Like the Vincent Price Collections Scream Factory has already released, this set is a great introduction to a worldwide horror icon such as Paul Naschy.
“Paul Naschy (born Jacinto Molina Álvarez) was Spain’s answer to Lon Chaney. He has portrayed many classic monsters – the Wolfman, Frankenstein’s monster, Count Dracula, the Mummy and more. He was not only a terrific actor, but an accomplished writer, producer and director. This Blu-ray box set includes five stellar films from his long and distinguished career.”
Horror Rises From the Tomb
The first film in this set opens in the 15th Century as a cannibalistic warlock Alaric de Marnac (Naschy) and his wife Mabille (Helga Liné) are tortured and killed for their terrible crimes of eating flesh and drinking blood. Both vow vengeance on the descendants of their executioners, promising to return from the dead to continue their reign of terror. Hundreds of years later, these descendants stumble upon the legend of Alaric de Marnac during a visit to their isolated property, where the remains of both are rumored to be buried. Strange things begin to happen, an evil mist spreading across the land, seeming to control them, forcing the descendants to fulfill their destiny, reuniting Marnac’s head with his body, setting him free once again.
First and foremost, Horror Rises From the Tomb has a very gothic feel to it. From the organ soundtrack accompanying the film exclusively, and the over-the-top antagonists who skulk amongst the ruins of ancient catacombs, this really is a throwback to the old American horror films that are now considered the most classic of the genre. In fact, this is one of the signatures of Naschy, who thrived in creating simple yet deep films that mirrored the violence Naschy experienced in his life.
One of the more interesting things to note is that Naschy had only a day and a half to write the script for the film, as a horror film was desperately needed for the creation of a production company. Despite its slow pacing at times, the film is rich with mythos that takes aspects from many celebrated horror stories and convincingly adds them together. For such a minuscule budget, the film has some pretty impressive effects for the time, utilizing camera tricks as well as great make-up to terrorize the audiences with horrific scenes that come close to crossing several lines.
Horror Rises From the Tomb encapsulates the horror genre from the perspective of the European culture, which can be markedly different than American films. Understandably, this can be a turn-off for some, as the theatrics are played up substantially, mixed with some very depraved sequences. However, Paul Naschy is a celebrated artist well known for his mark on the horror world, and getting the opportunity to see some of these films gives us a glimpse of something truly unique.
Video
Horror Rises From the Tomb is presented in 1080p High Definition Widescreen 1.85:1. Surprisingly, this transfer looks fantastic! There are little to no defects noticed at all, which is astonishing given the age of the film. Grain is kept at a manageable level, maintaining such amazing detail that you can see almost every wire and camera trick used! One thing that is admirable about the film is the cinematography in certain scenes. The filmmakers use some very interesting and unique shots, giving it a very stylistic look at times.
Audio
The audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio Mono Castilian / DTS-HD Master Audio Mono English Dub. As far as the audio goes, both tracks sound very similar in regards to levels. There are times the organ soundtrack overtakes the film, and with no other source but one, there isn’t much that can be done. With any foreign film, watching with the subtitles offers the most accurate translation, usually. In this film, there is a pretty big discrepency when listening to the English Dub track and watching with subtitles.
Special Features
One of the interesting things I learned while watching the special features and reading the included 24-page booklet, is that nudity was prohibited in Spain during the time. This film, the International version, includes a ton of nudity, so alternate ‘clothed’ scenes were filmed to be replaced as the film was distributed throughout Spain. Some of the other extras you’ll see on the disc include:
- Audio Commentary by Rod Barnett and Troy Guinn From NaschyCast
- Spanish Credit Sequences
- Alternate Clothed Sequences
- Theatrical Trailer
- Still Gallery
Horror Rises From the Tomb is a great introduction to the world of Paul Naschy and the type of story-telling he is most known for.
Vengeance of the Zombies
The second film in the set, Vengeance of the Zombies, is set in and around London as a mysterious masked villain is performing voodoo rituals that brings back the dead to do his bidding. Centering around an Indian mystic, Krisna, (Naschy) and his devoted follower Elvire (Romy) who begins to fall in love with him, the film plays out like a police mystery thriller with voodoo zombies going on a killing spree. This mysterious masked man has plans for Elvire, and as she becomes increasingly intertwined in Krisna’s world, it is evident that darker forces have something in store for her.
Vengeance of the Zombies certainly has the feel of two separate films that don’t really mesh that well together. Naschy himself admits that when he wrote the screenplay, he “must have been under the effects of hashish or, like Bram Stoker, I had one hell of a nightmare”. If this gives you any indication, the film is very much ‘out there’ in terms of story, structure, theme, basically everything. The one saving factor for the film is the incredible effects that are quite impressive for the time. They certainly provide a shock factor that isn’t there throughout much of the film, as these zombies (which are the traditional voodoo type), simply run at their victims who stand motionless and strangle them to death. One thing of note that is more common in these films, is the slaughtering of animals/livestock on screen. There is a very graphic moment when a chicken has its head cut off, body still flailing, as its blood is poured over ceremonial coffins.
Naschy plays several roles in the film, which do indeed entertain whenever he is on screen. He always makes his presence felt through commanding performances that somehow make you forget the inconsistencies of the plot. Though Vengeance of the Zombies can be a disorganized trainwreck at times, there is still that Spanish Horror spark to it that warrants appreciation.
Video
Vengeance of the Zombies is presented in 1080p High Definition 1.33:1. This print isn’t in as good condition as the previous film, with heavy grain issues at times, and a few noticeable blemishes on the source print, including several jittery scenes. The majority of the film looks pretty good, however, with some incredible detail and great resolution thanks to the high definition transfer.
Audio
The audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio Mono Castilian / DTS-HD Master Audio English Dub. The track sounds fine, with no issues noticed. The soundtrack is perhaps one of the more peculiar aspects of the film. At times, the music does not fit the situation at all, and at other times it can be very upbeat and seem like a perfect fit. In the booklet you get with the set, Naschy admits that he did not like the musical score either, and hoped it would be replaced by future home-video formats.
Special Features
For this disc of the set, you’re going to see:
- Spanish Credit Sequence
- Alternate Clothed Sequences
- Theatrical Trailer
- Still Gallery
Blue Eyes of the Broken Doll
In the third film in the set, Naschy plays Gilles, an ex-con who is running from his past, always on the move and looking for work. When he reaches a small town he is offered a job at a large estate by Claude (Diana Lorys), who looks after her sisters, one whom is confined to a wheelchair after a mysterious accident. Gilles must contend with the affections of the other sister, Nicole (Eva Leon), while trying to manage his murderous urges that seem to overtake him when a woman gets near.
Around the same time, young women with blond hair and blue eyes begin to turn up dead, with their eyes cut out. Gilles confesses his past to Claude, whom he has become very close to. Once he is suspected of the crimes, he vows not to return to jail. The crimes continue, as the mystery deepens as to who is murderer is and why they are taking the eyes of women.
Blue Eyes of the Broken Doll was one of my favorites of the set. It relies more on mystery and suspense, using clever devices to throw the audience off the trail of the real killer. It is also one of Naschy’s more sympathetic characters that audiences relate to. He struggles with his past, recognizing his problem and doing the best he can to try and keep on the straight path. His willingness to see past the exterior and develop affection for Claude is extremely humbling.
Although the film has some great make-up effects, they don’t rely heavily on them as in some of the other Naschy films. This is more of a psychological horror film than anything, and in that aspect it succeeds brilliantly. As in the last film, another thing of note: there is a very disturbing pig slaughtering scene in which a real pig was used.
Video
Blue Eyes of the Broken Doll is presented in 1080p High Definition 1.33:1. The print is relatively clear for the majority of the film, but there are moments when blemishes are noticeable. Grain is present, but kept at a manageable level. Color balance looks good, with some bright outfits that compliment rather drab settings.
Audio
The audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio Mono Castilian / English Dub. There are no defects or problems to note with the track, for a mono track it sounds pretty good. The score is the only thing I have issue with on this film. Like the last film, a very odd accompaniment, as a theme for Gilles when he begins to fight his urges to kill women sounds like something that should be on The Love Boat. It doesn’t match the tone of the scene at all, and it is consistently used throughout the film. Obviously a very dated style, it takes you out of a very emotional and psychological scene.
Special Features
On Blue Eyes of the Broken Doll, you’re going to see:
- Audio Commentary by Rod Barnett and Troy Guinn from NaschyCast
- Spanish Credit Sequence
- Theatrical Trailer
- Still Gallery
Human Beasts
Also known as The Beasts’ Carnival, Human Beasts is one of the darker Naschy films of the set. Naschy writes, directs and stars in the film as Bruno Rivera, a professional hit man who has fallen in love with Mieko (Eiko Nagashima), a member of the Yakuza. As the two return to their former lives, Meiko propositions Bruno to conduct a heist for them, stealing a case filled with diamonds. Bruno double crosses the Yakuza, including Meiko, who is also carrying his child. He kills all in pursuit of him, including her brother, but is shot while trying to escape.
Bruno is found by Doctor Simón (Lautaro Murua) and his two daughters: Alicia (Azucena Hernandez) and Mónica (Silvia Aguilar) who nurse him back to health. As Bruno stays hidden on the family property, Meiko desperately searches for him, offering a reward to local townspeople for any information on his whereabouts. While recovering, he begins to develop feelings for Alicia. As Meiko begins to close in, people start to disappear, suffering terrible fates by an unknown killer. As the mystery deepens, Bruno realizes he must leave and reclaim the diamonds he buried before they are found.
Human Beasts includes another great performance by Naschy. Being one of his darker films, his character conducts some pretty awful atrocities, including murdering innocent people and betraying those closest to him. According to the included booklet, this was a particularly dark period for him in his personal life, being betrayed himself left and right. He began to see the worst in people, and his film portrays that in the worst possible way, not only through his own character, but by the characters whom he begins to love and who have cared for him. It has a very grim outlook on humanity, and although Naschy is known for his portrayal of monsters and beasts, it is his roles as simple men that are perhaps the most barbaric. With a great shocker of an ending, Human Beasts is easily one of the better films of the set, and perhaps one of the more accessible and ‘American-horror-like’ of the five.
Video
Human Beasts is presented in 1080p High Definition Widescreen 1.85:1. Unfortunately, this is one of the worst looking films of the set, most notably during the beginning of the film which is almost unwatchable due to the poor quality of the source print. Riddled with blemishes and softness to the video so bad it is almost blurry. Thankfully, the print does get much better after about fifteen minutes or so, but there are still moments of extreme throughout.
Audio
The audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio Mono Castilian / English Dub. Unlike the two previous films, I quite liked both the track and the score for this film. That probably was largely in part due to a portion of it created by Ennio Morricone, one of the most legendary composers of all time. The score is just amazing, creating a enhanced feel during each of the more suspenseful scenes.
Special Features
On this disc, you’re going to see:
- Theatrical Trailer
- Still Gallery
The Night of the Werewolf
The final film of the set is considered to be the favorite of the Hombre Lobo films by Naschy himself in which he wrote, directed and starred as one of eleven times he would portray Waldemar Daninsky. The film opens in the 16th century as Countess Elisabeth Bathory (Jully Saly) is about to be put to death for a myriad of crimes, including vampirism, satanic worship, etc. Also being put to death are her servants and cohorts, including Waldemar Daninsky, a werewolf whom she controlled as a slave for her bidding. She vows to return to exact vengeance on those who put her to death, all the while Daninsky is thankful for a peaceful rest.
Of course, not all goes according to plan, when centuries later grave-robbers disturb the tomb, taking out the silver dagger that was plunged into his heart, thus bringing him back to a life of agony. With the help of an anthropology student obsessed with the legend of the Countess and an insatiable lust for power, the Countess is released, who needs Daninsky’s service in order to bring darkness to the world.
Naschy again portrays a troubled character, desperately wanting to end his suffering of a terrible curse that causes him to do unspeakable things. It is a character he is exceptionally good at writing and playing, the earmark of his entire career. The Night of the Werewolf closest resembles the classic monster horror films, and as a favorite of fans and Naschy himself, a perfect inclusion in the set.
Video
The Night of the Werewolf is presented in 1080p High Definition Widescreen 1.85:1. The transfer is done as best as it can in terms of the source print. The majority of the film is quite clear and looks very good, but there are inconsistencies, especially in some of the darker scenes in which the print looks to be in pretty bad shape.
Audio
The audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio Mono Castilian / English Dub. The score on this film is perhaps my favorite from the entire set. As with Human Beasts, the score is provided by several artists, including Ennio Morricone. Fans of Morricone will instantly recognize the moment his score is used, playing a pivotal role in the enjoyment of a great scene.
Special Features
This disc has several extras, all worth checking out. You’re going to see:
- Audio Commentary by Rod Barnett and Troy Guinn from NaschyCast
- Deleted Scenes
- Spanish Credit Sequence
- Theatrical Trailer
- Still Gallery
I had such a good time watching The Paul Naschy Collection, and am so grateful that Scream Factory was able to release this set to allow a new generation to discover Naschy and his work. Like the Vincent Price Collections they have already released, this set is a great introduction to a worldwide horror icon such as Paul Naschy. I highly recommend picking this up, as it may be some of the most different, yet satisfying entertainment I’ve experienced in a long time. Discover the world of Paul Naschy and his long and distinguished career by picking this up today!
