The Short Films of Yuri Norstein: Treasures of Soviet Animation Vol. 3 – Deaf Crocodile (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Dates: Soviet Union, 1968 (The 25th, the First Day), Soviet Union, 1969 (Children and Matches, Seasons), Soviet Union, 1971 (Battle at Kerzhenets), Soviet Union, 1973 (The Fox and the Hare), Soviet Union, 1974 (The Heron and the Crane), Soviet Union, 1975 (Hedgehog in the Fog), Soviet Union, 1977 (A Day Before Our Era), Soviet Union, 1979 (The Tale of Tales)
Directors: Yuri Norstein (All Films), Arkadiy Tyurin (The 25th, the First Day), Ivan Ivanov-Vano (Seasons, Battle at Kerzhenets), Fyodor Khitruk (A Before Our Era)
Cast: Viktor Khokhryakov (The Fox and the Hare), Innokentiy Smoktunovskiy (The Heron and the Crane), Aleksandr Kalyagin (The Tale of Tales)

Release Date: February 24th, 2026
Approximate Running Times: 9 Minutes 31 Seconds (The 25th, the First Day), 4 Minutes 33 Seconds (Children and Matches), 9 Minutes 28 Seconds (Seasons), 10 Minutes 12 Seconds (Battle at Kerzhenets), 12 Minutes 15 Seconds (The Fox and the Hare), 10 Minutes 15 Seconds (The Heron and the Crane), 10 Minutes 28 Seconds (Hedgehog in the Fog), 5 Minutes 37 Seconds (A Day Before Our Era), 29 Minutes 8 Seconds (The Tale of Tales)
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (All Films Except Seasons, Battle at Kerzhenets, A Before Our Era), 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Seasons, Battle at Kerzhenets, A Before Our Era)
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Russian (All Films)
Subtitles: English, English SDH (All Films)
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $30.95

The 25th, the First Day: "Norstein's first film is a visually striking tribute to the Bolshevik Revolution on October 25th." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Seasons: "A man and woman ride through the forest while the seasons change around them in this lovely, elegiac short set to music by Tchaikovsky." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Children and Matches: "Norstein’s rarely-seen educational short about the dangers of matches, from ancient times up to today." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Battle at Kerzhenets: "Arguably Norstein's first great animated film, inspired by the legend of the City of Kitezh which disappeared into a lake to avoid Mongol invaders." - synopsis provided by the distributor

The Fox and the Hare: "Norstein’s utterly charming short about a temperamental 'house-filching fox' who boots a poor rabbit out of its home." The rabbit turns to a wolf, bear, bull and rooster for help, with surprising results." - synopsis provided by the distributor

The Heron and the Crane: "An awkward crane and a high-spirited heron go back and forth on marrying each other in this heartbreaking short about romantic misunderstandings." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Hedgehog in the Fog: "The deceptively epic journey of the tiny hedgehog, filled with impossible marvels and dangers: a shimmering white horse and a crafty owl. A fluttering bat, a falling leaf, and the ever-present curtain of fog. Widely considered one of the greatest animated films ever made." - synopsis provided by the distributor

A Day Before Our Era: "This experimental collage of images of the French Revolution was apparently abandoned before it was finished and remains one of Norstein’s rarest films." - synopsis provided by the distributor

The Tale of Tales: "Norstein's longest film to date, TALE is a story about stories, a dream of many dreams. A giant bull and a little girl skip rope. Couples dance under a streetlight until the male partners disappear, headed off to war. And through it all, the Little Grey Wolf watches silently at the rondo of human loves and losses." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5 (All Films)

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfers, "This first-ever U.S. Blu-ray release of Norstein’s films features several rare shorts new to home video, all newly restored by Deaf Crocodile and co-presented with Seagull Films."

Treasures of Soviet Animation Volume 3 comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 42.5 GB

Feature: 8.4 GB (The Tale of Tales), 4.6 GB (The Fox and the Hare), 3.5 GB (Hedgehog in the Fog), 3 GB (The Heron and the Crane), 2.9 GB (Battle at Kerzhenets), 2.9 GB (The 25th, the First Day), 2.7 GB (Seasons), 1.6 GB (A Day Before Our Era), 1.3 GB (Children and Matches)

The sources look 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: 5/5 (All Films)

Each film comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in Russian or text in Russian. All audio tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced, and ambient sounds are well-represented. There are two subtitle options: English or English SDH; these can only be changed via the setup menu and not during playback.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a video essay by film historian Evan Chester titled Nature, Texture, and Patience: The Films of Yuri Norstein (21 minutes 12 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with non-removable English subtitles for Russian film clips), audio commentaries with film scholar Michael Brooke for each film, and a documentary titled Yuri Norstein: Making the Overcoat (112 minutes 39 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Russian with non-removable English subtitles).

Summary:

This collection presents the 11 completed films directed/co-directed by Yuri Norstein. What sets his animation apart from other animators is that he uses a technique that involves multiple glass planes to give it a three-dimensional look. Known for his perfectionism, his nickname is “The Golden Snail." Although all of his completed works are short films, his first feature film, The Overcoat, has been in production since 1981, and as of this writing, only about 25 minutes have been completed. Accompanying this release is a feature-length documentary that provides details about The Overcoat.

While he is known for using glass panes, when it comes to one style of animation, each of his films has a distinct look. Many of his films have no dialog and rely solely on their striking imagery. The absence of dialogue is never problematic, as most films maintain a certain brevity. While visuals are crucial, when dialogue is included, it is crafted in a way that does not complicate the unfolding story. Hedgehog in the Fog is widely considered the greatest animated film, while his most ambitious film, The Tale of Tales, is also held in high regard.

One of the best things about being a fan of cinema is discovering a new filmmaker. The quality of Yuri Norstein’s filmography is outstanding, and when watched in the order they were made, it's astonishing the amount of growth he displayed as an artist. That said, Yuri Norstein is a filmmaker who deserves all of the acclaim he’s received, and hopefully this release will introduce his films to a wider audience.

Deaf Crocodile’s The Short Films of Yuri Norstein: Treasures of Soviet Animation Vol. 3 is an exceptional release and a must-have for fans of Russian animation. Highly recommended.

Note: There is a deluxe release of The Short Films of Yuri Norstein: Treasures of Soviet Animation Vol. 3 that comes in a slipcase and a 60-page book with an essay by film historian Jennifer Lynde Barker, an essay written by animation expert John Adkins and an essay by film critic Walter Chaw (Film Freak Central).

Written by Michael Den Boer

Date with a Vampire: Collector's Edition – Visual Vengeance (Blu-ray)

Release Dates: USA, 2000 (Date with a Vampire), USA, 2002 (Blood Craving)
Director: Jeffrey Arsenault (Both Films)
Cast: Lori Thomas, Robin Macklin, Cynthia Polakovich, Joe Zaso (Date with a Vampire), Tiffany Helland, Francesco J. Caputo, Leslie Slemp, Michael Naselli, Julio Rivera, Israel Monrroy, Frances Lozada, Caroline Munro (Blood Craving)

Release Date: February 24th, 2026
Approximate Running Times: 59 Minutes (Date with a Vampire), 29 Minutes 37 Seconds (Blood Craving)
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Both Films)
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Stereo English (Both Films)
Subtitles: English SDH (Date with a Vampire)
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $29.95

"Violet is a vampire who hungers for sexual pleasure as much as her victim's blood. By night she prowls the city, luring both men and women into her web of lust and murder. Her latest unsuspecting prey, Chuck, is a lonely young man she meets in a smoky bar and draws into her orbit with a mix of charm, sensuality, and mystery. But what begins as flirtation soon becomes a hypnotic seduction—leading him straight into her bed and trapped in her world of erotic indulgence and eternal hunger." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 2.5/5 (Date with a Vampire, Blood Craving)

Here’s the information provided about Date with a Vampire's transfer, "SD master from original tape elements."

Date with a Vampire comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 34.5 GB

Feature: 13.3 GB (Date with a Vampire), 6.6 GB (Blood Craving)

Although the source used looks clean, image clarity is not as strong in darker scenes, and black levels during these scenes are poor. That said, flesh tones and colors look correct. 

Blood Craving’s transfer is comparable to Date with a Vampire’s transfer.

Audio: 2.5/5 (Both Films)

This release comes with one audio option, a Dolby Digital stereo mix in English with removable English SDH. Although things are very limited range-wise, dialogue comes through clearly enough to follow.

Blood Craving’s audio is comparable to Date with a Vampire’s audio.

Extras:

Extras for Date with a Vampire include a Visual Vengeance trailer (54 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), the original trailer (1 minute 35 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo text in English), an image gallery with music playing in the background, an interview with location manager Nathan Thompson titled Date With a Vampire Memories (1 minute 56 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a Buckingham Manor location video with Nathan Thompson (6 minutes 3 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with ‘Basement Vampire’ actor Joe Zaso (22 minutes 2 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with actress Cynthia Polakovich (7 minutes 9 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with screenwriter Kevin J. Lindenmuth (11 minutes 4 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with director Jeffrey Arsenault (3 minutes 32 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with Jeffrey Arsenault.

Extras for Blood Craving include a Visual Vengeance trailer (48 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), the original trailer (1 minute 6 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo text in English), the original first draft trailers (2 minutes 50 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an image gallery with music playing in the background, an interview with Jeffrey Arsenault (2 minutes 21 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with Jeffrey Arsenault. 

Other extras include the After Midnight Entertainment trailer reel (10 minutes 12 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), trailers for Vampire Playmates, Vampire’s Embrace, and Vampire Night, reversible cover art featuring new Blood Craving art, a 'Stick your own' video store sticker sheet, a folded mini-poster, and a limited-edition slipcover (first pressing only).

Summary:

Jeffrey Arsenault, who's most known for Night Owl, directed both Date with a Vampire and Blood Craving.

Date with a Vampire: A vampire whose sexual desire is as strong as her lust for blood lures men and women back to her home.

Date with a Vampire is a softcore vampire-themed film that spends more time on erotica than it does on vampire-related things. Although there is a surprising amount of dialogue, it is mostly banter that adds little to the story that unfolds. At just under 60 minutes in length, the narrative feels much longer. That said, I first became aware of Jeffrey Arsenault because of his debut film, Night Owl, and having now seen a few more of his films, he has yet to surpass that film.

Blood Craving: A woman tries to find a cure for her vampire boyfriend, who has to be restrained with chains.

According to Jeffrey Arsenault, Blood Craving is like a spiritual successor to Night Owl. Although its current running time is under 30 minutes, there have been versions that clock in at 75 and 85 minutes. Where Date with a Vampire pads itself with softcore erotica, Blood Craving forgoes similar drawn-out moments. The Caroline Munro scene is essentially a lengthy interview about her career that takes up ⅓ of this film’s duration, and it adds little to the story that unfolds. Ultimately, Blood Craving in its current form feels like an unfinished film.

Visual Vengeance gives a pair of Jeffrey Arsenault’s films their best home media releases to date.

 

Written by Michael Den Boer

Force: Five : Collector's Edition – MVD Rewind Collection (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1981
Director: Robert Clouse
Writers: Robert Clouse, Emil Farkas, George Goldsmith
Cast: Joe Lewis, Bong Soo Han, Sonny Barnes, Richard Norton, Benny Urquidez, Ron Hayden, Bob Schott, Peter MacLean, Amanda Wyss, Tom Villard

Release Date: February 24th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 96 Minutes 37 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: R
Sound: LPCM Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $29.95

"A powerful and dangerous cult, hidden on a remote island fortress, has brainwashed the daughter of a U.S. senator. With local authorities powerless and time running out, the government turns to a highly specialized team of martial arts experts known as "Force: Five." Led by seasoned agent Jim Martin, the team includes five elite fighters, each with unique combat skills—from unarmed street fighting and karate to high-impact kickboxing. Their mission: infiltrate the island compound, uncover the secrets of the cult's charismatic and manipulative leader, and rescue the senator's daughter before she becomes permanently indoctrinated—or worse." – Synopsis provided by the Distributor

Video: 3.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "High Definition (1080p) presentation of the main feature in 1.85:1 aspect ratio".

Force: Five comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 21.3 GB

Feature: 18.6 GB

Although the information provided about the source is vague, this transfer looks comparable to Scorpion Releasing’s 2016 Blu-ray release. Flesh tones look healthy, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity is generally strong, and there are no issues with compression. That said, there does appear to be some digital filtering of the image.

Audio: 3.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in English with removable English SDH. While dialogue comes through clearly enough to follow, range-wise things are not as robust as one would expect from an action film.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 19 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an archival featurette titled Benny Urquidez Fight (6 minutes 41 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an archival interview with actor Benny Urquidez (8 minutes 39 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with actor Joe Lewis (50 minutes 8 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), reversible cover art, a collectible mini-poster, and a slipcover (first pressing only).

Other extras include trailers for Knock Off, Lionheart, and Double Impact.

Summary:

Robert Clouse directed Force Five. He’s most known for directing Enter the Dragon. Other notable films he’s directed include Black Belt Jones, Battle Creek Brawl, Gymkata, and China O’Brien.

A government agent hires a team of five martial arts experts to infiltrate and take down a religious cult leader.

Robert Clouse had an interesting career, where one film, Enter the Dragon, would turn him into an action cinema specialist despite his beginnings making dramas. While his films are all over the place when it comes to quality, his best films all have a charismatic lead who carries them. Although Force: Five has a few recognizable faces from 1980s/early 1990s Hong Kong cinema, like Richard Norton (City Hunter) and Benny Urquidez (Dragon’s Forever), it does not have the star quality of Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan.

The setup, good guys against an evil nemesis, is fairly standard and brings nothing new to the table. The narrative features a predictable arc; the good guys do a test mission to get them ready, and then the last act is them taking on the bad guys at their remote island. That said, one strength of the narrative is how it gives each of the five an introduction.

No one goes into a film like Force: Five expecting to be wowed by the performances, and the cast excels where it counts the most: action sequences. The most memorable performance is Benny Urquidez, whose precise and quick movements always make him a joy to watch. The most disappointing performance is Joe Lewis (Jaguar Lives!) in the role of Jim Martin, the leader of the five-person martial arts team. He lacks the charisma that one expects from a lead in a martial arts film.

Where moments of exposition rarely create any momentum, the same cannot be said about action sequences, which for the most part are solid. The most memorable sequence is not the finale; it is actually a daring prison break scene where they get to showcase their skills and ability to adapt in tricky situations. Ultimately, Force: Five is an entertaining time waster that most will only watch once.

Force: Five returns to Blu-ray via a first-rate release from MVD Rewind Collection that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and a pair of interesting interviews.

 

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Man Who Laughs: Standard Edition – Eureka Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1928
Director: Paul Leni
Writers: J. Grubb Alexander, Walter Anthony, May McLean, Marion Ward, Charles E. Whittaker
Cast: Mary Philbin, Conrad Veidt, Julius Molnar, Olga Baclanova, Brandon Hurst, Cesare Gravina, Stuart Holmes, Sam De Grasse, George Siegmann, Josephine Crowell, Károly Huszár

Release Date: August 17th, 2020
Approximate Running Time: 110 Minutes 15 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.2:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: PG (UK)
Sound: LPCM Stereo With English Intertitles, LPCM Mono With English Intertitles
Subtitles: N/A
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: OOP

"Adapted from the Victor Hugo novel, The Man Who Laughs is Gwynplaine (an extraordinary Conrad Veidt), a carnival sideshow performer in 17th-century England, his face mutilated into a permanent, ghoulish grin by his executed father's royal court enemies. Gwynplaine struggles through life with the blind Dea (Phantom of the Opera's Mary Philbin) as his companion—though she is unable to see it, his disfigurement still causes Gwynplaine to believe he is unworthy of her love. But when his proper royal lineage becomes known by Queen Anne, Gwynplaine must choose between regaining a life of privilege, or embracing a new life of freedom with Dea." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information given about the transfer, “4K restoration of the film completed by Universal Pictures."

The Man Who Laughs comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 44.4 GB

Feature: 32.6 GB

So many films from the silent era are lost, and while some imperfections remain, The Man Who Laughs looks incredible for a film that is 98 years old. For the most part, image clarity is solid, black and grey levels are strong throughout, compression is solid, and there are no issues with digital noise reduction.

Audio: 5/5 (LPCM Stereo), 4/5 (LPCM Mono)

This release comes with two audio options, a LPCM stereo mix with English intertitles scored by the Berklee School of Music and a LPCM mono mix with English intertitles that features the 1928 Movietone score. The track with the Berklee School of Music score sounds excellent, while the track with the 1928 Movietone score has background hiss and does not sound as robust.

Extras:

Extras for this release include reversible cover art, stills galleries: production stills (26 images), behind the scenes (24 images), costume/make-up tests (57 images), exhibition/trade ads (45 images), programs/posters/heralds (28 images), and memorabilia (12 images), a video essay by John Soister titled Paul Leni and The Man Who Laughs (13 minutes 44 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), a video essay by David Cairns and Fiona Watson titled The Face Deceives (33 minutes 18 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), and an interview with Kim Newman (12 minutes 23 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles).

Summary:

Paul Leni directed The Man Who Laughs. His other notable films include Waxworks (Das Wachsfigurenkabinett), The Last Warning, and The Cat and the Canary.

The son of an exiled nobleman is left disfigured because his father refused to bend to the king's will.

When discussing The Man Who Laughs, everything begins and ends with the iconic image of its protagonist. Before you have even seen a moment of this film, that image already puts you in a state of mind that’s reinforced as the story unfolds. It’s such a striking image that the creators of Batman used it as a template for the Joker.

While the protagonist's gaping smile gives the impression that The Man Who Laughs is a sinister film in the same vein as The Hunchback of Notre Dame or The Phantom of the Opera, the result is something closer to a melodrama than a horror film. Where revenge is central to those other two mentioned films, The Man Who Laughs is a thought-provoking film that explores disabilities, how others see us, and how that shapes one’s psyche.

There are two things that are central to The Man Who Laughs. The first and arguably the more significant is Conrad Veidt’s (The Student of Prague) extraordinary portrayal of the protagonist. While his performance relies heavily on the physical movements of his limbs, it is ultimately his gaping smile that conveys the most. Another performance of note is Mary Philbin (The Phantom of the Opera—1925 version) in the role of Dea, a blind woman who falls in love with the protagonist. Her inability to see allows her to connect with the protagonist in a way no one else can.

The second thing central to The Man Who Laughs is Paul Leni’s direction. He would tragically die just a year later after completing one more film, The Last Warning. Although his output as a director is not that prolific, based solely on Waxworks and the four films he made for Hollywood, there is a clear case to be made that he is one of the best silent-era filmmakers when it comes to delivering visually striking moments.

The narrative is flawlessly constructed; it does a superb job drawing you in and building momentum to its exemplary finale, where the protagonist is besieged by an angry mob. Another strength of the narrative is how effectively it employs comedy and tragedy. The production design should not be overlooked, as it does an outstanding job creating a believable world in which this film takes place. Ultimately, The Man Who Laughs is an extraordinary film that has not lost any of its power in the nearly 100 years since it was released.

It’s unfortunate that this release is now OOP, since Eureka's release is The Man Who Laughs' best home media release to date. Highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Bell from Hell – Severin Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Spain, 1973
Directors: Claudio Guerín Hill, Juan Antonio Bardem
Writer: Santiago Moncada
Cast: Renaud Verley, Viveca Lindfors, Alfredo Mayo, Maribel Martín, Nuria Gimeno, Christina von Blanc

Release Date: February 3rd, 2026
Approximate Running Times: 97 Minutes 31 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, English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $219.95 (Exorcismo: Defying A Dictator & Raising Hell In Post-Franco Spain)

Video: 3.75/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, “4K scan from the internegative by LTC Patrimoine & Cités de mémoire.”

The Bell from Hell comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 46.1 GB

Feature: 20.7 GB

The Bell from Hell has not been treated well on home media, and while this new release is a massive improvement, it is not without its shortcomings. Flesh tones and colors look correct, image clarity is solid, black levels are strong, and there are no issues with digital noise reduction. When it comes to compression, there are some issues, most noticeable during darker scenes.

Audio: 4/5 (DTS-HD Mono English), 3.5/5 (DTS-HD Mono Spanish)

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Spanish and a DTS-HD mono mix in English. Both tracks sound clear and balanced, and ambient sounds are well represented. That said, the Spanish-language track has a background that varies in degrees throughout. Included are removable English subtitles for the Spanish-language track and removable English SDH for the English-language track.

Extras:

Extras for The Bell from Hell include a theatrical trailer (1 minute 18 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an interview with film scholar Dr. Álex Mendíbil titled Censorship and Curses (30 minutes 11 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Spanish with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with Kat Ellinger, author of Daughters of Darkness, an audio commentary with Rod Barnett, film historian and co-host of NaschyCast, and Robert Monell, writer and editor of I'm in a Jess Franco State of Mind, and a short film directed by Claudio Guerín titled Luciano (39 minutes 26 seconds, 1.66:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital mono Spanish with removable English subtitles).

Luciano: A teacher murders a boy skipping school.

The Bell from Hell is currently only available as part of a collection of films titled Exorcismo: Defying A Dictator & Raising Hell In Post-Franco Spain. That release comes with 17 additional films, a documentary about Spanish cinema titled Exorcismo: The Transgressive Legacy of Clasificada "S," and a 168-page book.

Summary:

The Bell from Hell was directed by Claudio Guerín Hill, whose only other theatrical feature film was The House of Doves. He would die on the last day of shooting The Bell from Hell, and Juan Antonio Bardem (The Corruption of Chris Miller) would be brought in to complete the film.

A man falsely accused of being insane is released from an asylum and returns to his family home. He tries to prove that he’s not losing his mind, while someone close to him sets in motion a plan to get rid of him once and for all.

While The Bell from Hell has horror elements like eerie atmosphere and a few well-placed jump scares, the result is something closer to a psychological thriller. The Bell from Hell is also a film filled with deception; no one is what they appear to be, and most characters have ulterior motives that are revealed as the narrative unfolds. Throughout the film, a bell travels through town, and the finale solidifies its significance.

Made during the Franco regime, The Bell from Hell is a clear example of a film using the oppressive system to its advantage by injecting subversive subject matter. Notable examples are how it conveys the protagonist's incestuous relationship with his three cousins and how it takes on the bourgeois. While The Bell from Hell does a superb job slipping subversive subject matter into the story that unfolds, it is not a film without faults. That said, The Bell from Hell is a film that relies more on atmosphere than on laying out a straightforward narrative.

There is not much in the way of fleshing characters out; fortunately, all of the performances are strong. Renaud Verley (The Damned) portrays Juan, a young man whose sanity others question. Juan is a mischievous person whose thought process is almost childlike, and his performance perfectly captures these qualities. The most notable cast member is Maribel Martín (The Blood Spattered Bride) in the role of Esther, one of Juan's cousins.

Besides an ample amount of atmosphere, another area where The Bell from Hell excels is its striking imagery. The most notable moment is a scene that takes place in a slaughterhouse, and the horrors of such a place are shown without a filter. Other visually arresting moments are the scene where Juan’s three cousins emerge slowly from the fog and an exemplary finale where Juan’s fate becomes intertwined with the aforementioned bell. Another strength is Adolfo Waitzman’s (The Other Side of the Mirror) score, which does a phenomenal job reinforcing the mood. Ultimately, The Bell from Hell does an excellent job drawing you in, holding your attention, and its finale stays with you.

Severin Films gives The Bell from Hell its best home media release to date. Recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

A Hero Never Dies – Chameleon Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1998
Director: Johnnie To
Writers: Szeto Kam-yuen, Yau Nai-hoi, Milkyway Creative Team
Cast: Leon Lai, Lau Ching-wan, Fiona Leung, Yoyo Mung Ka-wai, Lam Suet

Release Date: January 7th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 98 Minutes 16 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD 5.1 Cantonese, LPCM Stereo Cantonese, LPCM Stereo Mandarin
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $39.95 AUD (Australia)

"Jack (Leon Lai) and Chau (Lau Ching-wan) are rival bodyguards whose bosses are engaged in a bloody power struggle that has spilled out of Hong Kong and into Thailand. The two opposing gunmen butt heads, cars, and wine glasses, though they are mirror images, alike in the belief that their destiny stems not from the stars but from the barrel of a gun. Much blood and even more red wine will be spilled in extremes of violence and loyalty. You know the feeling. You have an automatic pistol in each hand, and you walk into a room full of people who need to be shot…" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Digitally cleaned-up & restored feature presentation."

A Hero Never Dies comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 45.3 GB

Feature: 30.4 GB

No information is provided about the source; that said, this transfer looks excellent. Flesh tones and colors look correct; image clarity, contrast, black levels, and compression are solid; and there are no issues with digital noise reduction.

Audio: 5/5 (All Audio Tracks)

This release comes with three audio options, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in Cantonese, a LPCM stereo mix in Cantonese, and a LPCM stereo mix in Mandarin. Quality- and range-wise, all audio tracks are comparable. That said, dialog comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and ambient sounds are well represented. Included are removable English subtitles, which tell you if someone is speaking Cantonese, Mandarin, or Thai, and there are a few dialog exchanges in English.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a photo gallery with music from the film playing in the background (8 stills), a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 16 seconds, LPCM stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), outtakes (5 minutes 1 second, LPCM stereo with music from the film playing in the background), an archival interview with actress Yoyo Mung Ka-wai (2 minutes 45 seconds, LPCM stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an interview with Milkyway Image sound designer Martin Chappell (41 minutes 47 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), screenwriter Yau Nai-hoi, and action choreographer/actor Yuen Bun (25 minutes 41 seconds, LPCM stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), a video essay by filmmaker Zach Closs titled Escaping Fate (9 minutes 16 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with Hong Kong cinema expert Frank Djeng, a slipcase, and a 16-page booklet with cast & crew information, and an essay about A Hero Never Dies written by Tim Youngs.

Summary:

Rivals, whose triad gangs are engaged in a war, forge a friendship and unite against their former bosses who have betrayed them.

While Johnnie To is known for his action/crime films, it was not until he directed A Hero Never Dies that he finally solidified himself as one of the key directors making heroic bloodshed films. Another clear influence that permeates A Hero Never Dies is the spaghetti western, in particular, Sergio Leone's Dollars trilogy. Johnnie To follows Sergio Leone’s example of less is more when it comes to dialogue. That said, A Hero Never Dies is a perfect fusion of the heroic bloodshed film and the spaghetti western.

The narrative does an exceptional job fleshing out its two lead characters, Jack and Chau. It is clear early on that both of them have solid instincts that keep them alive and one step ahead of anyone out to get them, and they have no fear of death. While they are from rival triad gangs, it is these traits that they share that bring them together. Another thing that they have in common is strong women in their lives, who are just as fearless and willing to put their lives on the line.

All around, the cast are excellent in their roles, especially Leon Lai (Fallen Angels) and Lau Ching-wan (Running Out of Time) in the roles of Jack and Chau. Their characters' relationship is reminiscent of the two leads from John Woo’s The Killer, and they have a tremendous amount of onscreen chemistry, which elevates their performances and everyone around them. The unsung heroes of A Hero Never Dies are Yoyo Mung Ka-wai and Fiona Leung in the roles of Jack and Chau’s girlfriends. Another performance of note is Lam Suet, a frequent collaborator of Johnnie To, in the role of a triad member.

Although the narrative effectively captures your attention, it is in the action sequences where Johnnie To’s direction truly excels. The first sequence that stands out is an ambush at a hotel in the middle of nowhere in which the bullets fly and the bodies start piling up. It is an intense sequence that culminates with Jack and Chau shooting each other through a wall. The second sequence that stands out is an equally carnage-filled finale where Jack and the recently deceased Chau take on their former bosses and their henchmen. By pretending that Chau is still alive, Jack allows him to die honorably while participating in the revenge. Ultimately, A Hero Never Dies is an exhilarating film that strikes the perfect balance between exposition and style.

If you appreciate the work of Johnnie To and have an interest in Hong Kong cinema, you should definitely take note of Chameleon Films, a home media company worth your attention. All of their releases are region-free and English-friendly and free of any ugly ratings logos. There is no reason to wait for a U.S. release, as it is unlikely to match the quality of these offerings. A Hero Never Dies gets an exceptional release from Chameleon Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and informative extras. Highly Recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer