Theater of Blood (1973) {KL Studio Classics Blu-ray Review}

Reviewed By Jason Lockard

Kino Lorber have released on Blu-ray some Vincent Price films to give films fans something to enjoy. Two of them we have reviewed here on Classic Cinema Plus The Web and The Tomb of Ligeia. Now it is time for another Vincent Price Blu-ray review as we creep ever so closer to Halloween.

In 1973 Vincent Price joined with British Avenger Diana "Emma Peel" Rigg to bring us a campy and oh so much fun Theater of Blood now on Blu-ray from the great folks at Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

The film follows Edward Lionheart (Vincent Price) a Shakespearean actor who is enraged after he doesn't win the prestigious acting award from critics. So distraught by the loss he tries unsuccessfully to commit suicide. With a second chance at life he sets out with the help of his daughter to get revenge on all the critics who he feels did him wrong.

As Vincent Price moved into the later part of his career he moved from the leading man and dramatic films and found himself in more campy horror films and Theater of Blood is just such a film.

British director Douglas Hickox not only cast Diana Rigg and the great Vincent Price, but he surrounded them with many amazing British actors to play the critics gallery. Probably the most notable would be Robert Morley who was in one of my favorite films, The African Queen with Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn. No one takes their role too seriously and that campy fun makes for an extremely fun little horror film.

In this Kino Lorber Studio Classics Blu-ray Theater of Blood has been transferred in 1080p with 1.85:1 aspect ratio and the audio is a DTS-HD 2.0. There is also English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing. The audio is pretty good with just very mild hiss and the picture quality is sharp with just the slightest bit of scratches to the print. Most viewers won't even notice these imperfections.

Kino Lober added some really nice bonus features to this disc. Take a look at what is included in Kino Lorber's release of Theater of Blood.

* Audio Commentary #1: Featuring Screenwriter/Producer Alan Spencer.

* Audio Commentary #2: Featuring Film Historians David Del Valle and Nick Redman.

* Trailers From Hell with Alan Spencer: Alan give is a short three-and-a-half minute history lesson on this Vincent Price film.

* TV Spots: A collection of spots played in a row.

* Radio Spots: A collection of radio spots played in a row.

* Trailers: A Collection of Vincent Price trailers including; Theater of Blood, The Raven, The Comedy of Terrors, Master of the World, The Last Man On Earth, The Tomb of Ligeia, Scream And Scream Again and House of the Long Shadows.

Campy horror is not for everyone, but if you love it it doesn't get much better than Vincent Price. Theater of Blood is a deliciously delightful campy classic. And in this reviewers opinion is a perfect fun film for Halloween night!

Truly no Vincent Price collection could be complete without Theater of Blood and this Kino Lorber Studio Classics Blu-ray is a great way to have it in your collection. You can head over to Amazon.com and order your copy today.