gothic ambiance is indeed strong Fangs of the Living Dead. And so, too, are the luscious female vampires. Hubba, hubba! You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll hit the slow motion button often, as one family’s deep secret to youth everlasting is unearthed by a fashion model who keeps asking all the wrong questions to her mysterious relative.

It’s not everyday that a fashion model learns she’s inherited a swanky castle thanks to the estate of her mother. But that’s what happens to the lead character in Fangs of the Living Dead, a fine example of fun Eurotrash cinema from the stickier side of 1969. Complete with drop dead gorgeous barkeeps in the local tavern, a twisted take on vampirism, and a very hilarious script by Spain’s own writer/director Amando de Ossorio (Tombs of the Blind Dead), Fangs of the Living Dead is quite the surprise on Scream Factory’s newly remastered HD transfer.

Originally released as Malenka, this Universal-like horror film is more tongue in cheek than you might be expecting, but it is that sense of humor – because the horror elements are not that strong – that keeps it resurfacing to the top of the slop by fans of the genre as Sylvia (Anita Ekberg) travels from Rome to the rural fields to take over ownership of the castle.  Little does she know what awaits her!

Co-starring Diana Lorys, Rossana Yani, Andriana Santucci, and Juanita Ramirez, the film reads early on as a virtual who’s who in Italian cinema. The women are bountiful and the men, mostly on the fringe of reality, are deviously selfish and full of really bad ideas. And then, just when it couldn't get anymore ridiculous, the script sneaks in clever jokes and a pitch-perfect delivery of such melodramatic lines that it simply bends its audience over with laughter. You will enjoy this flick on many different levels.

So, yes, laughter will get you through this sharp-looking production. That and a stone cold six-pack of your favorite beer.

Fangs of the Living Dead remains pretty damn impressive as it uses it sharp production values to keep us engaged and, thanks to the new HD transfer, the film retains its sparkling edge as even the women become fanged vixens of the undead. There’s no stopping it now.

When it is revealed that an ancient biochemist (I think they mean alchemist), after hopping into the Google machine for a quick ride back to the age of witches and warlocks (all thanks to a sepia toned flashback), is responsible for discovering what is behind the reason of immortality, Sylvia is already too late.  Her new castle is flooded with various hot members of the big breasted undead.  MEOW.

Even as she makes her way through the corridors listening to the sounds of whipping in the basement, there are few spooky situations between the cast – which includes fiancé Dr. Piero Luciani (Gianni Medici) and Count Walbrooke (Julian Ugarte) – to make us believe in huge black bats and so on. And when you see that winged shadow on the pane of glass, you too might recoil. It’s unexpected, laughingly bad, and can’t help itself to be anything but clever as the film gives in with a big belly laugh.

Fangs of the Living Dead is chomping its way straight toward you, desperate to leave two bite marks, and take your very soul as it walks a thin line of self parody.  Scream Factory continues to do the work of the damned and the deplorable.

Film Details

MPAA Rating: Unrated.
Runtime: 88 mins
Director: Amando de Ossorio
Writer: Amando de Ossorio
Cast: Anita Ekberg, Gianni Medici, Diana Lorys
Genre: Horror
Tagline:
Memorable Movie Quote: "Many people have died mysteriously. Horribly. There's always been a link between those who burned Lavinia, and those who died."
Theatrical Distributor: Europix International
Official Site: Release Date: May 18, 1973
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: March 6, 2018
Synopsis: Beautiful fashion model Sylvia Morel (Anita Ekberg) receives news that she has inherited a castle from her uncle. Her curiosity leads her to journey to a remote village to see her new house. Once there, she learns of her family's history and soon falls under the spell of her uncle. He wants her to become the new matriarch of the family … a clan of vampires!

Blu-ray Review

Home Video Distributor: Shout Factory
Available on Blu-ray - March 6, 2018
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Language: English, Castilian (Spanish)
Subtitles: English
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; single disc
Region Encoding: Locked to Region A

Retaining the grain of its film quality, Scream Factory presents this horror film on blu-ray with a new 1080P transfer in 1.85:1. There’s no real technical limitation spotted here as both interiors and exteriors look good in the new transfer. There is a solid contrast and the colors appear brighter than on the poor quality DVD releases. Skin tones are solid and the details in some of the period clothing with high levels of saturation. While there is ZERO depth to many of the shots and dirt and some scratches still pop up, the film has never looked better then when it strolls outside to take in the sunlight and the greenery. The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 is perfectly suited for home viewing.

Commentary:

None

Special Features:

Fans get an alternate ending and great sound track choices.

Alternate Ending