Synopsis
Centuries after his ancestor wipes out a devil-worshipping cult, Waldemar Daninsky feelsthat cult’s revenge. A woman he tries to help curses him with lycanthropy. He tears around thecountryside ripping people to shreds. Will the woman he loves be able to help him? A welcomerelease for Eurohorror fans (and uncut for the first time on these shores), Curse of the Devil’sslow pace and wooden performances mean it will have limited appeal to viewers outside theserious fans. If yo…’re new to Spanish horror, check out Tombs of the Blind Dead (also fromAnchor Bay).
Audio
For the most part, the mono sound is very good. In fact, I thought at first that it was stereo.There are some fluctuations in the early goings, however.
Video
A very nice, 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. The print is in great shape too, and thiswill be the best this film has looked on home video since, well, ever. The opening shots lookawful, but the washed out colours appear to be deliberate. Once the prologue is over, thecontrasts, colours and blacks deepen appreciably.
Special Features
You know a good job was done on the selection of extras when the film becomes moreinteresting thanks to them. The highlight is a 15-minute subtitled interview with Paul Naschy,who discusses his career and the socio-political context in which his films were made. The bio isalso very informative. Finally, you’ve got a poster gallery and the trailer. There’s a lot ofinformation concisely presented here. (And this is not a film that would really be terribly wellserved by a full commentary.)
Closing Thoughts
As I’ve said, this is for the serious Eurohorror fans, and as werewolf movies go, this ain’t noGinger Snaps. But it has a legitimate place in horror film history, and Anchor Bay’s package isclearly one put together by people who know films.
Special Features List
- Bio
- Trailer
- Interview with Paul Naschy
- Poster Gallery
