Plot: What’s it about?
I want to make it clear from the start, this disc is not available in American stores, as it is a British release and is meant for PAL televisions. But with the wave of region free players out there, I know a ton of U.S. horror nuts have been drooling over this disc, which can even be played on an X-Box, since it has no region code attached. So don’t ask about this one at Wal-Mart, as it is only available via The Dark Side, Britain’s best selling horror magazine and you can order it from their website (http://www.ebony.co.uk/darkside/dvd.htm). This is the second release from Dark Side and they’re not resting on their laurels, as this is another dynamic disc. As with the previous release, this disc houses two films that are available here in Region 1, but once again, fans will want to add this volume to their collections. In addition to brand new anamorphic widescreen transfers, which is important because the Region 1 discs are letterbox, this edition sports a host of extras that genre fans should devour. Its a chance to nab both of these movies, uncut and in anamorphic widescreen, for a more than reasonable sum. So be sure to visit The Dark Side’s website and order yours, as you’ll be very pleased that you did.
1. The Devil’s Nightmare- The ex-Nazi Baron von Rhoneberg (Jean Servais) resides in an eerie, old castle and while visitors are infrequent, on this night, he finds himself playing host to a number of guests. When seven tourists wind up lost in the roads near the castle, they seek refuge within its walls, which might not have been the wisest of choices. Rhoneberg welcomes the seven guests however, though his butler is quick to relate the story of how the Baron is cursed and reveal the bloody past of the castle. As he guides each of the tourists to their rooms, he rattles off a few tidbits of visceral information, centering on how died within that particular room and how. But all the deaths, as creepy as they might be, still aren’t the most dangerous thing about the Baron’s residence, as a succubus is said to roam the castle’s halls. And this proves to be true when she takes on human form (Erika Blanc) and begins to slaughter the tourists one by one, until she finds herself faced with the one guest who has her figured out.
2. Cold Eyes of Fear- Peter Flower (Gianna Garko) is a young lawyer on the rise, his life is going very well and looks to become only better over time. But when he retires to his uncle’s plush estate for an evening of romance, he finds himself in immense danger. His intentions were simple, as he wanted to take his prostitute companion Janet (Giovanna Ralli) back to his uncle’s home, put the mood on, and enjoy the pleasures of the flesh. When the two arrive at the residence however, things take a turn for the worse when the butler is discovered murdered. The poor butler was a victim of two desperate criminals, who seek to launch some kind of revenge plot and plan to use Peter & Janet to further their plans. But why have the criminals chosen this couple and can Peter discover the truth in time, to allow for some kind of escape or what not? Or will they be helpless and be forced to watch the hideous plan unfold to perfection?
Video: How does it look?
The Devil’s Nightmare is presented in 1.66:1 anamorphic widescreen, while Cold Eyes of Fear is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. The case claims Cold Eyes of Fear is shown in 2.35:1 format, but this looks to be the same version released here in the U.S., though of course, it features anamorphic enhancement. I am very pleased to be able to own these in anamorphic treatments, but I have to say, the improvements are not monumental. The prints look to be the same ones Redemption used in the Region 1 releases, which means solid visual presentations, but thanks to the added anamorphic depth, they look a little better. Plus if you own a widescreen set, you know how bad non-anamorphic discs look when you have to zoom in on the intended image, so you’ll notice more of an improvement than others. So in other words, you won’t be blown away by these new treatments, but they are a step up.
Audio: How does it sound?
The audio in Cold Eyes of Fear is English only, while The Devil’s Nightmare sports both English and Belgian audio options. But sadly, no English subtitles have been included, so unless you speak Belgian, you’ll have to stick with the English soundtrack. I found the audio to be solid, but somewhat thinned by time and the English track on The Devil’s Nightmare is much less dynamic, when compared to the Belgian version. But the elements sound acceptable and consistent, from dialogue to music to assorted sound effects. A real plus in Cold Eyes of Fear is the music, which was composed by the legend himself, Ennio Morricone. I wouldn’t expect too much here, but for the material involved, the audio sounds good and should please fans.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc kicks off with theatrical trailers for both movies, plus a special featurette with Redemption’s spokesbabe Eileen Daly, still photos from each picture, and a bonus introduction from The Dark Side’s own Ed Allan Bryce. The rest of the extras reside in the Crypt of Zombies section, where a host of fun trailers are housed, which were selected with skill, as these are some cool flicks. So not as extensive in terms of extras as Dark Side’s previous disc, but this is still a cool assortment of supplements.
