Lover of The Monster – Full Moon Features (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1974
Director: Sergio Garrone
Writer: Sergio Garrone
Cast: Klaus Kinski, Katia Christine, Marzia Damon, Erol Tas, Carla Mancini

Release Date: June 8th, 2021
Approximate Running Time: 86 Minutes 51 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Italian, Dolby Digital Mono Italian
Subtitles: English (Non-Removable)
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $21.95

"Dr. Alex Nijinksy, a troubled scientist who retires to his long suffering wife Anijeska's family castle in search of a fresh start. Already under pressure, Nijinsky's rage begins to boil when his lady starts spending time with her ex-boyfriend and, after he discovers a hidden laboratory in the castle belonging to his mad scientist father-in-law, he unleashes the living incarnation of his rage." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 2.75/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "remastered from the best available materials."

Lover of The Monster comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 19.6 GB

Feature: 19 GB

Though the source used for this transfer looks clean it's obviously taken from a lesser source and it also suffers from many of the same issues that plagued  The Hand That Feeds the Dead’s transfer. Most notably digital noise reduction that obliterates fine detail.

Audio: 3/5

This release comes with two audio options, a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix in Italian and a Dolby Digital mono mix in Italian. Though both audio tracks sound clean and are free of any background hiss, when compared to The Hand That Feeds the Dead’s audio tracks, these two audio tracks sound anemic range wise. Included with this release are non-removable English subtitles.

Extras:

Extras for this release are limited to trailers Barb Wire Dolls, Naked Girl Murdered in the Park, Love Letters of a Portuguese Nun, Sexy Sisters, Voodoo Passion and Women in Cellblock 9. 

Summary:

Shot back to back with The Hand That Feeds the Dead, Lover of The Monster not only features most of the same cast, locations/sets and crew. Both films was written and directed by Sergio Garrone who’s other notable films include Django the Bastard, SS Experiment Love Camp and SS Camp: Women’s Hell.

If you're suddenly overcome with Deja vu when watching Lover of The Monster, that’s because it recycles many of The Hand That Feeds the Dead’s plot elements. Unfortunately, the second time around things are not as effective as they were in The Hand That Feeds the Dead. That said, even a menacing Klaus Kinski is not enough to save Lover of The Monster.

Also, where The Hand That Feeds the Dead was a sufficiently gory horror film. Lover of The Monster is in contrast a subdued film that’s best described as a melodrama that has a few moments that delve into Gothic horror territory. Another area where Lover of The Monster is its underwhelming finale.

Lover of The Monster makes its way to Blu-ray via a disappointing release that leaves a lot of room for improvement.

Written by Michael Den Boer