Curse of the Devil / The Vampires Night Orgy / Demon Witch Child - Vinegar Syndrome (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Dates: Spain/Mexico, 1973 (Curse of the Devil), Spain, 1973 (The Vampires Night Orgy), Spain, 1975 (Demon Witch Child)
Directors: Carlos Aured (Curse of the Devil), León Klimovsky (The Vampires Night Orgy), Amando de Ossorio (Demon Witch Child)
Cast: Paul Naschy, Fabiola Falcón, Mariano Vidal Molina, Maritza Olivares, José Manuel Martín, María Silva, Elsa Zabala, Eduardo Calvo (Curse of the Devil), Jack Taylor, Dyanik Zurakowska, José Guardiola, Charo Soriano, Helga Liné, Manuel de Blas, David Aller, Luis Ciges (The Vampires Night Orgy), Julián Mateos, Marián Salgado, Fernando Sancho, Lone Fleming, Ángel del Pozo, Kali Hansa, Daniel Martín, Tota Alba, Roberto Camardiel, María Kosty, Fernando Hilbeck, Montserrat Prous (Demon Witch Child)

Release Date: January 21st, 2025
Approximate Running Times: 84 Minutes 28 Seconds (Curse of the Devil), 84 Minutes 33 Seconds (The Vampires Night Orgy), 88 Minutes 10 Seconds (Demon Witch Child)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Curse of the Devil, Demon Witch Child), 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (The Vampires Night Orgy)
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Spanish, DTS-HD Mono English (All Films)
Subtitles: English, English SDH (All Films)
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $61.98

Curse of the Devil: "lycanthrope Waldemar Daninsky is back; doomed to become a bloodthirsty werewolf as punishment for his family's involvement in centuries-old witch trials." - synopsis provided by the distributor

The Vampires Night Orgy: "a busload of travelers become stranded in an eerie village where, each night after dark, the townspeople transform into ravenous bloodsuckers." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Demon Witch Child: "innocent tween Susan Barnes becomes possessed by demonic forces after a vengeful witch gives her a strange, cursed doll." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5 (The Vampires Night Orgy, Demon Witch Child), 4.25/5 (Curse of the Devil)

Here’s the information provided about the transfers, "All films were scanned and restored in 4K from their 35mm original camera negatives."

Curse of the Devil comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 36.1 GB

Feature: 23.7 GB

The Vampires Night Orgy comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 31.5 GB

Feature: 23.8 GB 

Demon Witch Child comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 34.1 GB

Feature: 24.9 GB

The sources for all three films are in great shape; some minor debris remains. Flesh tones look healthy, colors look correct, image clarity and black levels are strong, compression is solid, and all three films retain an organic look. That said, when compared to Code Red’s The Vampires Night Orgy Blu-ray, this new release is a marked improvement.

Audio: 4.25/5 (DTS-HD Mono Spanish - All Films), 4/5 (DTS-HD Mono English - The Vampires Night Orgy), 3.75/5 (DTS-HD Mono English - Curse of the Devil, Demon Witch Child)

Curse of the Devil comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Spanish and a DTS-HD mono mix in English. Though both audio tracks sound clean, dialog sounds louder on the English language track. Included are removable English subtitles for the Spanish language track and removable English SDH for the English language track.

The Vampires Night Orgy comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Spanish and a DTS-HD mono mix in English. Both audio tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced. That said, the Spanish language track is the more robust of these two audio tracks. Included are removable English subtitles for the Spanish language track and removable English SDH for the English language track.

Demon Witch Child comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Spanish and a DTS-HD mono mix in English. The Spanish language track is in better shape; the English language track has some background hiss. That said, both audio tracks and dialog come through clearly, and everything sounds balanced. Included are removable English subtitles for the Spanish language track and removable English SDH for the English language track.

Extras:

Extras for Curse of the Devil include Spanish language theatrical trailer (3 minutes 48 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Spanish with removable English subtitles), English language theatrical trailer (3 minutes 21 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), alternate English language main title sequence (2 minutes 58 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), alternate ‘clothed scenes’ from the international version (2 minutes 31 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Spanish with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with Paul Naschy titled Paul Naschy: Interview with the Werewolf (14 minutes 51 seconds, Dolby Digital Stereo Spanish with removable English subtitles), an interview with Sitges Film Festival director Ángel Sala (14 minutes 55 seconds, Dolby Digital Stereo Spanish with removable English subtitles), and an interview with Sergio Molina, son of Paul Naschy (12 minutes 45 seconds, Dolby Digital Stereo Spanish with removable English subtitles).

Extras for The Vampires Night Orgy include an interview with actor Jack Taylor (9 minutes 22 seconds, Dolby Digital Stereo Spanish with removable English subtitles),  an interview with Ángel Sala (13 minutes 32 seconds, Dolby Digital Stereo Spanish with removable English subtitles), and an interview with filmmaker Victor Matellano(11 minutes 53 seconds, Dolby Digital Stereo Spanish with removable English subtitles).

Extras for Demon Witch Child include English language theatrical trailer (3 minutes 31 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an introduction by Ángel Sala, Carlos Benítez and Xavi Sánchez Pons (10 minutes 9 seconds, Dolby Digital Stereo Spanish with removable English subtitles), a featurette with Ángel Sala and Xavi Sánchez Pons (23 minutes 30 seconds, Dolby Digital Stereo Spanish with removable English subtitles), an interview with actress Marian Salgado (22 minutes 13 seconds, Dolby Digital Stereo Spanish with removable English subtitles), and Marian Salgado at Fancine de Lemos film festival (22 minutes 13 seconds, Dolby Digital Stereo Spanish with removable English subtitles).

Other extras include reversible cover art and a spot gloss hard slipcase + slipcover combo (limited to 6,000 units).

Summary:

Curse of the Devil: A witch puts a curse on the Daninsky family and their descendants. Years later the curse comes to fruition when Waldemar, one of the Daninsky descendants, becomes a werewolf. Is Waldemar doomed to live his life as a werewolf, or will he find a cure to end his suffering?

Carlos Aured directed Curse of the Devil. He’s also known for Horror Rises From The Tomb, The Mummy’s Revenge, and Blue Eyes of the Broken Doll; all of these films also star Paul Naschy. There are 12 Hombre Lobo films, though they are not all related, they are all connected by a werewolf named Count Waldemar Daninsky. Curse of the Devil is the seventh Hombre Lobo film. 

By the time Paul Naschy made Curse of the Devil, he had firmly established a formula that he would continue to use for the rest of his career. When it comes to the cinema of Paul Naschy, you can always expect two things: a lot of carnage and nudity. In these two areas, Curse of the Devil delivers.

For some, Curse of the Devil will be a letdown after films like The Werewolf Versus Vampire Woman and Dr. Jekyll vs. The Werewolf. Those two films were directed by another frequent Paul Naschy collaborator, León Klimovsky. Where those two films were overflowing with style and atmosphere, Curse of the Devil is underwhelming in comparison. That said, Carlos Aured’s direction for Curse of the Devil is uninspired.

Though many Paul Naschy films are beautifully photographed and have striking imagery, their main draw is his presence. He once again delivers a performance that is in line with his other films, and his enthusiasm is infectious. Of course he surrounds himself with a bevy of beauties who all find his character irresistible. The other performance of note is Maria Silva (Tombs of the Blind Dead), who portrays Countess Elizabeth Bathory, the witch who put a curse on the Daninsky family.

After a solid opening that lays the foundation for the events that unfold, there is a long stretch where nothing surprising happens. Even the first sighting of Waldemar as a werewolf does not happen until around the 50-minute mark. That said, the werewolf transformation sequence holds up surprisingly well. Ultimately, despite its shortcomings, Curse of the Devil is still a film that fans of Paul Naschy will thoroughly enjoy.

The Vampires Night Orgy: A busload of tourists is forced to make an unplanned stop when their bus driver has a heart attack in the middle of nowhere. The only place nearby is a rural village that, unknown to them, is inhabited by vampires.

León Klimovsky directed The Vampires Night Orgy. He’s also known for The Werewolf Versus Vampire Woman, Dracula Saga, Vengeance of the Zombies, and A Dragonfly for Each Corpse.

The Vampires Night Orgy shares many similarities with another León Klimovsky, The People Who Own the Dark. Both films feature isolated locations where characters are attacked by vampires and zombies, respectively. The other thing that links both of these films is how effectively they use atmosphere to overcome their shortcomings.

The opening setup does a phenomenal job setting the foundation for what unfolds. In the opening moments, the stranded tourists find a town that looks abandoned, and while they are searching for anyone, the dead bus driver's body disappears.

The opening setup does a phenomenal job setting the foundation for what unfolds. In the opening moments, the stranded tourists find a town that looks abandoned, and while they are searching for anyone, the dead bus driver's body disappears. And when one of the tourists finally comes upon a local, there is an ominous tone that's quickly established by their hostile tone to him. This scene foreshadows the real danger that's lurking around the corner for the stranded tourists.

When it comes to the performances, the entire cast is very good. That said, there is no performance that stands out. Notable cast members include Helga Liné (When the Screaming Stops), who portrays a bloodsucking countess, and Jack Taylor (Succubus), who portrays another stranded traveler.

From a production standpoint, The Vampires Night Orgy is a film that maximizes its resources. The Vampires Night Orgy takes full advantage of its scenic locations, and its eerie score does an excellent job of reinforcing the mood. The narrative's pacing is deliberate, but this doesn't matter because there is an abundance of atmosphere. Ultimately, despite not living up to its salacious title, The Vampires Night Orgy is a very effective horror film.

Demon Witch Child: A young girl becomes possessed by the spirit of a witch.

Amando de Ossorio directed Demon Witch Child. He’s also known for Tombs of the Blind Dead, Return of the Blind Dead, and The Loreley's Grasp.

Spanish genre cinema, like Italian genre cinema, often made films that liberally borrowed from successful Hollywood films. Case in point, Demon Witch Child, a film that is obviously using The Exorcist as a starting point. A side note: Marián Salgado, the actress who portrays the demon witch child, dubbed Linda Blair’s character for the Spanish-language version of The Exorcist.

For a film about possession, it is a by-the-numbers narrative that offers no real surprises. The narrative is slow-moving; there is a lot of talking and not much in the way of scares. Though there are several people trying to help the possessed girl, a newspaper man, a priest, and the police, they all struggle when it comes to uncovering what's happening.

Most of what works in Demon Witch Child is not because of its workmanlike director Amando de Ossorio. Demon Witch Child’s greatest asset is Marián Salgado’s pitch-perfect portrayal of Susan Barnes, the young girl possessed by a demon witch. That said, the special effects, flying objects, and furniture moving around are surprisingly good. Ultimately, Demon Witch Child’s negatives far outweigh its positives.

Vinegar Syndrome gives Curse of the Devil, The Vampires Night Orgy, and Demon Witch Child strong audio/video presentations, and each film comes with informative extras; highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Fangs of the Living Dead – Shout! Factory (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Spain/Italy, 1969
Director: Amando de Ossorio
Writer: Amando de Ossorio
Cast: Anita Ekberg, Gianni Medici, Diana Lorys, Adriana Ambesi, César Benet, Carlos Casaravilla, Fernando Bilbao, Paul Muller, Adriana Santucci, Aurelia Treviño, Juanita Ramírez, Rosanna Yanni, Julián Ugarte

Release Date: February 20th, 2018
Approximate running time: 94 Minutes 14 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 A
Retail Price: $27.99

"Beautiful fashion model Sylvia Morel (Anita Ekberg) receives news that she has inherited a castle from her uncle. Her curiosity leads her to journey to a remote village to see her new house. Once there, she learns of her family’s history and soon falls under the spell of her uncle. He wants her to become the new matriarch of the family … a clan of vampires!” – Synopsis provided by the Distributor

Video: 3.5/5

Fangs of the Living Dead comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 27.7 GB

Feature: 25.9 GB

No information is provided about the source used for this transfer. Though the source is in good shape, there is print debris throughout this transfer. Flesh tones look correct, colors look very good, the image is generally crisp, black levels are adequate, and compression is very good. Also, there appears to be some digital noise reduction, which is more noticeable in some scenes than in others.

Audio: 3.25/5 (DTS-HD Mono Spanish), 3.5/5 (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. When compared to the English-language track, the Spanish-language track sounds muffled. Also, the English language track is not without its own shortcomings; it has hiss, pops, crackles, and some sibilance issues. That said, dialog comes through clearly and range-wise, and the English language track is satisfactory. Included are removable English subtitles for the Spanish-language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a reversible cover art, a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 51 seconds, DTS-HD mono Spanish with removable English subtitles), Spanish title sequence (2 minutes 13 seconds, DTS-HD mono), alternate ending (2 minutes 53 seconds, DTS-HD mono Spanish, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with author Troy Howarth.

Summary:

Directed by Amando de Ossorio, who is most known for directing four Blind Dead films: Tombs of the Blind Dead, Return of the Blind Dead, The Ghost Galleon, and Night of the Seagulls. Other notable films that he directed are Fangs of the Living Dead, and The Loreley's Grasp.

The narrative revolves around a woman who inherits a castle infested with vampires.

Three years before he directed The Tombs of the Blind Dead, Amando de Ossorio would direct his first horror film, Fangs of the Living Dead. And though horror cinema was starting to gain traction in Spanish cinema, notably because of the films of Paul Naschy, a film like Fangs of the Living Dead is not a good example of what Spanish horror cinema has to offer; it is arguably Amando de Ossorio’s weakest horror film.

Despite having a strong premise and many of the core elements that one has come to expect from Euro-cult horror cinema, notably a cast filled with recognizable faces and strong visuals, which greatly add to the mood, the result is a film that starts off well but never really builds any sustainable momentum. Most of the narrative is spent following characters doing mundane things or scenarios that are never frightening, despite Fangs of the Living Dead being a horror film. Another area where Fangs of the Living Dead comes up short is its vampires, who are never menacing, and they spend most of their screen time flashing their fangs and not much more.

That said, Fangs of the Living Dead does have a solid cast that is filled with several recognizable faces for anyone familiar with 1960s and 1970s Euro-cult cinema. Anita Ekberg (Killer Nun) is cast in the dual roles of Sylvia De Morel, the woman who inherited a castle, and Malenka, her lookalike descendant. Other notable cast members are Diana Lorys (Blue Eyes of the Broken Doll), Paul Muller (She Killed in Ecstasy), and Rosanna Yanni (Two Undercover Angels). The performances, like pretty much everything about Fangs of the Living Dead, are underwhelming.

When one thinks of horror films, one of their main draws is their kill scenes. Unfortunately, in this regard, Fangs of the Living Dead is lacking in this area. Also, for a film that is virtually devoid of frights, it is a dialogue-heavy film. That said, Fangs of the Living Dead is a film that relies heavily on atmosphere. Fortunately, this is one area where Fangs of the Living Dead does reasonably well. Ultimately, Fangs of the Living Dead is a melodrama that tries to pass itself off as horror.

Fangs of the Living Dead gets a strong release from Shout! Factory that comes with a good audio/video presentation and an informative audio commentary.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Night of the Sorcerers / The Loreley's Grasp – Shout! Factory (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Dates: Spain, 1974 (The Night of the Sorcerers), Spain, 1973 (The Loreley's Grasp)
Director: Amando de Ossorio (Both Films)
Cast: Simón Andreu, Kali Hansa, María Kosty, Loreta Tovar, José Thelman, Bárbara Rey, Jack Taylor (The Night of the Sorcerers), Tony Kendall, Helga Liné, Silvia Tortosa, Josefina Jartin, Loreta Tovar, José Thelman, Luis Induni, Francisco Nieto, Betsabé Ruiz, Luis Barboo (The Loreley's Grasp)

Release Date: July 25th, 2017
Approximate running times: 85 Minutes 4 Seconds (The Night of the Sorcerers), 84 Minutes 52 Seconds (The Loreley's Grasp)
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (The Night of the Sorcerers), 1.78:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (The Loreley's Grasp)
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Spanish, DTS-HD Mono English (Both Films)
Subtitles: English (Both Films)
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $19.97

The Night of the Sorcerers: "A group of explorers arrive in Africa to study the wildlife in the same area where a brutal native ritual occurred in 1910. All is tranquil until night falls and distant drumming draws one of the female members of the group to investigate the jungle. From there, a nightmare will be awakened … a nightmare of zombie natives and scantily-clad vampire women who prowl the moonlight jungle in search of fresh blood and more victims to sacrifice." - synopsis provided by the distributor

The Loreley's Grasp: "In a town by the Rhine river, young women are turning up dead … savagely torn to pieces and their hearts missing. Concerned that whatever beast is doing these horrible murders will end up attacking the female students, a nearby school for women hires a hunter to find and kill the creature. The hunter will soon find out that this is no ordinary beast that craves human hearts, but rather a deceptive, alluring and mysterious being – The Loreley – who is already looking for another heart to use in a gruesome ancient ritual." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.5/5 (The Night of the Sorcerers, The Loreley's Grasp)

The Night of the Sorcerers and The Loreley's Grasp come on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 44.9 GB

Feature: 19.6 GB (The Night of the Sorcerers), 20.7 GB (The Loreley's Grasp)

No information is provided about the source used for these transfers. That said, the source is in very good shape, and any source debris is minor. Flesh tones look correct, colors look very good, the image generally looks crisp, black levels fare well, and compression is very good. Also, there appears to be some digital noise reduction, which is more noticeable in some scenes than in others.

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

Each film comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Spanish and a DTS-HD mono mix in English. Quality-wise, all of these tracks are comparable; they all sound clean, clear, and balanced. That said, range-wise, the Spanish language tracks are stronger than their English language counterparts. Included are removable English subtitles for the Spanish-language track.

Extras:

Extras for The Night of the Sorcerers include alternate clothed sequences (4 minutes 47 seconds, DTS-HD mono Spanish with removable English subtitles), a Spanish language theatrical trailer (2 minutes 45 seconds, DTS-HD mono Spanish with removable subtitles), and an English language theatrical trailer (2 minutes 45 seconds, DTS-HD mono English, no subtitles).

Extras for The Loreley's Grasp include Spanish opening and closing credits (2 minutes 32 seconds, DTS-HD mono Spanish, no subtitles), a Spanish language theatrical trailer (2 minutes 46 seconds, DTS-HD mono Spanish with removable subtitles), an English language theatrical trailer (2 minutes 46 seconds, DTS-HD mono English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with Rod Barnett And Troy Guinn From The NaschyCast Podcast.

Summary:

Directed by Amando de Ossorio, who is most known for directing four Blind Dead films: Tombs of the Blind Dead, Return of the Blind Dead, The Ghost Galleon, and Night of the Seagulls.

The Night of the Sorcerers: An expedition in Africa goes awry when explorers' discovery of an ancient sacrificial altar puts them in harm's way of vampires.

Though The Night of the Sorcerers has horror elements like voodoo and vampires, it is essentially an adventure film with horror film elements thrown in for good measure. Despite leaning more towards the adventure film, that is not to say that when it veers into the realm of horror, there are not some genuine, effective moments. Notably, there are scenes where women are tied to a tree, whipped, and then tied to an altar, where they are beheaded and turned into vampires.

The Night of the Sorcerers has a good cast, notably Simón Andreu (The Blood-Spattered Bride) in the role of Rod Carter, the explorer's guide, and Jack Taylor (Succubus) in the role of Professor Jonathan Grant, the head of the expedition. And the female cast members provided an ample amount of eye candy, as they tend to wear outfits that are not normally associated with jungle expeditions.

From a production standpoint, it is obvious that director Amando de Ossorio is working with limited resources, yet the result is a film that at times exceeds expectations. Notably, there are a few atmospheric visual set pieces that are well executed. Also, though there is a solid opening sequence, from there, the narrative tends to drag as it propels to a predictable conclusion. Ultimately, The Night of the Sorcerers is one of Amando de Ossorio’s weaker films.

The Loreley's Grasp: Loreley, a beast that's been living in a grotto beneath the Rhein, attacks girls at a nearby boarding school.

The Loreley's Grasp opens with a spectacular opening sequence where a beast claws and sheds tears to shred a bride. This sequence does a phenomenal job setting the stage for the events that follow. That said, the narrative does a great job balancing the explosion and Loreley's next gruesome attack.

The Loreley's Grasp has a strong cast who are all very good in their roles, especially Helga Liné (Horror Rises from the Tomb) in the role of the protagonist, an immortal woman or beast who feeds off of human blood. Also, the female cast members who parade around in bikinis and nightgowns provide an ample amount of eye candy.

From a production standpoint, once again, director Amando de Ossorio is given limited resources. Fortunately, outside of the crude-looking special effects, this is never an issue. The premise is well executed, and the narrative does a great job maintaining momentum. There’s never a shortage of atmosphere, and when it comes to the kill sequences, they are gory. Ultimately, The Loreley's Grasp is a solid monster horror film that is arguably one of Amando de Ossorio’s best films.

The Night of the Sorcerers and The Loreley's Grasp make their way to Blu-ray via a strong release from Shout! Factory that comes with good audio/video presentations and an informative audio commentary.

Written by Michael Den Boer