The Mysterious Castle in the Carpathians: Standard Edition – Deaf Crocodile (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Czechoslovakia, 1981
Director: Oldrich Lipský
Writers: Jirí Brdecka, Oldrich Lipský
Cast: Michal Docolomanský, Evelyna Steimarová, Vlastimil Brodský, Milos Kopecký, Rudolf Hrusínský, Augustín Kubán, Jan Hartl, Jaroslava Kretschmerová, Oldrich Velen, Míla Myslíková

Release Date: March 11th, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 98 Minutes 27 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Czech
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"Based on an 1892 Jules Verne novel The Carpathian Castle (which partially inspired Bram Stoker to write Dracula), the film follows Count Teleke of Tölökö (Michal Dočolomanský) on the trail of the count's lost lover, opera singer Salsa Verde (Evelyna Steimarová) - only to discover she's been abducted by fiendish Baron Gorc of Gorceny (Miloš Kopecký), whose castle home is filled with the bizarre inventions of mad scientist Orfanik (Rudolf Hrušínský). Littered with puns, sight gags and non-sequiturs - "Later, in Werewolfston", an invented dialect, a detached golden ear for eavesdropping, a staff topped by an enormous TV eyeball." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "New Restoration from the original 35mm picture and sound elements by Národní filmový archiv and Craig Rogers for Deaf Crocodile."

The Mysterious Castle in the Carpathians comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 46.2 GB

Feature: 21.2 GB

The source looks excellent; this is another solid encode from Fidelity in Motion. Flesh tones look healthy, colors look correct, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in Czech with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds excellent; dialogue always comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and ambient sounds are well-represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include two animated short films directed by Jiří Brdečka: Prince Copperslick aka Prince Měděnec’s Thirteenth Chamber (9 minutes 39 seconds, 1.33:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital mono Czech with removable English subtitles), and Love and the Dirigible (8 minutes 45 seconds, 1.33:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital mono Czech with removable English subtitles), an interview with Czech film critic and screenwriter Tereza Brdečková on her father, Jiří Brdečka, writer of The Mysterious Castle in the Carpathians, moderated by Dennis Bartok of Deaf Crocodile (37 minutes 38 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with Tereza Brdečková and Czech film expert Irena Kovarova of Comeback Company, a documentary on the life and career of filmmaker, animator, screenwriter and illustrator Jiří Brdečka, covering his childhood, his work as a screenwriter with Jiří Trnka, Karel Zeman titled Universum Brdečková (88 minutes 19 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Czech with removable English subtitles), and an 18-page booklet with an essay titled The Mysterious Castle in the Carpathians written by Jonathan Owen.

Summary:

Oldrich Lipský directed The Mysterious Castle in the Carpathians. He’s also known for Lemonade Joe, Happy End, and Adela Has Not Had Supper Yet.

A count looking for his lost lover discovers that she has been abducted by a baron and held captive in his castle.

Though based on a Jules Verne novel, The Carpathian Castle, the result is more in line with the absurdist humor of Monty Python. The Mysterious Castle in the Carpathians is part of a loose trilogy of films directed by Oldrich Lipský and co-written by Jirí Brdecka. The other two films are Lemonade Joe and Adela Has Not Had Supper Yet. Another link between these three films is that they are all parodies, and Milos Kopecký portrays the villain in each film.

The narrative revolves around a count named Teleke of Tölökö; he is also an opera singer whose voice breaks objects. The count’s beloved is an opera singer, Salsa Verde, whom he thought was dead. The baron who lives in the castle has a menacing manservant and a professor who works for him and makes gadgets. That said, The Mysterious Castle in the Carpathians is a film that is filled with outrageous characters.

The performances are outstanding; it is not difficult to get caught up in the cast's enthusiasm. Besides Milos Kopecký in the role of the Baron, The Mysterious Castle in the Carpathians reunites Michal Docolomanský, who previously worked with Oldrich Lipský on Adela Has Not Had Supper Yet. Another performance of note is Evelyna Steimarová, who portrays opera singer Salsa Verde. Her character's presence looms large throughout despite the lack of dialog.

Though there are many areas where cinema in different countries overlaps, it is always fascinating to see how other countries approach genre cinema. When it comes to humor and fantasy, Czech cinema has its own elements that are unique. That said, The Mysterious Castle in the Carpathians, like Oldrich Lipský's other films, is rooted in farce and magical realism.

From a production standpoint, there is no area where The Mysterious Castle in the Carpathians does not excel. Things move briskly, and the absurd premise is superbly executed. The Mysterious Castle in the Carpathians is a beautifully photographed film; there are many striking moments, and the score does an excellent job reinforcing the mood. When it comes to the humor, somehow each moment tops the next, culminating with a slapstick finale. Ultimately, The Mysterious Castle in the Carpathians is a highly entertaining mix of fantasy and absurd humor.

The Mysterious Castle in the Carpathians gets an excellent release from Deaf Crocodile that comes with a solid audio/video presentation, two bonus short films, and insightful extras; highly recommended. 

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Outcasts: Standard Edition – Deaf Crocodile (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Ireland/UK, 1982
Director: Robert Wynne-Simmons
Writer: Robert Wynne-Simmons
Cast: Mary Ryan, Mick Lally, Don Foley, Tom Jordan, Cyril Cusack, Brenda Scallon, Bairbre Ní Chaoimh, Máirtín Jaimsie, Brendan Ellis, Gillian Hackett, Hilary Reynolds, Donal O'Kelly, James Shanahan, Paul Bennett

Release Date: March 11th, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 105 Minutes 50 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

""In the dark she felt the key turning in the latch and a voice spoke to her: open the door", whispers Maura (Mary Ryan), the odd, intense daughter of an impoverished rural family in early 1800s Ireland who is accused of witchcraft after she's seen consorting in the woods with a conjurer and fiddle player named Scarf Michael (Mick Lally). Her neighbors and even her own family become increasingly consumed by fear and superstition, as Maura starts to experience surreal, poetic flashes of her latent abilities." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "The Outcasts was shot on 16mm film stock and enlarged to 35mm for its original release. This digital restoration was created from 35mm sound and picture negatives preserved at the IFI Film Archive.

This 2K restoration has been created by the IFI Irish Film Archive through IFI's Digital Restoration Project funded by Screen Ireland/Fís Eireann. With support from the Association des Cinémathèques Européennes (ACE) and the EU Creative Europe MEDIA programme."

The Outcasts comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 44.7 GB

Feature: 26.5 GB

The source looks excellent; any imperfections have been cleaned up. Flesh tones and colors look correct, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image always retains an organic look.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in English with removable English SDH. The audio is in excellent shape; dialog comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and range-wise ambient sounds are well-represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include Ultra-rare early 8mm short films by Robert Wynne-Simmons: L’Eredita di Diavolo – an eerie ghost story shot in a derelict mansion once owned by Percy and Mary Shelley (14 minutes 24 seconds, 1.33:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital mono, no dialog), The Greatest All-Star Advertial of All Time - this madcap comic short features Charlton Heston, Michael Redgrave and Peter O'Toole (1 minute 27 seconds, 1.33:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital mono, no dialog), Bomb Disposal - featuring a cameo by Sammy Davis Jr. (4 minutes 29 seconds, 1.33:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital mono, no dialog), and The Scrolls - an ambitious early film has surreal overtones of 1960s series such as “The Prisoner” and “The Avengers” (25 minutes 19 seconds, 1.33:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital mono, no dialog), a short film directed by Robert Wynne-Simmons titled The Judgement Of Albion – Prophecies of William Blake (26 minutes 20 seconds, 1.33:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an interview with composer Steve Cooney, moderated by Dennis Bartok of Deaf Crocodile (48 minutes 14 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with director/screenwriter Robert Wynne-Simmons, moderated by Dennis Bartok (83 minutes 11 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a video essay by Rod Stoneman (28 minutes 20 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and an insert with a URL that has a PDF for Rod Stoneman’s video essay.

Summary:

The Outcasts was written and directed by Robert Wynne-Simmons, who is most known for co-writing the screenplay for Blood on Satan's Claw.

The locals accuse a socially awkward woman living in a rural village of being a witch.

Set in Ireland in 1810, the narrative revolves around a woman named Maura who's bullied by the locals. Scarf Michael, a conjurer and fiddle player, befriends her, and her behavior becomes more erratic. Their relationship sparks rumors that she’s a witch after spending the night in a graveyard with Scarf Michael. When her life is put in danger by the locals who want to harm her because of the rumors, she summons Scarf Michael to protect her.

For his directorial debut, Robert Wynne-Simmons would return to subject matter he had earlier explored in Blood on Satan's Claw. Though there are areas where The Outcasts and Blood on Satan's Claw overlap thematically, the end result is two distinctive films about witchcraft. That said, The Outcasts is a supernatural melodrama that mixes Irish folklore with the poetry of W. B. Yeats.

All around, the cast is excellent, especially Mary Ryan’s portrayal of Maura. She does a phenomenal job capturing Maura’s naivety and her social awkwardness. For a first-time actress, she delivers a remarkable performance. The other performance of note is Mick Lally’s portrayal of the otherworldly Scarf Michael.

From a production standpoint, The Outcasts is a film that far exceeds expectations. The premise is superbly executed, and a well-crafted narrative does an exceptional job building to a very satisfying finale. Another area where The Outcasts excels is its visuals, which are overflowing with atmosphere. Also, The Outcasts take full advantage of the picturesque Ireland locations. Ultimately, The Outcasts is an extraordinary film that quickly draws you in and lingers in your mind.

The Outcasts gets a solid release from Deaf Crocodile that comes with a strong audio/video presentation, and insightful extras; highly recommended.

Note: There is a deluxe release of The Outcasts that comes in a slipcase, and a 60-page booklet with rare production artwork, an essay by Irish filmmaker Paul Duane (ALL YOU NEED IS DEATH), and an essay by film critic Walter Chaw (Film Freak Central).

Written by Michael Den Boer

Eat The Night - Altered Innocence (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: France, 2024
Directors: Caroline Poggi, Jonathan Vinel
Writers: Caroline Poggi, Jonathan Vinel, Guillaume Bréaud, Clémence Madeleine-Perdrillat
Cast: Théo Cholbi, Erwan Kepoa Falé, Lila Gueneau, Mathieu Perotto, Eddy Suiveng, Kevin Bago, Xavier Maly, Thierry Hancisse, Mareme N'Diaye, Kimia Mvula

Release Date: March 11th, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 107 Minutes 7 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35 : 1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD 5.1 French
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $32.95

"Pablo, a small-time drug dealer, and his teenage sister Apolline have forged an unbreakable bond through their shared obsession with the online video game Darknoon. When Pablo falls for the mysterious Night, he gets swept up in their liaison, abandoning his sister to deal with the impending shutdown of their digital haven alone. As Pablo's reckless choices provoke the wrath of a dangerous rival gang, the end of their virtual life draws near, upending their reality." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Eat The Night comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 22.6 GB

Feature: 19.8 GB

Flesh tones look healthy, colors look correct, image clarity and black levels are solid, and compression is very good.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in French with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds clean, clear, balanced, and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (1 minute 43 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo French with non-removable English subtitles), two short films directed by Caroline Poggi and Jonathan Vinel: Baby Anger (13 minutes 28 seconds, 1.78:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital stereo French with non-removable English subtitles), and Watch the Fire or Burn Inside It (18 minutes 20 seconds, 1.78:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital stereo French with non-removable English subtitles), and an interview with directors Caroline Poggi and Jonathan Vinel (17 minutes 33 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo French with non-removable English subtitles).

Other extras include trailers for She Is Conann, Fögi Is a Bastard, The People’s Joker, and Sound and Fury. 

Summary:

Siblings who were once inseparable have their bond tested when one of them starts a new romantic relationship.

The narrative revolves around a brother and a sister who play an online video game called Darknoon. The narrative opens with them learning that their beloved video game will be shutting down on the winter solstice. Where the news devastates the sister, the brother has more pressing issues related to selling drugs. A further strain is put on their relationship when the brother forms a bond with a man with whom he becomes romantically involved.

There are two things at play in Eat the Night: the siblings' bond being put to the test and the brothers' relationship with a married man who also has a child. Of these two things, the most compelling moments are those with the two siblings. That said, the moments with the brother and his lover are not always as convincing. Also, there is an additional dynamic thrown into the mix when the brother goes to jail, and he asks his lover to take care of his sister, which forms a bond between these two characters.

When it comes to the performances, no one performance stands out. That said, though there are no problems with any of the performances, the characters lack dimensionality. This is most egregious when it comes to the man in charge of a rival drug operation and his henchmen. Another shortcoming when it comes to the characters is the amount of time devoted to the brother and his lover's sexual interactions, instead of moments that add depth and build up their characters.

At 107 minutes in length, there are several lulls, and things in general move at a deliberate pace, which disrupts any momentum. Though the video game Darknoon is the starting and ending point of the narrative, for most of the narrative it is an afterthought. From a technical standpoint, there are no areas where Eat the Night is lacking. Ultimately, Eat the Night is a film about consequences due to one's actions, and the choices that the brother makes often cause harm to those he cares about.

Eat The Night gets a first-rate release from Altered Innocence that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and an informative interview with the directors.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Tokugawa Sex Ban: Limited Red Case Edition – Mondo Macabro (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1972
Director: Norifumi Suzuki
Writers: Masahiro Kakefuda, Norifumi Suzuki
Cast: Hiroshi Nawa, Ruriko Ikejima, Sandra Julien, Miki Sugimoto, Taiji Tonoyama, Fumio Watanabe, Akira Ôizumi, Utako Kyô, Yôko Mihara

Release Date: August, 2024
Approximate Running Time: 88 Minutes 27 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: OOP

"In Tokugawa era Japan, Princess Kiyo (Miki Sugimoto), youngest daughter of mighty Shogun Ienari Tokugawa, weds country lord Tadateru Ogura. Unfortunately for Kiyo, her new husband is a “man’s man” who has no interest in women. To help Tadateru discover his sexual side, his courtiers bring in Sandra (Sandra Jullien, star of Ravishing Dany and The Shiver of the Vampires), a French courtesan who arrives in a wooden box, like a porcelain doll. Her extraordinary sexual technique awakens Tadateru to the fun he’s been missing all these years. Unfortunately, he enjoys it so much that he decides it’s too good for commoners and so enforces a sex ban on the rest of his subjects, decreeing that any of them having intercourse will be executed. Soon the enraged populace are storming Tadateru’s castle with a battering ram shaped like a giant phallus!" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Brand new 2k transfer from film negative, digitally restored."

Tokugawa Sex Ban comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 28.8 GB

Feature: 23.9 GB

The source looks excellent; flesh tones look healthy, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Japanese with are removable English subtitles. The audio is in great shape. Dialog comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 27 seconds, Dolby Digital mono mix in Japanese with removable English subtitles), interview with film critic Kōshi Ueno who provides an overview Norifumi Suzuki early films as a director and Tokugawa Sex Ban (17 minutes 31 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary with Jasper Sharp.

Extras exclusive to this limited edition release include reversible cover art, three double sided art cards, and a 24-page booklet with an essay titled Sex, Power, Censorship and Laughs: Toei Kyoto’s Conversion to Porno Jidaigeki written by Dimitri Ianni.

Summary:

Norifumi Suzuki directed Tokugawa Sex Ban. He’s known for The Lustful Shogun and His 21 Concubines, School of the Holy Beast, The Killing Machine, Star of David: Hunting for Beautiful Girls, and Roaring Fire. He also directed several films in the Girl Boss and Terrifying Girls' High School film series.

The virgin daughter of a shogun is married to a lord whose sexual inexperience causes problems between them. The lord's most trusted advisors put him with women who will help him increase his sexual prowess. When the lord becomes attached to his French mistress, his wife becomes jealous and has her arrested and tortured.

Tokugawa Sex Ban, like Hot Springs Mimizu Geisha, another film directed by Norifumi Suzuki, are prime examples of Toei’s forays into Pinku eiga. Though most of these were period set films, Toei’s take on this genre would evolve into what is now known as Pinky Violence. Whether set in the past or present, all of Toei’s Pinku eiga are known for their mix of eroticism, violence, and action. Also, films like Tokugawa Sex Ban and Hot Springs Mimizu Geisha can be seen as successors to Euro guro films like Teruo Ishii’s Joys of Torture series.

Tokugawa Sex Ban’s narrative is nothing more than a series of erotic moments. Outside of the protagonist and his wife, there is no time spent building up characters. Fortunately, none of these things matter, since it is its moments of eroticism that drive the narrative. That said, the most surprising aspect of Tokugawa Sex Ban is how effectively it employs humor. The humor comes from two sources: the sexual situations and Lord Tadateru Ogura’s ban on sex and subsequent revolt from the locals.

When it comes to the performances, the entire cast is outstanding, especially Hiroshi Nawa (Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture), who portrays Lord Tadateru Ogura, who is unable to satisfy his wife. Not to be overlooked are the two female leads, Miki Sugimoto (Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs), who portrays Lord Tadateru Ogura’s frustrated wife, and Sandra Julien (The Shiver of the Vampires), who portrays Lord Tadateru Ogura’s French mistress. Throughout, director Norifumi Suzuki never misses an opportunity to showcase these two women’s beauty. 

Visually, there are many striking moments in Tokugawa Sex Ban. That said, none is more striking than a scene where a woman committing harakiri begs her husband to finish her by chopping her head off. Other notable moments are a scene where Sandra Julien and Miki Sugimoto frolic naked in front of a waterfall and a scene where the French mistress is hung upside down on a cross as the ocean's water rises and submerges her head. Ultimately, Tokugawa Sex Ban is a film that quickly draws you in, and it does a superb job building to an ironic finale where Lord Tadateru Ogura finally achieves ecstasy, albeit at a cost.

Tokugawa Sex Ban gets an excellent release from Mondo Macabro that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a pair of insightful extras, highly recommended.

Note: This edition is limited to 1500 copies.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Killer is Not Alone: Limited Red Case Edition – Mondo Macabro (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Spain, 1975
Director: Jesús García de Dueñas
Writers: Jesús Torbado, Jesús García de Dueñas
Cast: Lola Flores, James Philbrook, Teresa Rabal, Domingo Codesido Ascanio, Francisco Pierrá, José Vivó, Juan José Otegui, Manuel Alexandre, Mayrata O'Wisiedo, Maria Rohm, Antonio Mayans

Release Date: August, 2024
Approximate Running Time: 85 Minutes 10 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Spanish, DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $27.00

"Julio, the only son of a wealthy businessman, living in the coastal city of Avilés in the north of Spain, is a young man with many problems, including a pathological fear of women due to a psychological trauma he suffered during his childhood.  One night, as he prowls the sleazier quarters of the city, he picks up a prostitute and follows her to a seedy hotel room. As she tries to arouse him to action, he responds violently, garrotting her with a length of piano wire, leaving her dead on the bed, covered with blood.

Julio takes the train to Madrid and checks into a boarding house in the city. He is much younger than the rest of the residents and soon Monica, the boarding house owner’s teenage daughter, finds herself attracted to the new arrival. More murders by the sinister “wire killer” are reported in the newspapers and it seems the police have no clue as to who it might be. As Monica gets ever closer to the troubled Julio her mother tries to warn her off the young man. But it’s too late; and soon it seems likely that Monica herself will fall victim to the dreaded “wire killer”." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Brand new 4k restoration from original negative."

The Killer is Not Alone comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 28.7 GB

Feature: 23 GB

The source looks excellent; colors look correct, image clarity and compression are solid, black levels are strong, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 4.25/5 (DTS-HD Mono Spanish), 4/5 (DTS-HD Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Spanish and a DTS-HD mono mix in English. The Spanish language track sounds great; dialogue comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and range-wise this audio track sounds very good. The English language track has some minor background hiss, and range-wise it sounds more restrained than the Spanish language track. Included are removable English subtitles for the Spanish language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 58 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Spanish with removable English subtitles), an interview with Angel Sala, director of the Sitges Film Festival (23 minutes 20 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Spanish with removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary with Troy Howarth and Rod Barnett.

Extras exclusive to this limited edition release include reversible cover art, and a 20-page booklet with an essay titled  The Killer is Not Alone written by Ismael Fernandez.

Summary:

A traumatized young man murders young women who arouse him.

Though there is some crossover between Spanish and Italian thrillers, the former delves more into the psychological while the latter relies heavily on visceral murder set pieces. A film like The Killer is Not Alone is a rarer example of a Spanish thriller that is a blend of psychological and visceral. The Killer is Not Alone has a pre-credits sequence in which a prostitute is killed with a wire that slits her throat. This sequence is in line with the level of carnage one expected to see when watching an Italian thriller in the 1970s.

The killer's identity is not a secret; it is revealed in the aforementioned pre-credits sequence. The narrative’s focus is not on stopping the killer and bringing them to justice; it is on unlocking the reason behind why they kill. There is a flashback that details the traumatic event from the killer's childhood.

All around the cast are excellent, especially Maria Rohm (Venus in Furs), who portrays multiple characters. And like so many of her roles, she has a striptease where she gets to show off her sexiness. Domingo Codesido Ascanio is cast in the role of Julio, a disturbed young man who is unable to control his urge to kill women. He delivers an utterly convincing portrayal of a character crippled by trauma. Another performance of note is Teresa Rabal (Viridiana) who portrays Mónica the boarding house owner’s teenage daughter who becomes attached to Julio.

The Killer is Not Alone is filled with stylized visuals that heighten the mood. The murders are gory, and the camera lingers on women’s feet, a fetish the killer has connected to his trauma. The two memorable moments visually are a scene at the dinner table in which everyone freezes while the camera pans the room and everything fades into darkness, and the aforementioned flashback sequence where the killer's trauma began.

From a production standpoint, there is no area where The Killer is Not Alone does not excel. The well-constructed narrative does a superb job creating tense moments, and pacing is never as issues as key moments are given an ample amount of time to resonate. The Killer is Not Alone has an eclectic collection of music cues that vary in quality. That said, its main theme is a song titled No le roces con tu sonrisa, which does a phenomenal job of reinforcing the mood. Also, for a first-time feature film director, Jesús García de Dueñas' direction is solid. Ultimately, The Killer is Not Alone is a well-crafted psychological thriller whose moment of truth lingers on in your mind.

The Killer is Not Alone gets a solid release from Mondo Macabro that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and insightful extras, highly recommended.

Note: This edition is limited to 1500 copies.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Hungry Snake Woman: Limited Red Case Edition – Mondo Macabro (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Indonesia, 1986
Director: Sisworo Gautama Putra
Cast: Suzzanna, Advent Bangun, George Rudy, Nina Anwar, Dorman Borisman, Rita Supardi, Torita Murni, Bokir

Release Date: August, 2024
Approximate Running Time: 82 Minutes 28 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Indonesian, DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: OOP

"Burhan, desperate for wealth and glory, decides to visit the Snake Woman, a mysterious and powerful deity who can confer instant riches on those who obey her commands. She tells Burhan he must kill three women, feast on their blood and eat their breasts. Transformed into Dracula, with cloak and fangs, he sets off on his mission. One killing is all he can take before abandoning the task.

He encounters Nyi Lajang, the Snake Woman’s enemy, a half human/half snake creature. Nyi Lajang offers Burhan a way out of his contract with the Snake Woman. She gives him a silver pin that he must stab Snake Woman with during sex while she is in human form. This will turn her back into a snake and neutralize all her magical powers. This is what Burhan does. But his problems are far from over…" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Brand new 2k transfer from film negative, digitally restored."

The Hungry Snake Woman comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 22.5 GB

Feature: 22.2 GB

The source looks great; only a few minor instances of debris remain. Flesh tones look healthy, colors look very good, image clarity and black levels are strong, there are no issues with compression, and there do not appear to be any issues with digital noise reduction.

Audio: 4.25/5 (DTS-HD Mono Indonesian), 4/5 (DTS-HD Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Indonesian and a DTS-HD mono mix in English. Both audio tracks have some sibilance issues; fortunately, in both instances, it is not intrusive. That said, dialog comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and range-wise, both audio tracks sound very good. Included are removable English subtitles for the Indonesian language track.

Extras:

Extras exclusive to this limited edition release include reversible cover art, a set of four double sided art cards, and a 18-page booklet with an essay titled Hungry Snake Women… and Other Mystical Encounters written by Pete Tombs.

Summary:

Sisworo Gautama Putra directed The Hungry Snake Woman. He is also known for making Primitives, Satan's Slave, Sundelbolong, and The Warrior. The Hungry Snake Woman is a sequel to The Snake Queen. Sisworo Gautama Putra directed both films.

A man’s lust for wealth and power leads him to a half-human/half-snake creature who offers him all he seeks if he tricks the snake woman and returns her to her snake form.

Though The Hungry Snake Woman is a film that is firmly rooted in the realm of fantasy. Like a lot of Indonesian films, it mixes genres; besides fantasy elements, there is humor and some action. The Hungry Snake Woman is also a film that wears its influences; at one point, the man in search of wealth and power looks like Dracula. That said, it is this throw-everything-into-the-mix approach that makes Indonesian films so much fun.

The presence of the Snake Woman in The Hungry Snake Woman is reduced compared to its predecessor, The Snake Queen. This time around her nemesis, a half-human/half-snake creature named Nyi Lajang, has equal screen time. Despite these two characters' wickedness, the real villain of The Hungry Snake Woman is a man named Burhan. He’s power hungry and obsessed with his ex-girlfriend, who left him after he tried to rape her. In his mind, if he obtains wealth, all will be forgiven, and she will come back to him. His quest for power and wealth comes at a price; besides returning the Snake Woman to her snake form, he has to kill three women, drink their blood, and feast on their breasts.

The main attraction of The Hungry Snake Woman is Suzzanna (Sundelbolong), an actress whose career spanned five decades. Most of her films in the 1980s were in the fantasy and horror genre. In The Hungry Snake Woman, she not only portrays the Snake Woman but also a doppelganger character named Suzy. Whatever role she portrays, she is mesmerizing.

When it comes to the rest of the cast, they are very good in their roles, especially the actress who portrays Nyi Lajang, the half-human/half-snake creature. An actor named Bokir, who appears in a lot of 1980s Indonesian fantasy/horror films, does what he does best to provide comic relief. Advent Bangun delivers a pitch-perfect performance in the role of the abusive, power-hungry Burhan.

What Indonesian genre films lack when it comes to budget, they more than make up for in imagination. This is most clear in The Hungry Snake Woman when it comes to the special effects, which include a creature exploding out of a man’s chest. At 82 minutes in length, The Hungry Snake Woman never overstays its welcome. Ultimately, The Hungry Snake Woman is a highly entertaining film that fans of exploitation cinema should thoroughly enjoy.

The Hungry Snake Woman gets a solid audio/video presentation and an insightful booklet, highly recommended. 

Note: This edition is limited to 1500 copies.

Written by Michael Den Boer