Paul Naschy Night of the Howling Beast Blu Ray Review

Paul Naschy Collection II, The (Blu-ray Review)

• Review Date: Nov 14, 2017
• Format: Blu-ray Disc
• 

Director

Javier Aguirre, León Klimovsky, Juan Bosch, Miguel Iglesias

Release Date(s)

1972-1975 (November 14, 2017)

Studio(s)

Cinemation Industries/Profilmes Due south.A./Hispano Mexicana Films S.A./Profilmes S.A./Mariano Sanz Sanz/Victory Films (Shout!/Scream Manufacturing plant)

• Film/Program Grade: Come across Below
• Video Grade: See Beneath
• Audio Grade: See Beneath
• Extras Form: C+
• Overall Class: B+

Review

Before in 2017, Scream Factory's The Paul Naschy Collection was a real treat for fans both one-time and new of the Spanish horror cult figure, whose condition amongst the horror community in the United States is minimal at all-time. Returning for another bite at the Spanish jugular, The Paul Naschy Drove II features v more than of his films, all of which haven't been released on Blu-ray earlier. All are presented with the all-time available elements and their original Castilian soundtracks, as well as their English overdub counterparts. The latter are considered notoriously bad though as unintentional laughs are unremarkably all that come out of them. If you want to feel these films in a purer and less cynical mode, sticking with the original audio is your best bet.

Offset on Disc One is The Hunchback of the Morgue (El jorobado de la Morgue) from 1972. Directed by Javier Guierre and co-written under a pseudonym by Paul Naschy, it features him as Gotho, a lowly hunchback in love with a dying young woman. Upon her passing, he takes a job kidnapping young women for a local mad scientist, only when he realizes that his advantage of bringing his beloved back to life is goose egg but an empty promise, the results are disastrous. Not actually the about complicated plot in the world, Hunchback is less of a flick and more of a collection of moments, particularly in the second half when it is literally scene after scene of Gotho capturing people at the mad scientists' whim. The gore is memorable, but outside of one nude scene, it's fairly humdrum territory without much story evolution. Disc Two features A Dragonfly for Each Corpse (Una libélula para cada muerto) from 1973. Directed by León Klimovsky and co-written over again past Naschy, it features a plot almost a hard-nosed detective (Naschy) investigating a serial of murders which involve an unknown killer leaving small plastic dragonflies on random victims. An obvious and interesting take on the giallo, specifically those with animals or insects in their titles (which were popular at the fourth dimension), information technology'southward a surprisingly decent picture with good plot progression and a great performance from Naschy.

Continuing on Disc Three is The Devil's Possessed (El mariscal del infierno) from 1974. Also directed by León Klimovsky and written by Naschy, it'south more or less a Robin Hood-esque tale most an evil tyrant (Naschy) who is challenged by a war hero returning from the battlefield and finding his homeland in chaos. He joins a ragtag mob of resisters who wish to overthrow the malevolent ruler and put an end to his torturous ways. Unfortunately, this one didn't work as well as it should accept due to Naschy'due south graphic symbol flipflopping betwixt being someone who's having moral dilemmas to being an outright villain. The pic is also a bit long in the molar, going on far longer than it needs to. Disc Four features Exorcism (Exorcismo) from 1974, which was directed by Juan Bosch and co-written past Naschy yet again. Clearly inspired by The Exorcist, the plot details a young woman who is possessed by Satan. Paul Naschy portrays a priest who must ultimately confront her and perform the titular action. One of the better Exorcist-inspired films, it'south also ane of the slowest, attempting to recreate some of the aforementioned characters and moments without blatantly ripping them off. The anti-climactic catastrophe is likewise not very satisfying, but the make-up on the would-be possessed girl, particularly the contact lenses employed, is all fairly effective. Concluding but not to the lowest degree on Disc 5 is The Werewolf and the Yeti (La maldición de la bestia) from 1975, the eighth motion-picture show in the Hombre Lobo werewolf serial. Directed by Miguel Iglesias and written nether a pseudonym by Naschy, Waldemar Daninsky (Naschy) travels beyond the world looking for proof of the Yeti's being, simply to himself become a werewolf along the manner. It isn't long earlier both he and Yeti must come face to face and battle to the decease. The weakest and to the lowest degree interesting picture show in this set, just flourishes of intrigue appear throughout, about assuredly the werewolf attack scenes, and of course, the Yeti encounter, which feels more tacked than integral.

For each motion-picture show's Blu-ray presentation, masters were made available to Scream Factory yet again by Victory Films out of Spain. Unfortunately, they were (again) not allowed access to the original elements, so this is as good as it gets for at present. Some of the films have the option of watching them in their uncensored form, but in that location are occasionally standard definition inserts to reach this. For The Hunchback of the Morgue, there's a mostly pleasant film on display with adequate textures and item, equally well as mild grain. Everything is a tad fleck soft with obvious speckling and scratches, which are more than pronounced in certain scenes than others. Color and skin tones are good, with greens and reds coming through well, while blacks are deep with decent shadow particular. Brightness and dissimilarity levels are desirable and the overall image is adequately stable throughout. For A Dragonfly for Each Corpse, it exhibits much of the aforementioned qualities, but is slightly better overall with skillful texturing and detail in foreground elements, but with obvious grain filtering. The Devil's Possessed is too of the same type: pleasant merely not perfect. Withal, I would also say that it'due south the best-looking film in the set, appearing more natural with slightly more pronounced grain, better stabilization, and stronger texturing and particular. Exorcism exhibits some of the worst qualities, including heavy grain filtering, actualization far too soft and clean. Colors are fine and effulgence and dissimilarity levels are reproduced well, but the chief'south poorest traits shine through more than its good. The Werewolf and the Yeti features occasionally assuming primaries, but as well the aforementioned heavy clean up, although not every bit overwhelming.

As previously mentioned, the audio for each film is presented with two options: Castilian 2.0 DTS-Hd or English language two.0 DTS-HD. All of the tracks are like to each other, with some having more than obvious deficiencies. Both options are fairly clean with mild ambient and decent score reproduction. Hiss and occasional pops and crackle are definitely evident. The English overdubbing is obvious with more than presence and higher treble than its Spanish counterpart. The Spanish tracks are besides noticeably quieter past comparison. The soundtrack for Exorcism is hands the worst of the bunch. It'due south evident that it's been aggressively digitally scrubbed as the audio quality is quite poor. Each of the 10 available tracks go part and parcel with the moving-picture show quality, but for the almost part, in that location isn't an enormous difference between them (outside of Exorcism, that is). Optional subtitles are as well provided for each picture show in English if needed, although they are selected automatically, regardless of which audio track you choose.

THE HUNCHBACK OF THE MORGUE (FILM/VIDEO/Audio): C/C+/B-
A DRAGONFLY FOR EACH CORPSE (FILM/VIDEO/Sound): B-/B-/B-
THE DEVIL'Southward POSSESSED (FILM/VIDEO/AUDIO): C/B/C+
EXORCISM (FILM/VIDEO/Sound): C+/C-/D+
THE WEREWOLF AND THE YETI (Film/VIDEO/Audio): C/C/B-

The extras for each movie consist of many of the same options, but all of which are worth a look. For The Hunchback of the Morgue, at that place's an audio commentary with Naschycast podcast hosts Rod Barnett and Troy Guinn; both the Castilian and English theatrical trailers; the Spanish title sequence; the Castilian credit sequence; Spanish intertitles; and an animated still gallery. For A Dragonfly for Each Corpse, there's an sound commentary by author Troy Howarth; the Spanish theatrical trailer simply (which unfortunately is missing its sound); the Spanish title sequence; the Spanish credit sequence; and an blithe still gallery. For The Devil's Possessed, there's both the Spanish and English language theatrical trailers; the Spanish championship sequence; and a Castilian credit sequence. For Exorcism, in that location'due south some other audio commentary past Troy Howarth; a prepare of alternate clothed sequences from the censored version of the film; and an animated still gallery. For The Werewolf and the Yeti, there's only an animated still gallery. Also included is a 24-page insert booklet with essays on each film, as well as Paul Naschy, by Mirek Lipinski. Not included from the previous BCI Eclipse DVD release of Exorcism is an introduction to the moving-picture show by Naschy, an interview with him, and the motion picture'southward U.S. theatrical trailer.

As I said of the previous set, The Paul Naschy Collection II just scratches the surface of his long career with numerous films to his credit, both behind and in front of the camera. If y'all were a fan of that boxed gear up, you'll definitely want to pick this one upward besides. It's a little more than varied in terms of both the material presented and the quality of each picture, but everything here is worth your fourth dimension.

- Tim Salmons

Tags

1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, A Dragonfly for Each Corpse, Alberto Argudo, Alberto S Insua, Antonio Ramirez de Loaysa, Blu-ray, Blu-ray Disc, box set, boxed set, boxset, Carlos Viziello, Carmelo A Bernaola, Carmen Fabregas, Spanish, Cinemation Industries, Curse of the Animal, El jorobado de la Morgue, El mariscal del infierno, Erika Blanc, Exorcism, Exorcismo, Francisco Sanchez, giallo, Hall of the Mount Rex, Hispano Mexicana Films SA, Hombre Lobo, horror, In the Claws of the Werewolf, Independent International Pictures, Javier Guierre, Jordi Gigo, Jose Antonio Perez Giner, Juan Bosch, La maldicion de la bestia, Leon Klimovsky, Mariano Sanz Sanz, Miguel Fernandez Mila, Miguel Iglesias, Mirek Lipinski, Modesto Perez Redondo, Naschycast, Dark of the Exorcist, Dark of the Howling BEast, Paul Naschy, Petra de Nieva, Profilmes SA, Raul Perez Cubero, Redkiller, review, Ricardo Munoz Suay, Scream Mill, Shout! Factory, Spanish, Spanish Cinema, Castilian Horror, The Devil's Possessed, The Digital $.25, The Hunchback of the Morgue, The Marshal from Hell, The Nights of Satan, The Paul Naschy Collection, The Paul Naschy Collection Two, The Rue Morgue Massacres, The Vigiliante Challenges the Law, The Werewolf and the Yeti, thriller, Tim Salmons, Tomas Pladevall, Troy Howarth, Una libelula para cada muerto, Victory Films, Waldemar, Waldemar Daninsky

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