Terror In The Fog: The Wallace Krimi At CCC – Eureka Video (Blu-ray)
Theatrical Release Dates: West Germany, 1963 (The Curse of the Yellow Snake, The Strangler of Blackmoor Castle, The Mad Executioners), West Germany, 1964 (The Phantom of Soho, The Monster of London City, The Racetrack Murders)
Directors: Franz Josef Gottlieb (The Curse of the Yellow Snake, The Phantom of Soho, The Racetrack Murders), Harald Reinl (The Strangler of Blackmoor Castle), Edwin Zbonek (The Mad Executioners, The Monster of London City)
Cast: Joachim Fuchsberger, Brigitte Grothum, Pinkas Braun, Doris Kirchner, Werner Peters, Charles Regnier, Claus Holm (The Curse of the Yellow Snake), Karin Dor, Harry Riebauer, Rudolf Fernau, Hans Nielsen, Dieter Eppler, Hans Reiser, Richard Häussler, Peter Nestler, Gerhard Hartig (The Strangler of Blackmoor Castle), Hansjörg Felmy, Maria Perschy, Dieter Borsche, Wolfgang Preiss, Harry Riebauer, Rudolf Fernau (The Mad Executioners), Dieter Borsche, Barbara Rütting, Hans Söhnker, Peter Vogel, Helga Sommerfeld, Werner Peters (The Phantom of Soho), Hansjörg Felmy, Marianne Koch, Dietmar Schönherr, Hans Nielsen, Chariklia Baxevanos, Peer Schmidt (The Monster of London City), Hansjörg Felmy, Ann Smyrner, Hans Nielsen, Wolfgang Lukschy, Heinz Engelmann, Helmuth Lohner, Walter Rilla (The Racetrack Murders)
Release Date: May 26th, 2025 (UK), May 27th, 2025 (USA)
Approximate Running Times: 97 Minutes 49 Seconds (The Curse of the Yellow Snake), 87 Minutes 9 Seconds (The Strangler of Blackmoor Castle), 93 Minutes 52 Seconds (The Mad Executioners), 90 Minutes 27 Seconds (The Monster of London City), 93 Minutes 25 Seconds (The Racetrack Murders)
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC (The Curse of the Yellow Snake, The Strangler of Blackmoor Castle), 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC (The Mad Executioners, The Monster of London City), 1.37:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC (The Racetrack Murders)
Rating: 15 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono German, LPCM Mono English (All Films)
Subtitles: English (All Films)
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £44.99 (UK), $94.95 (USA)
"In the 1960s, a cycle of crime films – or krimis – became hugely popular with West German audiences. Adapted from works by the British crime writer Edgar Wallace and his son Bryan Edgar Wallace, they combined the traditional murder mystery with horror as they depicted enigmatic killers stalking their victims through foggy English landscapes – from the streets of London to isolated rural mansions. Following the early success of the cycle after the release of Face of the Frog and The Crimson Circle, veteran producer Artur Brauner launched into his own series of Wallace krimis with his company CCC Film. Presented here are five key films drawn from CCC’s krimi cycle.
In The Curse of the Yellow Snake, a mysterious cult wishes to lay its hands on an ancient artefact that has been brought to London from Hong Kong. The Strangler of Blackmoor Castle sees a masked murderer stalk the grounds of a vast British estate – one who brands his victims’ foreheads with the letter “M.” London is faced with dual threats in The Mad Executioners, as a gang of hooded vigilantes roams the streets while a sadistic serial killer is on the loose. Jack the Ripper lives on in The Monster of London City, as a series of brutal murders brings panic to the British capital. Finally, in The Racetrack Murders (or The Seventh Victim), people are dropping like flies in and around a stately home – and the murders might just have something to do with the owner’s prized racehorse.
With its masked killers, labyrinthine plots and gothic atmosphere, the Wallace krimi blended crime, thriller and horror elements into a potent mix that had a significant influence on both the Italian giallo and the American slasher film." - synopsis provided by the distributor
Video: 4.25/5 (The Curse of the Yellow Snake, The Strangler of Blackmoor Castle, The Mad Executioners, The Monster of London City, The Racetrack Murders), 3.5/5 (The Phantom of Soho)
Here’s the information provided about this release's transfers, "All five films presented in 1080p HD from 2K restorations of the original film elements undertaken by CCC Film."
Here is additional information about The Phantom of Soho, “This presentation of The Phantom of Soho is sourced from a standard-definition master as no high-definition source was available at the time of this release. We hope this doesn’t negatively impact your enjoyment.
A further note, the English language dub for this film had some short sections of the film missing which had to be replaced with audio from the original German track.”
The Curse of the Yellow Snake and The Strangler of Blackmoor Castle come on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.
Disc Size: 44.4 GB
Feature: 22.2 GB (The Curse of the Yellow Snake), 19.7 GB (The Strangler of Blackmoor Castle)
The Mad Executioners and The Phantom of Soho come on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.
Disc Size: 44.8 GB
Feature: 24.7 GB (The Mad Executioners), 16.9 GB (The Phantom of Soho)
The Monster of London City comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.
Disc Size: 32 GB
Feature: 31.7 GB
The Racetrack Murders comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.
Disc Size: 29.8 GB
Feature: 28.5 GB
The sources look great; any debris is very minor. Image clarity and contrast are solid, black levels are strong, compression is excellent, and the image retains an organic look. That said, The Phantom of Soho comes from a standard definition source, and it is the weakest-looking transfer of these six films.
Audio: 4.25/5 (LPCM Mono German - The Curse of the Yellow Snake, LPCM Mono German - The Mad Executioners), 4/5 (LPCM Mono German - The Strangler of Blackmoor Castle, LPCM Mono German - The Phantom of Soho, LPCM Mono German - The Monster of London City, LPCM Mono German - The Racetrack Murders, LPCM Mono English - The Curse of the Yellow Snake, LPCM Mono English - The Strangler of Blackmoor Castle, LPCM Mono English - The Mad Executioners, LPCM Mono English - The Monster of London City, LPCM Mono English - The Racetrack Murders), 3/5 (LPCM Mono English - The Phantom of Soho)
Each film comes with two audio options, a LPCM mono mix in German and a LPCM mono mix in English. The Curse of the Yellow Snake, The Mad Executioners, and The Phantom of Soho German language tracks sound more robust than their English language counterparts. The English language track of The Phantom of Soho features crackles, pops, hisses, and various other audio imperfections. The Racetrack Murders English language track has some background hiss. Dialog always comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and ambient sounds are well-presented. All of these films have text in German, The Mad Executioners has a song in German, and The Phantom of Soho has dialogue in German. When watching the English language track, there are removable English subtitles for these instances of German.
Extras:
Extras on the disc with The Curse of the Yellow Snake and The Strangler of Blackmoor Castle include a German theatrical trailer for The Curse of the Yellow Snake (3 minutes 12 seconds, LPCM mono German with removable English subtitles), an introduction by genre film expert and Video Watchdog founder Tim Lucas for The Curse of the Yellow Snake (12 minutes 26 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an introduction by Tim Lucas for The Strangler of Blackmoor Castle (10 minutes 5 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a featurette with Tim Lucas titled What is a Krimi? (5 minutes 51 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with Kim Newman and Barry Forshaw for The Curse of the Yellow Snake, and an audio commentary with Kevin Lyons and Jonathan Rigby for The Strangler of Blackmoor Castle.
Extras on the disc with The Mad Executioners and The Phantom of Soho include a German theatrical trailer for The Mad Executioners (3 minutes 46 seconds, Dolby Digital mono German with removable English subtitles), U.S. theatrical trailer for The Mad Executioners (1 minute 48 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), a German theatrical trailer for The Phantom of Soho (2 minutes 55 seconds, Dolby Digital mono German with removable English subtitles), International theatrical trailer for The Phantom of Soho (2 minutes 55 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), U.S. theatrical trailer for The Phantom of Soho (1 minute 14 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an introduction by Tim Lucas for The Mad Executioners (11 minutes 12 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an introduction by Tim Lucas for The Phantom of Soho (8 minutes 45 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with Alice Brauner, producer and managing director of CCC Film and daughter of Artur Brauner tilted Bryan Edgar Wallace: An Era (9 minutes 58 seconds, LPCM stereo German with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with Kevin Lyons and Jonathan Rigby for The Mad Executioners, an audio commentary with Kim Newman and Barry Forshaw for The Phantom of Soho, and a bonus feature film The Phantom of Soho (96 minutes 3 seconds, 2.35:1 aspect ratio, standard definition, LPCM mono German with removable English subtitles and LPCM mono English with removable English subtitles for text and some dialog that is only in German).
Extras for The Monster of London City include a German theatrical trailer (3 minutes 28 seconds, LPCM mono German with removable English subtitles), an introduction by Tim Lucas (7 minutes 44 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), a video essay by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas titled Passing the Blade, she explores the influence of the Wallace krimi on the Italian giallo and the American slasher film (18 minutes 24 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with Kim Newman and Stephen Jones.
Extras for The Racetrack Murders include a German theatrical trailer under the alternate titled The Seventh Victim (3 minutes 16 seconds, LPCM mono German with removable English subtitles), an introduction by Tim Lucas (7 minutes 42 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an in-depth discussion between film historians Tim Lucas and Stephen Bissette titled Terror in the Fog (84 minutes 28 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with Kevin Lyons and Jonathan Rigby.
Other extras include reversible cover art, a limited edition hard case, and a limited edition 60-page booklet with cast & crew information for each film, an essay titled Murder 101: An Introduction to the Wallace Krimi Cycle written by Howard Hughes, an essay titled This is Bryan Edgar Wallace Speaking: Investigating a Man of Mystery written by Barry Forshaw, an essay titled Dastardly Deeds: Notes on CCC Film’s Wallace Krimi Series written by Holger Haase and information about the transfers titled Notes on Viewing. Note: The hard case and book are limited to 2000 copies.
Summary:
The Artur Brauner-produced Krimis have a distinct formula, and stylistically they look like they could have been made by anyone, lacking a director’s vision. Though these films recycle elements and unfold in a familiar way, they all do a superb job concealing their killers’ identities. That said, the creative force behind these films was Artur Brauner.
The Curse of the Yellow Snake: A cult intent on world domination steals the Golden Reptile idol, believing it possesses the power to help them achieve their objective.
After the success of the Dr. Mabuse films producer Artur Brauner started a series of Krimi films based on the novels of Bryan Edgar Wallace. Artur Brauner’s first Krimi The Curse of the Yellow Snake was based on a novel written by Edgar Wallace, while subsequent films were adapted from novels written by his son Bryan Edgar Wallace. Franz Josef Gottlieb directed The Curse of the Yellow Snake; other notable Krimi films he directed are The Black Abbot, The Phantom of Soho, The Curse of the Hidden Vault, and The Racetrack Murders.
Though The Curse of the Yellow Snake would establish a formula from which Artur Brauner's subsequent Krimi would follow, the result is not one of the more memorable Krimi films. Despite a very strong opening setup where someone is killed and the Golden Reptile idol that plays a significant role in the story that unfolds, things shortly thereafter come to a halt. What follows is an uneventful first half that offers few surprises; things do pick up in the latter half when the cult’s plans come into focus.
When it comes to the performances they deliver, especially Pinkas Braun (Bloodline), who portrays Fing-su, the leader of the cult. The most disappointing performance is Joachim Fuchsberger (The Inn on the River), who portrays Clifford Lynn, the man given the task of taking down the cult. Another performance of note is Brigitte Grothum (The Strange Countess), who portrays Joan Bray, a woman who finds herself the object of desire of two men.
The Curse of the Yellow Snake is a dialogue-driven film that can’t make up its mind if it wants to be a melodrama or a thriller. Though the narrative is slow-moving, it has a fantastic final reveal: someone believed dead is actually alive. Visually there are a few striking moments, and its eerie electronic score is very effective at reinforcing the mood. Ultimately, The Curse of the Yellow Snake feels more like a Fu Manchu film than a Krimi.
The Strangler of Blackmoor Castle: Scotland Yard tries to capture a masked killer who strangles and dedicates his victims.
Harald Reinl directed The Strangler of Blackmoor Castle; notable Krimis he’s directed are The Terrible People, The Forger of London, and Room 13. Other notable films he directed include The Return of Dr. Mabuse, The Invisible Dr. Mabuse, and The Torture Chamber of Dr. Sadism.
Though Krimi's, like all genres, often rely on well-trodden formulas, the best examples share two key elements: a memorable villain and the ability to create tension through atmosphere. That said, it is not surprising that The Strangler of Blackmoor Castle is one of the best examples of a Krimi, since it has both of these elements in spades.
Another element that Krimis are known for is their rogues' gallery of characters; there is a hooded killer known as the strangler of Blackmoor Castle, Scotland Yard, an investigative reporter, and the eccentric owner of Blackmoor Castle. Although the killer is disguised, they have a missing finger, which is crucial for revealing their identity.
When it comes to the performances, it's not surprising that no one truly stands out, as the cast is given minimal material to work with. Fortunately, the unfolding story is compelling enough on its own to capture your attention. The most notable cast member is Karin Dor (You Only Live Twice); she portrays Claridge Dorsett, the niece of the man who is renting Blackmoor Castle. Her character is an investigative reporter, and her nosing around often puts her in danger.
The castle location is a character unto itself; it has secret passageways and underground caverns. The well-crafted narrative effectively conceals the killer's identity while building suspense leading up to the reveal. Although the violence is depicted only after it occurs, there are a few unexpectedly gruesome moments featuring decapitated heads. The visuals are solid, and in conjunction with an electronic score, they do a phenomenal job heightening the mood. Ultimately, The Strangler of Blackmoor Castle is an exemplary thriller that fans of the Giallo should thoroughly enjoy.
The Mad Executioners: Criminals who have evaded the law are brought to justice by a group of hooded vigilantes.
Edwin Zbonek directed two Krimis, The Mad Executioners and The Monster of London City.
The Mad Executioners is an actual film with two stories that ultimately intersect. The main narrative revolves around a group of hooded vigilantes who kidnapped criminals who have evaded justice. The other revolves around a psychopath known as the sex murderer. While all the criminals are indeed guilty of the crimes they are accused of, the individuals known as the Mad Executioners believe they have the authority to pass judgment. This belief stems from a perception that the government or the justice system has failed to do its job.
The opening setup does a phenomenal job drawing you in; after a group of hooded men pass judgment on a man, they take him to a bridge and hang him. This striking moment firmly sets the foundation for what follows. That said, the moments with the vigilantes and the criminals are the most enthralling, while things lose focus during the subplot that revolves around the sex murderer.
The most memorable performance is Wolfgang Preiss (The 1,000 Eyes of Dr. Mabuse) in the role of Inspector Morel Smith. The most surprising aspect of The Mad Executioners is how effectively it uses humor. Chris Howland’s (Two Undercover Angels) character provides the comic relief; he portrays a reporter who wears many disguises. Another cast member of note is Maria Perschy (Assignment Terror), who portrays Ann Barry, the sister of one of the Scotland Yard detectives.
The Mad Executioners has a solid premise that is well-executed; its narrative does a superb job building to one final twist that you won't see coming. The score does a remarkable job reinforcing the mood, and the visuals take full advantage of the 2.35:1 scope frame. Ultimately, The Mad Executioners is another well-crafted Krimi, making it a must-see for fans of this genre.
The Phantom of Soho: Patrons of a nightclub in Soho are targeted by a masked killer.
Out of the five Krimi that Franz Josef Gottlieb directed, The Phantom of Soho is easily his best foray into this genre. He delivers solid direction that takes full advantage of the 2.35:1 scope frame. Visually, The Phantom of Soho is a film overflowing with atmosphere and striking moments, notably scenes when the phantom attacks.
The Phantom of Soho opens with a stylish sequence where a man walks down the street while prostitutes ask him if he wants a date. This sequence culminates with him being cornered and stabbed. This opening does a superb job setting the tone and foundation for what follows.
All around, the cast are excellent, especially Barbara Rütting (Town Without Pity) in the role of Clarinda Smith, a crime novelist who attaches herself to the case that's unfolding. Other performances of note are Elisabeth Flickenschildt (Aren't We Wonderful?), who portrays Joanna Filiati, a wheelchair-bound owner of a nightclub in Soho, and Helga Sommerfeld (Code Name: Jaguar), who portrays Corinne Smith, a nightclub performer who is half of a knife-throwing act.
After watching a few Krimi's, you start to notice recurring patterns. While certain elements may appear familiar, the film frequently introduces unexpected twists that catch the audience off guard. These aspects encapsulate the essence of The Phantom of Soho, a movie centered around a masked killer, filled with tense moments and a generous amount of well-timed plot twists. The narrative progresses at a measured pace, gradually building to a highly satisfying conclusion. Ultimately, The Phantom of Soho is one of the better examples of what the Krimi genre has to offer.
The Monster of London City: A Jack the Ripper-like killer terrorizes the streets of 1960s London.
The first thing you notice while watching The Monster of London City is that it recycles some of the opening setup from The Phantom of Soho. These Krimi that were produced by Artur Brauner were made on a modest budget, and despite the success of the previous film, it's clear each subsequent film got less to work with. Fortunately, despite these restrictions, The Monster of London City ends up being one of the best Krimis Artur Brauner produced.
While watching The Monster of London City, if you start to feel déjà vu, that is because the premise takes inspiration from the crimes of Jack the Ripper. While The Monster of London City is loosely inspired by the notorious Jack the Ripper, known for his gruesome dissection of victims, much of the violence in the film takes place offscreen. That said, the lack of onscreen carnage does not lessen their impact.
The cast are all excellent in their roles, especially Hansjörg Felmy (Angels of Terror) in the role of Richard Sand, an actor who is portraying Jack the Ripper in a stage play. This character has had issues in the past with drug addiction and mental health. The most notable cast member is Marianne Koch (A Fistful of Dollars); she portrays the niece of a politician.
The narrative quickly draws you in, and it does a phenomenal job building momentum to a very satisfying twist finale. Another strength is the visuals and how, in conjunction with the jazz-infused music, they heighten the mood. Despite its bleak premise, The Monster of London City unsuccessfully tries to employ humor. Ultimately, The Monster of London City is a well-made whodunit that fans of Krimi should thoroughly enjoy.
The Racetrack Murders: When a wealthy man’s will goes missing, his heirs start turning up dead.
Misdirection plays a significant role in Krimi films, and a film like The Racetrack Murders has a few that will give you whiplash. What starts off as a story about someone trying to sabotage a prized horse turns into a tale about greed rooted in revenge. That said, the narrative does an excellent job concealing the killer's identity and their motives.
Though the cast has some recognizable faces, Walter Rilla (The Death Ray of Dr. Mabuse) portrays Lord John Mant, a wealthy man whose will is missing, and Ann Smyrner (Reptilicus) portrays his niece. Though no one performance stands out, they all work well within the story that unfolds.
Content-wise, The Racetrack Murders is a satisfying mix of suspense, melodrama, and action. Though the premise is well-executed, the narrative is slow-moving; fortunately, there are an ample amount of red herrings. Visually, The Racetrack Murders is lacking when it comes to style and atmosphere. Ultimately, The Racetrack Murders is a suspense film whose plot is reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.
Terror In The Fog: The Wallace Krimi At CCC is an excellent release from Eureka Video; each film comes with a strong audio/video presentation and informative extras. Highly recommended.
Written by Michael Den Boer
