Vampyres

Vampyres (1974)

I first got this movie on DVD back in the glory days of Anchor Bay. But now its release, from the fine folks over at Blue Underground, on Blu-Ray is upon us. The movie in question 1974's Vampyres, a British erotic horror flick directed by Spanish José Ramón Larraz.

A pair of women Marianne Morris and Playboy playmate Anulka living in a dark, decaying mansion have a craving for blood and sex. Hitchhiking in long black cloaks, they lure men home and then take them to bed, slash them with knives, and dump the bodies, making it look like a car wreck. They like one guy so much they keep him around for days and he knows something bad is happening, but he's not sure what. Some people camping nearby also suspect that the women are up to strange things. Both the ladies are beautiful but Anulka is pure heaven and gives out a very erotic vibe. The violence here is uncommonly brutal for this type of film, it comes across as a later hammer film mixed in with the films of Jean Rollin. I did enjoy the ride and its bloody conclusion.

As for the video it’s a mixed bag to me, some scenes are striking with detail and others are bland. I would say its an improvement but not sure if the source material lent itself to Hi Def. The sound was good with 7.1 DTS-HD and 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround EX audio options

All supplements are ported over from a May 2003 DVD release. They include a interview with Morris and Anulka, both of whom are still quite beautiful; an audio commentary with director José Ramón Larraz and Producer Brian Smedley-Aston; an international (high-def) and U.S. release trailer (standard-def)

To recap if you haven got any of the previous releases I would suggest this Blu-Ray but I would also say its not going to blow you away with the transfer. The movie itself I would give a 2 ½ out of 4, the video I would give a 2 out of 4. Recommended for die-hard fans of Euro cinema and or vampire lovers.

For more info on this or any other Blue underground release visit their website at http://www.blue-underground.com

Movie 2 ½ out of 4

Transfer 2 out of 4

Reviewed by Steve Benningfield