Tombs of the Blind Dead (1972) coming from Synapse

[Akijama]

Description

DON’T MOVE! DON’T BREATHE! DON’T MAKE A SOUND! THEY’RE COMING!

Amando de Ossorio’s unique 1971 Spanish shocker Tombs of the Blind Dead was an international horror hit that spawned three sequels and countless imitations.

The first of four official films in the series, it begins with a trio of friends getting together for a camping trip that quickly turns into blood curdling horror as a legion of long-dead Knights Templar rise from their graves in search of human flesh! When the Templars were originally executed for their cannibalistic rituals, they were hanged outside to die as crows pecked out their eyes. Now, armed with ancient swords and riding their skeletal undead horses into the night looking for prey, these mummified creatures cannot see… they hunt purely by sound alone.

Presented in a beautiful new restoration from the uncut original camera negative, Tombs of the Blind Dead is one of the most extraordinary and influential Spanish horror films ever made.



EXCLUSIVE 3-DISC (2 Blu-ray/1 CD) STEELBOOK™ 4000-PIECE LIMITED EDITION INCLUDES:

Beautiful 2K restoration from the original camera negative provided by Atlas International, with extensive color correction and additional restoration by Synapse Films.
Limited-edition Steelbook™ packaging with artwork by artist Wes Benscoter
Limited-edition slipcover featuring original theatrical poster artwork
Liner notes booklet with writing from film historian and home video columnist Patrick McCabe
Tombs of the Blind Dead Tribute Audio CD



DISC 1 – ORIGINAL SPANISH-LANGUAGE AND ENGLISH/SPANISH HYBRID SOUNDTRACK VERSIONS

High-definition (1080p) Blu-ray™ presentation of the original uncut version
Lossless Spanish PCM 2.0 mono soundtrack
Lossless “hybrid” English/Spanish PCM 2.0 mono soundtrack
Optional English subtitles for the Spanish track
Optional English subtitles for the Spanish sections of the hybrid soundtrack
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the hybrid soundtrack
Audio commentary with horror film historian and author Troy Howarth
Audio commentary with star Lone Fleming
Audio commentary with Rod Barnett & Troy Guinn of the NaschyCast podcast
Marauders from the Mediterranean – a feature-length documentary exploring the history of the Spanish zombie film, featuring interviews with: Night of the Living Dead writer/producer John Russo, Sitges Film Festival deputy director Mike Hostench, film critic John Martin, academic Calum Waddell, The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue director Jorge Grau, Tombs of the Blind Dead star Lone Fleming, actors Helga Liné, Manuel de Blas, Antonio Mayans and Jack Taylor, Paul Naschy’s son Sergio Molina, author/film critic Kim Newman and academic/writer Steve Jones
Revenge of Planet Ape – alternate U.S. opening sequence
Awakening of Spanish Horror Cinema – Featurette
Salem’s Pop “Templar’s Tears” music video
Original theatrical trailer
Still gallery

DISC 2 – THE BLIND DEAD (U.S. THEATRICAL VERSION)

High-definition (1080p) Blu-ray™ presentation of the re-edited U.S. theatrical cut of the film

Lossless English PCM 2.0 mono soundtrack
Optional English subtitles



DISC 3 – EXCLUSIVE SYNAPSE FILMS “TRIBUTE TO THE TEMPLARS” COMPACT DISC

Audio CD created exclusively for this limited edition, containing music inspired by Tombs of the Blind Dead. Featuring tunes from Zoltan, Cathedral, Hooded Menace, Machetazo and The Transylvania Hellhounds



FEATURE RUNNING TIME: 101 MINS (Original Uncut Version) / 83 MINS (U.S. Version)

[Show spoiler]As per Dawn of the Discs FB page:

Last night at Fantasia International Film Festival Don May from Synapse Films, revealed that he is working on a brand new restoration of Amando De Ossorio’s “Tombs of The Blind Dead” (1972) for 2nd quarter of 2020!

More info TBA!

[DoghouseReilly46]

Wow, that is a Holy Grail announcement for me, truly awesome!

[Ruemorgue10]

Now that's a title I can get excited about!

[mikey horror]

Nice! So when is this slated for? About 2024-2025?

[DR Herbert West]

Day one!

I just hope that day isn't 10 years from now.

[Jompa]

Good.

[t_rav]

Now this is that amazing announcement from Synapse I was hoping for! Great news! I’m taking that whole “second quarter of 2020” thing with a grain of salt, though.

Looks like SF weren’t able to get all of the Blind Dead films after all. Now bring on Return of the Evil Dead and Ghost Galleon.

[oddbox83]

If we're going to get these from all and sundry, I think I'll hang fire and see if we get a complete set in the UK.

[The Batman Professor]

Day one

[SharkFinfive]

I wish somebody would just put out the whole box set like BU did years ago. I already have Night Of The Seagulls from Scream, why are these all being released piecemeal....

[DukeTogo84]

Never heard of this. Doing some research, there are four films in the series? Are they all connected?

[agenda]

I know the film and its reputation, but personally, I've never seen it. This might be a great chance to take back that mistake for good.

[Killer Meteor]

I was amazed the BBFC censored Tombs back in 2005, consdering what they were passing by that point.

[darkness2918]

Its hard to get excited for this since I know it most likely wont be out for a few years at least.

[chriszilla]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

Never heard of this. Doing some research, there are four films in the series? Are they all connected?

They were made by the same director, and all feature the blind Knights Templar. But each is its own story, with no connection or continuity between them. In fact, some of the details in their "origin story" as to how they became the Blind Dead vary slightly between the films. They don't need to be watched in any certain order.

[polterclown]

yeagh scream or arrow gotta come with an amazing box set at some point. im holding out for that one. still got the dvd box set
the first one was a major influence on peter jackson when he shot the ringwraiths for lord of the rings ( watch that scene where arwen and frodo are being hunted )

[Mr. Thomsen]

Originally Posted by SharkFinfive

I wish somebody would just put out the whole box set like BU did years ago. I already have Night Of The Seagulls from Scream, why are these all being released piecemeal....

IIRC they have different rights owners, so Scream was not able to get the rights for more than that single one.

A new restoration of the first one was released in Germany. It supposedly looks very good, but unfortunately there are no English subs for the longer, uncut, Spanish version, and the English dub only matches the shorter version.

[Mr. Thomsen]

Originally Posted by polterclown

yeagh scream or arrow gotta come with an amazing box set at some point. im holding out for that one. still got the dvd box set
the first one was a major influence on peter jackson when he shot the ringwraiths for lord of the rings ( watch that scene where arwen and frodo are being hunted )

I believe it was once said that Arrow did look into them without any luck, but times may have changed now.

I wouldn't hold my breath on Scream releasing a box, though, since they have the rights for one of them, and Synapse now have the rights for another (and maybe more). AFAIK the films have different rights owners, which was the reason Scream could not do a box and only released that single one.

[Member-222782]

I like the first so I might pick this up at some point but I may just hold out for a box set. I don't want separate releases for each film from different distributors. If Blue Underground was able to do a box set, I'm sure that can be replicated again.

[sonny gaunt]

Originally Posted by Mr. Thomsen

IIRC they have different rights owners, so Scream was not able to get the rights for more than that single one.

That's what I remember, as well. The first AB disc featuring Tombs and Return was released years before Seagulls and Galleon, in BU's set.

As much of a completist, as I am, I am cool with SF's Seagulls, this release and Return(at some point-both cuts). Galleon is not among my favorite films-especially compared to the other three films in the series.