Gothic Fantastico: Four Italian Tales Of Terror [Limited Edition]

[formula_nebula]

This site's review is up. I've enjoyed the set so far. Still have one more movie (The Witch) to watch.

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Gothi...321107/#Review

[Citizen K]

Ordered mine from Arrow pretty much when I last posted (October 7th) and they still haven't shipped. Hopefully next week, looking forward to this set.

[Hammerlover]

Originally Posted by formula_nebula

This site's review is up. I've enjoyed the set so far. Still have one more movie (The Witch) to watch.

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Gothi...321107/#Review

I think you're in for a treat. It's my favorite film in the set.

[DukeTogo84]

Finished watching Lady Morgana's Vengeance. It was pretty good, but man those last 20 minutes were pretty weird!

[Show spoiler]She gets her vengeance on her tormentors, but then they turn into vampire ghosts and get revenge on her and it just kinda ends abruptly. It was kinda strange, because it was revenge story for the good ghost, but in the end the bad guys return the favor to the good ghost. It was interesting, but bizarre.

[strumdogg]

Easiest $50 I ever spent!



Amazon - $49.99

[playsignal1976]

Originally Posted by strumdogg

Easiest $50 I ever spent!



Amazon - $49.99

Without a doubt! Luckily, I had not opened my copy yet from last week so I just ordered at $49.99 and will return the $72.99 copy

[The_Chex]

I posted my thoughts about the titles in the 42nd Street Fever topic and figure I would share them here for anyone interested.

Lady Morgan's Vengeance

The Blancheville Monster

The Third Eye

The Witch

There’s been several great releases this year and Arrow’s set ranks near the top of my list. I’m also biased because gothic tales are one of my favorite subgenres. Have characters exploring spooky hallways illuminated by the dimmest of candlelight on my TV screen and I’m happy. Having said that, anyone looking at Arrow’s Italian gothic set for a hidden gem is going to be disappointed. However, these four distinct tales are minor yet solid experiences that range from the traditional gothic expectations of castles and dark secrets (The Blancheville Monster and Lady Morgan’s Vengeance) to a strange and wild Psycho cash-in (The Third Eye), and a modern, dark fairy tale about witches, vanity, and relationship abuse (The Witch). Go in expecting some solid yet niche entertainment and I think viewers will be entertained.

[R1978]

Already ordered it was an instant buy for me. Most of these I'm pretty sure have been in public domain for years with mediocre transfers at best. In fact this will probably be the best they look for a long long time.

Now all we need is for Arrow to do their magic on I Vampiri, which no longer comes with the 3 disc set of Black Sunday. It was a DVD only anyway and really needs and deserves a proper HD release.

These films probably won't appeal to 80s kids looking for lame cheesy shock and gore ( which was essentially copied from A Bay of Blood and what killed classic horror anyway ), these films were part of the true classic horror era when atmosphere and story was important.

For those into the Italian Gothic horror, these are simply a must. The Witch and Blancheville Monster being the real gems of the set.

[newginafets]

Ordered from Barnes and Noble

[kinkyqueen]

Ordered. Held at customs though..

Blegh

[drownsoda]

I remember seeing one of the teaser insert postcards in an Arrow release (can't recall which one at the moment) for Horror (or The Blancheville Monster) awhile back, and was really excited about it because I'd long been curious about that film. I don't know how I missed the fact that this set came out. I was in Barnes & Noble and came across it on the shelf last night. With it being $50 at half-off, I couldn't say no. I'm a sucker for old-school gothic horror movies, and am excited to watch these.

[EvilNed]

Watched all four now and more or less enjoyed all of them.

The Third Eye
Buio Omega light. Franco Nero is denied his fiancée's hand in marriage when she's killed off in a car crash and copes by going full Norman Bates. Obviously Psycho was a strong influence on this. Most of these films are part melodrama and this is no exception: Much of the action revolved around a love triangle and how it strains the relations. Franco Nero goes all out Nicolas Cage in some scenes.

The Blancheville Monster
The most typical gothic horror of the bunch. Castles, cobwebs and family curses. I also enjoyed this one the most, because it goes all-in gothic. Great cinematography as well. Again, a lady's engagement serves at the catalyst for the drama - in this case it's the reason for the lady returning to her cursed family home.

Lady Morgan's Vengeance
Starts out as a rather typical gothic chiller set in a castle and an impending marriage looming on the horizon. Lots of people get killed off, but that does not mean that's the end of their role in the narrative. Features some surprising storytelling techniques including a very lengthy flashback and downbeat ending. I liked the twists and turns of it, but make no mistake: It's very camp.


The Witch
Definitely the most avant-garde of the bunch. Not only is it longer than the others, it's also the only one set in a contemporary urban setting. Thematically very erotic and low on suspense. I'm actually surprised at how on-the-nose this film is on some very, very risqué sexual topics. It's also longer than the others, almost two hours long. I liked it, but it's one of those films that straddle the border between arthouse and escapism without really delivering either.

[DVD Phreak]

Originally Posted by munin

How are the movies in this? Reviews on Letterboxd seem pretty middling.

The review-writing skills of those people are also middling, sometimes nonexistent. It's what you would expect when anyone and everyone on the Internet can upload anything and call themselves a reviewer. Sadly, you often need to buy the discs to get any sort of thoughtful opinions about the films -- from audio commentaries, visual essays, and booklet essays written by people who actually did the research and dare put their real names on their writing.

Personally, I wouldn't care (that much) about other people's opinions if I'm a classic film fan eager to seek out little-seen old films from a genre, style, period, etc., that I admire and/or want to know more about, and in a nice, restored format to boot. And if I hate the films, I sell the discs.

[Lannister1098]

Bought from Barnes and Noble yesterday. Wanted to get this since it was sold out on Amazon, and before the LE goes out of print.

[Hammerlover]

Originally Posted by Lannister1098

Bought from Barnes and Noble yesterday. Wanted to get this since it was sold out on Amazon, and before the LE goes out of print.

A wise investment; you won't be disappointed.

[Lannister1098]

Originally Posted by Hammerlover

A wise investment; you won't be disappointed.

Three films in out of the four that were included. Really enjoyed all of them so far. The poster is pretty cool as well.

[sa5150]

standard edition coming soon ?

[klasekfilmfan]

Does anyone know how many units are made for an Arrow Limited Edition boxset? I can't find this information anywhere, but it would be nice if Arrow started printing numbered units on their Limited Editions.

[Katatonia]

Originally Posted by klasekfilmfan

Does anyone know how many units are made for an Arrow Limited Edition boxset? I can't find this information anywhere, but it would be nice if Arrow started printing numbered units on their Limited Editions.

I don't think Arrow ever (or rarely?) reveals just how many units are made. I agree though, it would certainly be nice to know... like Indicator/Powerhouse do with their LE sets.

[klasekfilmfan]

Originally Posted by Katatonia

I don't think Arrow ever (or rarely?) reveals just how many units are made. I agree though, it would certainly be nice to know... like Indicator/Powerhouse do with their LE sets.

Certainly. Powerhouse Indicator does just about everything perfect. I'd be totally fine if Arrow Video simply stated "Limited Edition of 3,000 units" or whatever, without individually numbering them. But of course, I think all boutique labels would benefit from mirroring Indicator (and Eureka! Entertainment) quality.