When you think of Dr. Mabuse there is a director that would be perfect for a tale of this supervillain and that man of course is Jess Franco. Franco was highly prolific in directing of low-budget film especially those in the genre of exploitation, horror and B-movies. In 1972 he co-wrote and directed "Dr. M schlägt zu".
Now 53 years after its release, Kino Lorber under the division of Kino Cult is now releasing Dr. M schlägt zu or The Vengeance of Dr. Mabuse on Blu-ray. All so that foreign horror film fans can enjoy for years to come.
Synopsis: A criminal mastermind (Jack Taylor, Female Vampire) deploys poison gas and a beautiful whip-wielding assassin (Beni Cardoso) in a plot to steal government secrets in The Vengeance of Dr Mabuse (Dr. M schlägt zu). But his elaborate schemes risk unraveling when a small-town inspector (Fred Williams) stumbles into the scene. An unauthorized entry in the Dr. Mabuse cycle, the film makes no reference to Norbert Jacques’s clairvoyant criminal (the M-word is carefully avoided). Instead, director Jess Franco used the project as a chance to revisit his own sci-fi thrillers (The Awful Dr. Orlof, The Diabolical Dr. Z). Fold in a disfigured henchman (Rocha), a striptease dancer (Ewa Strömberg, Vampyros Lesbos), and wrap it all in a feverish jazz score, and the result is a spicy cinematic mélange that could only have been concocted in the demented mind of Jess Franco.
The Vengeance of Dr. Mabuse runs under 80 minutes is a fast-paced horror film. For those that enjoy it there is the exploitation aspects of this Jess Franco film. But this film is not without its problems. The story is a bit chaotic, and the production quality is not the best. But if you enjoy the films of Jess Franco, this should be a film you will enjoy.
Kino Lorber has transferred The Vengeance of Dr. Mabuse in 1080p in 1.66:1 aspect ratio. The audio is the original German language track in Dolby Digital 2.0. And don't worry if you don't understand German, there is English subtitles. So, you are covered there.
Kino Lorber's Blu-ray bring a glorious look to this film. If you ever saw this film on streaming or DVD, I don't have tell you how terrible this film looked. Not here the colors are the picture is sharp and shows the gritty detail of the Franco cult film.
Now in addition to an upgrade in picture quality, Kino Lorber's Kino Cult has added a wonderful Audio Commentary by Film Historians Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson. These two bring tons of information to this film, making this commentary a must listen. Finally, this Blu-ray edition has a very cool slipcover. Many film fans adore these so dream come true.
Now its understandable Jess Franco films are not for everyone. There is a select audience for his kind of cinema. But if you enjoy his films, this new Blu-ray of The Vengeance of Dr. Mabuse is a must add to your Franco Home Video Library. Head over to Kino Lorber or Amazon and order your copy today!
Out of 4 Film Reels (4 being the best) the Blu-ray of the Vengeance of Dr. Mabuse receives.....
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