Radiance Films has taken this cult scifi classic and restored and released it on a super deluxe 4K edition. And as a classic sci-fi movie fan, I personally couldn't be more excited to see this film get that kind of treatment.
Synopsis: In the outer reaches of deep space, the spaceship Galliott answers a distress signal from Aura, an unexplored planet. As the ship attempts to land, members of the crew inexplicably begin to attack one another. This is the start of a terrifying expedition into the unknown, one plagued by paranoia, possession and violent mayhem wrought upon the unsuspecting explorers by the planet’s mysterious inhabitants. A sci-fi horror hybrid from genre master Mario Bava (Blood and Black Lace), Planet of the Vampires is widely regarded as one of the most influential genre films ever made, with a clear influence on films such as Alien and Pitch Black. With a uniquely chilly atmosphere and fantastic production design that belies its low-budget origins, Planet of the Vampires is a true genre classic.
Planet of the Vampires is a film so far ahead of its time that it is hard to believe. Mario Bava created a colorful world that we rarely see in this generation, let alone in 1965. Planet of the Vampires is a bit confusing at times, but so beautifully shot that it is mesmerizing.
Mario Bava's Planet of the Vampires is more than just a Sci-fi movie. You can see how this film inspired many classic films. Look no further than Ridley Scott's Alien. Bava's invisible fingerprints can be seen in many sci-fi films and continue to this day.
Planet of the Vampires has been restored in 4K from the original negative under the supervision of Lamberto Bava and carried out at Fotocinema in Rome in collaboration with CSC Cineteca Nazionale, presented in HDR/Dolby Vision. The film has been transferred to 4k in 2160p and is presented in 1.85:1 aspect ratio. Now one of the best parts it there are two versions of the film presented in this release. There is the 90 minute Italian version and the 88 minute English version.
The 4k restoration of Planet of the Vampires is something special. The picture quality of this 1960s film literally blew me away. This film has never looked better than it does now! The colors, as good as they were before, are even more stunning in 4k! But in addition to a wonderful new restoration this release gives us tons of bonus features.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
* Archival audio commentary by Tim Lucas, author of Mario Bava: All the Colors of the Dark (2014)
* A documentary feature which explores Planet of the Vampires, Mario Bava and the connection between gothic and science fiction. Co-directed by Dima Ballin and Kat Ellinger; featuring interviews with Guy Adams, Xavier Aldana Reyes, Alexandra Benedict, Johnny Mains and John Llewellyn Probert (2024)
* Archival interview with Lamberto Bava
* Super 8 Version - a reconstruction of the cut-down version distributed as Planet der Vampire (17 mins)
* Joe Dante and Josh Olsen trailer commentaries - the filmmakers provide a short overview of the film (2013)
* Trailers
* Press and image gallery from the Tim Lucas / Alan Y. Upchurch collection
* Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Time Tomorrow
* Limited edition 80-page book featuring new writing by Kyle Anderson, Martyn Conterio, Barry Forshaw, George Daniel Lea and Jerome Reuter plus archival materials
* Limited edition 20-page booklet featuring a new translation of Renato Pestriniero’s original short story
* A collection of six exclusive postcards featuring promotional material
* Limited Edition of 5,000 copies presented in a rigid box with full-height Scanavo cases for each film and removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings
Radiance Films really blew me away with the quality of this release. The attention to detail, all the cool archival commentaries, documentaries, interviews and so much more. Then there is the 80 page book and so much more. Simply Amazing!
So if you are a fan of 60s sci-fi this new 4K of Planet of the Vampires is an absolute must-add to your home video library. Head over to MVD Shop or Amazon and order your copy today!
Out of 4 film reels (4 being the best) The 4K release of Plant of the Vampires receives....
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