Danza Macabra Volume 3: The Spanish Gothic Collection coming from Severin

[whiteberry]

“Ever since Buñuel and Dalí sliced open an eye
with UN CHIEN ANDALOU, Spanish cinema has assaulted
the audience with some of the most powerful imagery
within the history of horror.”
Fangoria

4 RESTORED CLASSICS.
8+ HOURS OF SPECIAL FEATURES.
LO MEJOR DEL HORROR GÓTICO ESPAÑOL.

Spain’s tradition of Gothic Horror – particularly during the Franco dictatorship – was characterized by daring concepts, lush visuals, extreme sexuality and a startling aesthetic all its own. These four classic shockers from the 1970s represent the genre at its most audacious: In NECROPHAGOUS, the debut feature by writer/director Miguel Madrid, a fractured family in a crumbling castle conceals a grisly graveyard secret. The anthology film CAKE OF BLOOD – never previously available outside of Spain – presents a quartet of supernatural tales by four young filmmakers. Hammer Films director John Gilling brings his inimitable style to the occult thriller in CROSS OF THE DEVIL. And a terminally ill woman is enticed by eternal life in León Klimovsky’s vampire masterwork, THE NIGHT OF THE WALKING DEAD. Each film in this collection has been scanned from its original negative – with over 8 hours of Special Features – for the first time ever in America.

Disc 1: NECROPHAGOUS (1971)

The most misunderstood Spanish gothic shocker of the early ‘70s can now be reassessed like never before: A young nobleman (Bill Curran) returns to his crumbling family castle, only to learn that his wife has died giving birth to their stillborn child. But why is her coffin empty? What follows is a uniquely told shocker of grief, lust, dark secrets and the hungers of the grave. Frank Braña (PIECES), Victor Israel (THE HOUSE THAT SCREAMED) and Beatriz Elorrieta (BLOOD HUNT) co-star in this debut feature by writer/director Miguel Madrid (THE KILLER OF DOLLS) – also known as THE BUTCHER OF BINBROOK and released in America by Independent-International as GRAVEYARD OF HORROR – now scanned in 4K from the recently discovered negative for the first time ever.

Disc Specs:

Runtime: 87 mins
English Mono, Spanish Mono / Closed Captions
Region Free
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Special Features:

Audio Commentary With Andy Marshall-Roberts, Host Of The Nasty Pasty Podcast
Something You've Never Seen – Appreciation By Ángel Sala, Head Of Programming At The Sitges Film Festival
The First Horror Film Festival In The World – Remembrance By Maria Pilar Rafáles, Daughter Of Sitges Film Festival Founder Antonio Rafáles
Trailers

Disc 2: CAKE OF BLOOD (1971)

With Spanish cinema still under the oppressive Franco regime, four filmmakers banded together to create a horror anthology that examined classic themes through transgressive perceptions: Directed by José María Vallés, TAROT stars Julián Ugarte (ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK) in a grim tale of fanaticism set in the Middle Ages. Eusebio Poncela (THE CANNIBAL MAN) and Marisa Paredes (ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER) star in VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN, a unique take on Mary Shelley’s classic directed by Emilio Martínez-Lázaro (THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BED). TERROR AMONG CHRISTIANS, directed by Francesc Bellmunt, is a jolting vampire allegory set during Roman times. Jaime Chávarri – co-writer of VAMPYROS LESBOS and future icon of New Spanish Cinema – directs the twisted ghost story THE DANCE OR EMOTIONAL SURVIVALS starring Luis Ciges (THE CREATURE). Never available outside of Spain, CAKE OF BLOOD is now scanned in 4K from the original negative for the first time ever.

Disc Specs:

Runtime: 90 mins
Spanish Mono / English Subtitles
Region Free
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

Special Features:

Audio Commentary With Rod Barnett Of NaschyCast And The Bloody Pit, And Dr. Adrian Smith, Co-Author Of Norman J. Warren: Gentleman of Terror
My Generation – Interview With Actress Marisa Paredes
I Just Wanted To Have Fun – Interview With Co-Director Jaime Chávarri
To Whoever Wants To Watch – Interview With Actor José Lifante
An Arthouse UFO – Appreciation By Ángel Sala, Head Of Programming At The Sitges Film Festival

Disc 3: CROSS OF THE DEVIL (1974)

In the early ‘70s, Spanish horror icon Jacinto Molina (aka Paul Naschy) wrote a screenplay for a Knights Templar film to compete with the popular BLIND DEAD series. Meanwhile, Hammer Films director John Gilling – whose hits for the UK studio included THE PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES and THE REPTILE – had retired to Spain. Molina shared his script with Gilling, who took over the project without Molina. The rarely seen result is a sumptuous tale of supernatural horror in which a writer (Ramiro Oliveros of THE PYJAMA GIRL CASE) plagued by violent nightmares investigates the murder of his sister by an ancient occult order. Carmen Sevilla (NO ONE HEARD THE SCREAM), Emma Cohen (THE CANNIBAL MAN) and Eduardo Fajardo (THE KILLER MUST KILL AGAIN) co-star in Gilling’s final film as director, now scanned in 4K from the negative with English subtitles for the first time ever.

Disc Specs:

Runtime: 97 mins
Spanish Mono / English Subtitles
Region Free
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Special Features:

Audio Commentary With Kim Newman, Author Of Anno Dracula, And Barry Forshaw, Author Of Brit Noir
Fascinated By Bécquer – Interview With Screenwriter Juan José Porto
The Real Templar Knights Movie – Appreciation By Ángel Sala, Head Of Programming At The Sitges Film Festival
Fantasy And Imagination: The Legacy Of Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer – Video Essay By Xavier Aldana Reyes, Author Of Spanish Gothic: National Identity, Collaboration And Cultural Adaptation

Disc 4: THE NIGHT OF THE WALKING DEAD (1975)

Though best known for his collaborations with Spanish horror star Jacinto Molina/Paul Naschy, Argentinian director León Klimovsky also crafted several of Spain’s finest vampire films of the ‘70s, especially this “magnificent” (Taliesin Meets The Vampires) 1975 gothic classic: In a 19th century village ruled by superstition, a vulnerable young woman (Emma Cohen of HORROR RISES FROM THE TOMB) is seduced into an aristocratic family of the sensuous undead. Carlos Ballesteros (José Ramón Larraz’ THE VOYEUR) and Barta Barri (THE PEOPLE WHO OWN THE DARK) co-star in this sexy/stylish/violent shocker – also known as STRANGE LOVE OF THE VAMPIRES and ripe for rediscovery after decades of edited prints and bad transfers – now scanned in 2K from the negative for the first time ever.

Disc Specs:

Runtime: 88 mins
English Stereo, Spanish Stereo / Closed Captions, English Subtitles
Region Free
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Special Features:

Audio Commentary With Kat Ellinger, Author Of Daughters Of Darkness
A Deadly Invitation To Another Dimension – Appreciation By Ángel Sala, Head Of Programming At The Sitges Film Festival
Leo's Signature – Interview With Writer Juan José Porto
Dead Man Walking – Interview With Actor José Lifante
Spain's Cinematic Vampires – Video Essay By Xavier Aldana Reyes, Author Of Spanish Gothic: National Identity, Collaboration And Cultural Adaptation
Alternate Spanish Credit Sequence

https://severinfilms.com/collections...lu-ray-box-set

DANZA MACABRA VOL. THREE: THE SPANISH GOTHIC COLLECTION TRAILER - YouTube

[Gotho(redux)]

Glad to see Necrophagous getting an HD release. Never heard of the other three, but they sound very interesting. Definitely be picking this up.

[Batgirl911]

I was interested and seeing Emma Cohens name twice secured it.

[formula_nebula]

Looking forward to vol 3

[DukeTogo84]

I guess I'm blind or it's not there, but when is this supposed to ship out?

[whiteberry]

Severin have uploaded new trailers to YouTube:

NECROPHAGOUS (1971) TRAILER (DANZA MACABRA VOL. 3)

NECROPHAGOUS (1971) TRAILER (DANZA MACABRA VOL. 3) - YouTube

CAKE OF BLOOD (1971) TRAILER (DANZA MACABRA VOL. 3)

CAKE OF BLOOD (1971) TRAILER (DANZA MACABRA VOL. 3) - YouTube

CROSS OF THE DEVIL (1974) TRAILER (DANZA MACABRA VOL. 3)

CROSS OF THE DEVIL (1974) TRAILER (DANZA MACABRA VOL. 3) - YouTube

THE NIGHT OF THE WALKING DEAD (1975) TRAILER (DANZA MACABRA VOL. 3)

THE NIGHT OF THE WALKING DEAD (1975) TRAILER (DANZA MACABRA VOL. 3) - YouTube

[Richard--W]

Irresistible.

Absolutely irresistible.

Question is finding the money in a retirement income
for all the blu-rays I want to buy.

[ShawDonkey]

Beaufil arts for Cross and Walking Dead, OK for Cake and not so good for Necro.

Someone said quite a while ago in other topic Cross was picked by some label and he definitely knew what was talking about.

[Mr. Thomsen]

What a surprising twist! (Considering the box set series is named after an Italian film and had 'The Italian Gothic Collection' as part of the title of the last two volumes.)

I have never even heard of any of the titles, so I am all for it. More focus on Spanish gothic horror hopefully also means that someone will release Klimovsky's The Dracula Saga soon.

[Driver78]

Yeah, these are more up my alley than those older B&W Italian films from the previous sets. I did order those earlier volumes because they're on sale but I wouldn't have otherwise. Never seen or heard of any of the films in this set and that's a good thing. Blind buys of premieres are the most exciting.

[gekats]

Just finished watching Night of the walking dead.

First-time viewing and really impressed - one of Klimovsky's best, I think! What I didn't like: the main vampire is a bit bland and the is music is awful; intrusive, confusing (including easy-listening piano concerto-style solos, string sections, and electric guitars in other places), and sounds somewhat distorted in places to boot.

However, this film includes everything that is great about Spanish horror, including interesting locations (remote villages, dilapidated castles), great atmosphere and, in this case, a truly memorable and poignant ending. It's a wonder Night of the walking dead is not better known (at least I was not familiar with this title) and I can see this one becoming a favourite over time.

Hopefully, others will enjoy this film as I have!

[Richard--W]

Originally Posted by gekats

Just finished watching Night of the walking dead.

First-time viewing and really impressed - one of Klimovsky's best, I think! What I didn't like: the main vampire is a bit bland and the is music is awful; intrusive, confusing (including easy-listening piano concerto-style solos, string sections, and electric guitars in other places), and sounds somewhat distorted in places to boot.

However, this film includes everything that is great about Spanish horror, including interesting locations (remote villages, dilapidated castles), great atmosphere and, in this case, a truly memorable and poignant ending. It's a wonder Night of the walking dead is not better known (at least I was not familiar with this title) and I can see this one becoming a favourite over time.

Hopefully, others will enjoy this film as I have!

I've seen Night of the Walking Dead on an import DVD
under the title Strange Love of the Vampires, which is
the more appropriate title. I've forgotten the name of the
village in Madrid where Klimovsky shot the film. The village
offers a lot of natural Gothic atmosphere and visual style.

Klimovsky deserves a box-set of his own.

[Richard--W]

Of related interest, the brother vampire film to
Night of the Walking Dead, directed by Klimovsky.

[gekats]

Originally Posted by Richard--W

Of related interest, the brother vampire film to
Night of the Walking Dead, directed by Klimovsky.

Love this film, highly atmospheric and here the village location comes out even more striking and claustrophobic (same village?). Possibly my favourite Klimovsky from the ones I've watched.

Only thing I don't love about Orgia nocturna is the ending, which works really well but is very predictable. Gotta love the ending of Night of the walking dead/Strange Love of the Vampires though;

[Show spoiler]an ending sympathising with the vampire was really satisfying and unexpected. The vampire finally accepting his predicament and deciding to enjoy the dawn after so many years for a final time was a really touching scene; music worked well here, have to admit.

Special shout out to Gotho, who brought the Code Red BD of Orgia nocturna to my attention, as this was a title I had been wanting to upgrade for a long time and somehow the Code Red edition had flown under my radar. As Gotho remarked though, that is a pretty mediocre release; an upgrade would be great, if possible. Possibly in a future Severin Spanish gothic set? Would love the Dracula Saga as well.

[Richard--W]

I agree an upgrade in picture quality would be nice.
A pity Severin did not put them both in the box-set.