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Requiem for a Vampire AKA Requiem pour un vampire AKA Caged Virgins AKA Vierges et vampires (Blu-ray)
[Blu-ray]
Blu-ray ALL - America - Powerhouse Films Review written by and copyright: Rick Curzon (6th December 2024). |
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The Film
 Jean Rollin continues his unique exploration of the vampire genre with Requiem for a Vampire (Requiem pour un vampire), featuring a cast of Rollin regulars including Marie-Pierre Castel (The Shiver of the Vampires), Mireille Dargent (Lips of Blood), and Louise Dhour (The Escapees). When Marie (Castel) and Michelle (Dargent), two enigmatic women travelling through the countryside in clown costumes, stumble across a mysterious château, they uncover a sadistic vampire sect, the leader of which offers them eternal life to continue his bloodline. Also released as Virgins and Vampires and Caged Vampires, Rollin's pulp-inspired fourth feature boasts an abundance of surreal and erotic imagery, and is accompanied by an eccentric free-rock score by composer Pierre Raph (The Iron Rose, The Demoniacs).
Video
one of Jean Rollin's best and most iconic films, his fourth vampire film gets the loving restoration and deluxe treatment it deserves. This is a film that vacilates from sadistic moments to playful and bawdy sex comedy moments but mainly it's the surrealist fantastique atmosphere that Rollin fns adore that makes this film, like his other vampire epics stand out from the crowd. From the booklet: Requiem for a Vampire was scanned, restored and colour corrected in 4K HDR at Renasci Films, using the original 35mm negative. Many thousands of instances of dirt were removed, scratches, stains and other imperfections eliminated, and a number of torn or damaged frames repaired. No grain management, edge enhancement or sharpening tools were employed to artificially alter the image of either film in any way.This film has always looked pretty sweet, filled with rich colour values, knockout primaries, solid fleshtones, deep black levels and vivid contrast ... and we get that here in spades. Reds are everywhere and they reach a whole new level of vitality here from clown makeup, wigs to fabrics and blood. I also noticed the lush greens and deep browns of the French countryside. Everything just pops and I'm only looking at the BD version in 1080p and SDR; it UHD 2160p and HDR this film will positively leap out of your display, slap you round the face, burn your eyes out and leave you gasping for more. Black levels are stygian, shadow detail comprehensive and the contrast is layered and supportive allowing any highlights to sing and now blow out. Detail is exceptional along all focal planes but is especially strong in medium to closeups but blades of grass stand out. There is a photochemical softness that goes hand in hand with extensive and consistent film grain throughout and opticals drop in image quality slightly but that's par for the course in the analogue photochemical era. You just know that the encode is superb, that all signs of print damage are gone and that there's no digital tinkering. As good a transfer of this film as can be; demo stuff ('A+') (Can be viewed in both English and French versions, both the same bar opening and closing credits) 1080p24 / AVC MPEG-4 / BD50 / 1.66:1 / 86:52, 86:45
Audio
French DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 (48kHz, 1063Kbps, 24-bit) English DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 (48kHz, 1077Kbps, 24-bit) Subtitles: English, English HoH The soundtracks are as good as can be shy of a complete rebuild from the sound stems and being graced with Dolby Atmos. Low budget mono tracks that lack the range and depth of stereophonic with surrounds but they're surprisingly strong emphasising music and sound effects; dialogue is sparse in this one , especially in the first half of the film but when it appears it's always crisp and clear. I could detect no sibilance issues nor tinniness. As per usual, there's some very fine hiss but it doesn't make itself heard unless you crack the volume up and channel the 1.0 track from all speakers. Both flavours of subtitles are excellent and comprehensive ('B+')
Extras
Audio commentary on the French version by film historians Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson (2024) Both commentators give detailed good value; this is a great track with both Howarth and Thompson (who speaks a little too quickly at times) delving very deeply into what makes Rollin tick, his use of camera, setups, story approaches, cinematography, it's commercial success as well as the usual detail on cast, crew, locations etc. Presented in lossy English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono (48kHz, 112Kbps) with no subtitles. 2005 selected scenes audio commentary with Jean Rollin (21:05) An unnamed moderator gets Rollin to admit although it's not his best film but "It's the one I prefer". This is one of those cutdown commentaries set to select scenes. In a 21 minute digest, it's short and to the point with Rollin discussing the story in detail, the logic of the story, why little dialogue, use of colour, use of humorous and poetic touches. Presented in 1080p24 1.66:1 with lossy English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono (48kHz, 112Kbps) with no subtitle options. "Jean Rollin Introduces Requiem for a Vampire" 2024 featurette featuring a 1998 introduction (4:45) "In a Silent Way: Jean Rollin on Requiem for a Vampire" 2024 featurette featuring a 2005 interview (7:46) 12:31 of Rollin on the film with the first being from that shoot with that weird guy in a mask sat next to him as he talks whilst holding a skull totem or something. The second piece has Rollin focusing more on why he rates Requiem as one of his hest with a potted history. Both are presented upscaled in 1080p24 1.78:1 with interviews in the first pillarboxed 1.66:1 and the second to 1.33:1. Sound is in uncompressed English LPCM 2.0:(48kHz, 16-bit) with no subtitle options. "Queen of the Underworld: Louise Dhour on Requiem, Rollin, Moati and Montparnasse" 2024 featurette featuring a 2005 interview (8:22) "A Pastoral Dalliance: Paul Bisiglia on Requiem for a Vampire" 2024 featurette featuring a 2005 interview (3:12) "The Shivers of a Requiem: Requiem for a Vampire" 2024 documentary (39:05) "The Poetry of Strangeness: Virginie Sélavy on Reqiem for a Vampire" 2024 interview (7:15) "The Last Book: Jean Rollin ... Author" 2024 featurette featuring a 2005 interview (8:44) Collectively 66:38 of interviews. Centrepiece is the 39 minute documentary which has been revamped from an earlier version, it features Rollin alumni Natalie Perrey (1929-2012) and Jean-Noël Delamarre and film historian Daniel Bird (in English). Also splendid is a new genuine 1080p piece from film historian Sélavy (in English) always worth a listen as she gives us a potted version of the film's conception. We have another Rollin interview this time focusing on his book writing career. The late Dhour (1934-2010) discusses her career working for Rollin and others she worked with whilst on the films. Bisciglia (1928-2010) focusses on Requiem and how the music chosen altered the effect of how he played his role as a horny dude out to get his end away. Presented mostly in upscaled 1080p24 1.66:1 / 1.33:1 with uncompressed French (and some English) LPCM 2.0 stereo (48kHz, 16-bit) with optional subtitles on French sequences. Three Alternative Clothed Sequences (Play All - 3:04): - Sequence #1 (0:21) - Sequence #2 (1:33) - Sequence #3 (1:09) What it says on the tin, three clothed, less erotic versions of three key scenes presented in 1080p24 1.66:1 with uncompressed French LPCM 1.0 (48kHz, 16-bit) with optional English subtitles. Theatrical Trailers: - French Theatrical Trailer (3:07) - English Theatrical Trailer (3:07) - "Caged Virgins" Theatrical Trailer (3:29) Vintage promos presented in 1080p24 1.661: with uncompressed French / English LPCM 1.0 48kHz, 24-bit) with optional English subtitles on the French language trailer. Image Galleries: - Original Promotional Material (91 images) - Behind the Scenes (37 images) 128 HD images. 80-page book with a new essay by Maria J Pérez Cuervo, archival writing by Jean Rollin on the making of the film, an archival interview with the director by Peter Blumenstock, an extract from the film’s pressbook, an English translation of Rollin’s story ‘The Last Book and full film credits Substantial companion booklet to the film that covers several key bases (retrospective essay, making of by wruter-director Rollin, interviews et al. Essential.
Packaging
Not sent for review.
Overall
One of .rollin's best efforts gets the red carpet treatment in this superb BD (and even better, UHD) package from Powerhouse Films in the UK. Image, sound and extras all as good as can be. An essential purchase ('A').
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