The Ghost: Limited Edition – Severin Films (4k UHD/Blu-ray/CD Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1963
Director: Riccardo Freda
Writers: Oreste Biancoli, Riccardo Freda
Cast: Barbara Steele, Peter Baldwin, Elio Jotta, Harriet Medin, Carol Bennet, Carlo Kechler, Umberto Raho, Reginald Price Anderson

Release Date: January 13th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 95 Minutes 26 seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / Dolby Vision HDR10
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Italian, DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English, English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $59.95

"In turn-of-the-century Scotland, a young wife (Steele) conspires with her lover to murder her wealthy paralyzed husband. But when the dead spouse’s spirit returns, it will unlock a nightmare of spectral terror, sudden violence, and depraved vengeance." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5 (4K UHD, Blu-ray)

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "newly scanned in 4K from the original camera negative."

The Ghost comes on a 66 GB dual layer 4K UHD.

Disc Size: 61.8 GB

Feature: 60.2 GB

The source looks exceptional; it is a substitutional upgrade over this film’s previous home media releases. Flesh tones look healthy, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity, contrast, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic look.

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

Disc Size: 44.9 GB

Feature: 28.3 GB

This Blu-ray uses the same master that is used for the 4K UHD disc.

Executioner's, Masks, Secrets: Italian Horror of the 1960s comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 23 GB

Feature: 22.8 GB

Audio: 4.5/5 (DTS-HD Mono Italian), 4.25/5 (DTS-HD Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Italian and a DTS-HD mono mix in English. While both tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced, the Italian-language track sounds more robust. Included are removable English subtitles for the Italian-language track and removable English SDH for the English-language track.

Extras:

Extras on the 4K UHD disc include a U.S. theatrical trailer (2 minutes 3 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an Italian theatrical trailer (3 minutes 21 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Italian with removable English subtitles), an audio interview with actress Barbara Steele (43 minutes 5 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with Kat Ellinger, author of Daughters of Darkness.

Extras on the Blu-ray disc include a U.S. theatrical trailer (2 minutes 3 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an Italian theatrical trailer (3 minutes 21 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Italian with removable English subtitles), a video essay by Tim Lucas, author of Mario Bava: All The Colors of The Dark, titled Give Up The Ghost (28 minutes 41 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a video essay on Barbara Steele by Dr. Alexandra Heller-Nicholas titled Wounds of Deceit (11 minutes 22 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview titled Till Death Returns with Roberto Curti, author of Italian Gothic Horror Films, 1957–1969 (22 minutes 27 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), Barbara Steele presents the 4K restoration at the Venice International Film Festival and L'Étrange Festival in Paris (16 minutes 58 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian and English with removable English subtitles), an audio interview With actress Harriet Medin and Tim Lucas (10 minutes 39 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio interview with actress Barbara Steele (43 minutes 5 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with Kat Ellinger.

Other extras include a CD and an insert with a track listing for the 28-track CD that contains tracks from Francesco De Masi's scores for The Ghost, Rapina al quartiere Ovest, Crime Boss, and The Big Game, and a slipcover.

Summary:

Riccardo Freda directed The Ghost. He was a versatile filmmaker who worked in Italian cinema’s most popular genres of the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. He’s most remembered for his work in the peplum and the horror genre, specifically gothic horror. Notable films he directed include I Vampiri, The Horrible Dr. Hichcock, Double Face, The Iguana with the Tongue of Fire, and Tragic Ceremony.

A woman murders her husband with the help of her lover, the doctor who was taking care of her sickly husband. When mysterious things start to happen after her husband’s death, her health starts to decline. Did her husband really die or is someone trying to push her over the edge?

Although Riccardo Freda only directed three gothic horror films, The Horrible Dr. Hichcock, The Ghost, and Tragic Ceremony, his impact on this genre is undeniable. When it comes to The Horrible Dr. Hichcock and The Ghost, the two gothic horrors he made with Barbara Steele, he would deliver two of the best examples of Italian gothic horror cinema. Another thing that sets Riccardo Freda’s two collaborations with Barbara Steele apart from his contemporaries is that they were both shot in color instead of black and white.

The opening setup does an exemplary job setting the foundation and establishing a foreboding mood that builds to a fever-pitch finale. The well-crafted narrative is rich with moments of misdirection that significantly contribute to the building tension. Another notable strength of the story is its ability to keep you guessing about the outcome, and its shocking finale echoes the style of Les Diaboliques.

Barbara Steele is cast in the role of the protagonist's adulterous wife. Her character is devoid of any sympathy, and it is clear that her motivations are rooted in greed and love for her sickly husband. Besides working with Riccardo Freda, she also appeared in these notable 1960s horror films: Black Sunday, The Pit and the Pendulum and Castle of Blood. That said, the rest of the cast all deliver solid performances, and Harriet Medin (The Whip and the Body) in the role of housekeeper delivers a standout performance.

While the narrative is well-crafted, one must not overlook the role that atmosphere plays in The Ghost. When it comes to his direction and creating a foreboding mood, Riccardo Freda does not get the credit he deserves. Two examples of his direction are a scene where the wife is shaving her crippled husband. The look in her eyes and the way the camera frames the action showcase his ability to build suspense. The other scene, once again, involves the wife and a razor. This time she uses it to carve up her lover. The camera movement follows each slash; blood covers the screen with each incision she makes. Ultimately, The Ghost is another outstanding gothic horror film from Riccardo Freda that’s on par with The Horrible Dr. Hichcock.

Severin Films gives The Ghost its definitive home media release. Highly recommended.

Note about the 4K screenshots: It is not possible to make Dolby Vision or HDR10 screenshots that faithfully match the experience of watching a film in motion on a TV. Instead of not having any screenshots, all of the 4K screenshots are m2ts taken with a MPC-HC player and lossless PNGs.

Written by Michael Den Boer

I vampiri: Limited Edition – Radiance Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1957
Directors: Riccardo Freda, Mario Bava
Writers: Piero Regnoli, Mario Bava, Riccardo Freda
Cast: Gianna Maria Canale, Carlo D'Angelo, Dario Michaelis, Wandisa Guida, Angelo Galassi, Renato Tontini, Charles Fawcett, Gisella Mancinotti, Miranda Campa, Antoine Balpêtré, Paul Muller

Release Date: October 28th, 2024 (UK)
Approximate running time: 81 Minutes 31 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 12 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Italian
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: £14.99 (UK)

"A mad scientist captures young women in Paris and drains them of their blood in service of an evil Duchess. Also known as Lust of the Vampire, Riccardo Freda’s I vampiri mixes the Bathory and Frankenstein stories to create its gothic tale, Italy’s first horror film." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5 (I vampiri)

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "I vampiri was restored in 2K by Titanus/RAICOM in Italy. The film was supplied to Radiance Films as a High-Definition digital file. Lust of Vampire was scanned from a 1959 Eastman safety stock print courtesy of the BFI National Archive. The material was transferred at Silver Salt Restoration."

I vampiri comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 45.7 GB

Feature: 20.5 GB (I vampiri), 14 GB (Lust of the Vampire), 4.9 GB (The Devil’s Commandment)

The source looks excellent; it's a marked improvement over this film’s previous home media releases. Flesh tones look healthy, image clarity is strong, contrast, black levels, and compression are solid, and there are no issues with digital noise reduction.

Audio: 4.5/5 (I vampiri)

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Italian with removable English subtitles. The audio is also a marked improvement over this film’s previous home media releases. The audio delivers clear dialog, maintains a balanced sound, and effectively represents ambient sounds.

Extras: 

Extras for this release include The Devil’s Commandment theatrical trailer (1 minute 41 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an interview with Leon Hunt, author of Mario Bava: The Artisan as Italian Horror Auteur (20 minutes 55 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with Lamberto Bava (14 minutes 44 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an archival documentary about I Vampiri titled Bloodthirst, featuring comments by Fabio Melelli, Mario Bava and Dario Michaelis (17 minutes 17 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an archival audio commentary with Tim Lucas, author of Mario Bava – All the Colors of the Dark, an alternate presentation of the UK Lust of the Vampire cut, newly transferred for this release from archival materials courtesy of the BFI National Archive (65 minutes 36 seconds, 2.35:1 aspect ratio, LPCM mono English with removable English SDH), an alternate SD presentation of the US The Devil’s Commandment cut (72 minutes 18 seconds, 2.35:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), reversible cover art, removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings and a 20-page booklet (limited to 3000 copies) cast & crew information, an essay titled Do You Believe in Vampires? written by Roberto Curti, and information about the transfer.

It is interesting to see how alternate versions differ from the original. There are three newly shot scenes, including an opening sequence, that are exclusive to these two alternate versions. Also, the majority of the footage cut from the original version are dialog-heavy scenes. And in one of the newly shot scenes, Al Lewis (The Munsters) makes an uncredited appearance.

Summary:

Co-directed by Riccardo Freda (The Horrible Dr. Hichcock) and Mario Bava (Black Sabbath); in the case of the latter, he was also the cinematographer. I Vampiri was Italy’s first horror film in the sound era. Other titles I Vampiri was released under include The Devil's Commandment and Lust of the Vampire.

The narrative revolves around a reporter looking into a series of murders where women are killed and their bodies are drained of blood.

I Vampiri starts off strong with a scene where a woman’s lifeless body is found floating in water. Shortly thereafter, there is another solid sequence in which an unseen intruder wearing gloves abducts another woman. Without giving away too much more about the plot, long before the finale, it is revealed who's behind the abductions and killings.

Though the performances are best described as serviceable, there are a few that stand out, notably Gianna Maria Canale (The Slave) in the role of Margherita du Grand, a mysterious woman who wears a veil and dresses all in black. Another performance of note is Paul Müller (She Killed in Ecstasy) in the role of Joseph Signoret, a drug addict who is being exploited by the killer.

Despite its budget limitations, I Vampiri is a film that often exceeds its limited resources. The premise is well executed, and the narrative does a great job building momentum towards a strong finale. Though there are many elements in I Vampiri that are associated with horror cinema, there are a few elements like a killer who wears gloves and an amaeuter sleuth who helps solve the crimes that foreshadow elements synonymous with the giallo genre. Ultimately, I Vampiri is a well-made horror film that works as well as it does because of Mario Bava’s striking visuals, which are filled with atmosphere.

I vampiri gets a definitive release from Radiance Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation, three versions of the film, and insightful extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Horrible Dr. Hichcock – Vinegar Syndrome (4k UHD/Blu-ray Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1962
Director: Riccardo Freda
Writer: Ernesto Gastaldi
Cast: Barbara Steele, Robert Flemyng, Silvano Tranquilli, Maria Teresa Vianello, Harriet Medin, Spencer Williams, Aldo Cristiani, Evaristo Signorini, Giovanni Querrel, Neil Robinson, Howard Nelson Rubien

Release Date: January 30th, 2024
Approximate Running Times: 87 Minutes 43 Seconds (Italian Version), 76 Minutes 34 Seconds (North American Version)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / HDR10 (Both Versions)
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Italian (Italian Version), DTS-HD Mono English (Both Versions)
Subtitles: English (Italian Version), English SDH (Both Versions)
Region Coding: Region Free (4K UHD), Region A (Blu-ray)
Retail Price: $59.98

"Brilliant scientist, Professor Bernard Hichcock, harbors a secret fascination with the corpses of beautiful young women. His perverse desires are so strong that he has developed a unique serum capable of placing people into a death-like state; a drug he has decided to experiment with on his wife, Margaretha. However, after accidentally giving her a lethal dose, the doctor panics and covers up his wife’s death. Hichcock soon remarries, this time to the orphaned Cynthia, whom he brings to live with him at his isolated castle. Shortly after her arrival, Cynthia begins to experience increasingly strange and ghastly goings-on. While her new husband dismisses these seemingly supernatural occurrences, Cynthia becomes convinced that someone - or something - is lurking in the castle and her loving husband might know more than he’s letting on…" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5 (Italian Cut 4K UHD), 4.5/5 (American Cut 4K UHD, Italian Cut Blu-ray), 4.25/5 (American Cut Blu-ray)

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 35mm original camera negative."

The Horrible Dr. Hichcock comes on a 100 GB triple layer 4K UHD.

Disc Size: 92.7 GB

Feature: 49.6 GB (Italian Cut), 42.5 GB (American Cut)

The source used for this transfer is excellent, as the information provided about the transfer points out that extensive work was done to clean up the source. That said, there are a few very minor instances of source debris, like a hair in the frame; fortunately, none of these are ever distracting. Flesh tones look healthy, colors are nicely saturated and at times vivid, image clarity, contrast, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image always looks organic. The source used for the American cut is comparable to the source used for the Italian cut. The sources used for this release are comparable to the sources that Radiance Films used for their UK Blu-ray release. That said, seeing both cuts of The Horrible Dr. Hichcock in 4K with HDR10 makes this release the clear winner.

The Horrible Dr. Hichcock comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 46.2 GB

Feature: 23.4 GB (Italian Cut), 16.3 GB (American Cut)

This Blu-ray uses the same master that is used for the 4K UHD disc.

Audio: 4.25/5 (DTS-HD Mono Italian), 3.5/5 (DTS-HD Mono English - Both Versions)

The Italian cut comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Italian and a DTS-HD mono mix in English. The Italian language track is in great shape; it sounds clean, clear, and balanced. Range-wise, ambient sounds are well-represented, and the score sounds robust. The English language track has some background hiss and some minor sibilance issues. That said, dialog always comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced. Included are removable English subtitles for the Italian language track and removable English SDH for the English language track.

The American cut comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English with removable English SDH. This track is comparable to the English-language track that is included with the Italian version.

Extras:

Extras on the 4k UHD disc include an audio commentary with film historians Eugenio Ercolani, Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson for the Italian cut.

Extras on the Blu-ray disc include a still gallery with music from the film playing in the background, Italian theatrical trailer (2 minutes 53 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Italian with removable English subtitles), English language version "Raptus" title sequence (1 minute 56 seconds, Dolby Digital mono), a scene select audio commentary track with actress Barbara Steele, and moderated by Barbara Steele archivist Russ Lanier (26 minutes 28 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with filmmaker Marcello Avallone on Italian horror and his experiences of working within the genre titled Necropolises and Necrophiliacs (16 minutes 33 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with screenwriter Ernesto Gastaldi titled The Most Honorable Julyan Perry (30 minutes 35 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles),  an interview with second assistant director Marcello Avallone titled The Horrible Dr. Freda (20 minutes 16 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with Eugenio Ercolani, Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson for the Italian cut, and American cut of The Horrible Dr. Hichcock (76 minutes 34 seconds, 1.85:1 aspect ratio, DTS-HD mono English with removable English SDH.

Other extras include reversible cover art, a spot gloss hard slipcase + slipcover combo (limited to 8,000 units), and a 40-page perfect bound book (limited to 8,000 units) with an essay titled Death Becomes Her written by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, an essay titled Are Those Maggots in Your Eyes or Are You Just Happy to See Me ? written by Erica Shultz, and an essay titled The Shadow of the Grave: Dissecting The Horrible Dr. Hichcock written by Nathaniel Thompson.

Summary:

Directed by Riccardo Freda, a prolific filmmaker who is most remembered for his work within the gothic horror and peplum genres. Notable films that he directed or co-directed include I Vampire, The Witch’s Curse, The Ghost, Double Face, The Iguana with the Tongue of Fire, Tragic Ceremony, and Murder Obsession.

A renowned doctor returns to the home he once shared with his first wife, Margaret. It has been twelve years since Margaret’s untimely death, and since then, the doctor has had a new bride named Cynthia. Shortly after their arrival, things take a turn for the worse when it becomes apparent that the doctor has become fixated on the past. And with Cynthia’s blood, he will be able to resurrect the only woman he truly loved, Margaret.

The U.S. release version of this runs about 77 minutes, and it was released under The Horrible Dr. Hichcock. When the film was released in the UK, it was under the title The Terror of Dr. Hichcock, which reportedly runs six minutes longer than the U.S. release version. The film’s Italian title, L’orribile segreto del Dr. Hichcock, roughly translates into The Frightening Secret of Dr. Hichcock, and this version of the film is the longest known version at around 88 minutes.

The foundation for what is now known as the Italian gothic horror genre can be traced back to I Vampire, though the genre has continued to evolve over the years. This genre reached its apex during the first half of the 1960s. With the main directors' work within this genre being Mario Bava, Antonio Margheriti, and Ricardo Freda.

After co-directing with Mario Bava I Vampire, Ricardo Freda would not return to the Italian Gothic horror genre until five years later, with arguably one of the best films to emerge from this genre, The Horrible Dr. Hichcock, whose premise dealing with necrophilia was well ahead of its time. The narrative is meticulously constructed, and each new revelation is given just the right amount of time to resonate. Also, pacing is never an issue, and the main characters and their motivations are well defined.

The one thing that can make or break even the most well-intentioned Italian Gothic horror film is its visuals. Fortunately, this is not the case with The Horrible Dr. Hichcock, a film that delivers in spades when it comes to creating atmospheric visuals that drive the mood of the story at hand. The standout moment visually is the moment when the once thought-dead first wife shows her replacement that she is alive and well, and more importantly, ready to take back what she once had.

Performance wise the weight of this film rests on the shoulders on its leading lady Barbara Steele (The She Beast / Shivers) in the role of Cynthia Hichcock. Other notable performances include, Robert Flemyng (The Blood Beast of Terror) in the role of Doctor Hichcock and Maria Teresa Vianello (The Giants of Thessaly) in the pivotal role of Margaret, the doctors deceased who is not ready just yet to let go of the man she loves.

Performance-wise, the entire cast is very good in their roles, especially Barbara Steele (Black Sunday) in the role of Cynthia Hichcock. She delivers a pitch-perfect performance that is arguably one of her best performances. Another performance of note is Robert Flemyng (The Blood Beast of Terror) in the role of Dr. Hichcock, a man who prefers his women to be lifeless when making love. Ultimately, The Horrible Dr. Hichcock is a high water mark of Italian gothic horror cinema and Ricardo Freda’s crowning achievement as a filmmaker.

The Horrible Dr. Hichcock gets a phenomenal release from Radiance Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation, two versions of the film, and informative extras, highly recommended.

Note about the 4K screenshots: It is not possible to make Dolby Vision or HDR10 screenshots that faithfully match the experience of watching a film in motion on a TV. Instead of not having any screenshots, all of the 4K screenshots are m2ts taken with a VLC player and lossless PNGs.

                                            Italian Cut Screenshots.

                                            American Cut Screenshots.

Written by Michael Den Boer