397-398 The Vampire/The Vampire's Coffin

[MichaelB]

EL VAMPIRO: TWO BLOODSUCKING TALES FROM MEXICO
Release date: 21 October 2024
Limited Edition Blu-ray (World Blu-ray premieres)

Pre-order here (UK) or here (US)

THE VAMPIRE (El vampiro, Fernando Méndez, 1957)
THE VAMPIRE’S COFFIN (El ataúd del vampiro, Fernando Méndez, 1958)

El Vampiro: Two Bloodsucking Tales from Mexico brings together a pair of atmospheric and terrifying classics of Mexican Gothic, directed by Fernando Méndez (Black Pit of Dr. M), and starring Ariadne Welter (The Panther Women), Abel Salazar (The Curse of the Crying Woman), and, in a star-making turn, Germán Robles (The Brainiac).

In The Vampire (El vampiro), the beautiful, bereaved Marta (Welter) travels with Enrique (Salazar) to visit her sick aunt in her ancestral home. There, the mysterious neighbour Duval (Robles) offers to buy the family’s decrepit hacienda. However, Duval is really Count Karol de Lavud, a vampire whose aim is to drain Marta of her blood and revive his entombed brother.

In the sequel, The Vampire’s Coffin (El ataúd del vampiro), grave robbers bring Lavud’s corpse to Enrique’s city hospital, where Marta now works as a nurse. Duly re-animated, Lavud sets about his bloody plan to make Marta his bride.

Pre-dating Hammer Films’ Dracula by a year, The Vampire’s uniquely Mexican take on vampire mythology was the first film to give its antagonist elongated fangs, and its success kick-started Mexico’s horror boom. Restored from the original negatives, these films finally receive their world Blu-ray premieres in this individually numbered Limited Edition two-disc set, complete with new and archival extra features, and a fully illustrated 80-page book.


INDICATOR LIMITED EDITION 2 x BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES

• 4K restoration from the original camera negative of The Vampire by Labo
• High Definition remaster from 2K scans of The Vampire’s Coffin by Alameda Films
• Original Spanish mono soundtracks
• Alternative English soundtracks on both films
• Audio commentary with the vampire himself, Germán Robles (2007)
• Interview with Claudia and Rosa Salazar Arenas (2024): chef Claudia Salazar Arenas and screenwriter and actor Rosa Salazar Arenas remember their father, the legendary actor and producer Abel Salazar
• Interview with Abraham Castillo Flores (2024): the film programmer, curator and Mexican horror cinema expert delves into the lives and careers of the mesmerising actor Carmen Montejo and her co-stars Ariadne Welter and Alicia Montoya
• Interview with Juan Ramón Obón (2024): the writer shares memories of his esteemed father, the prolific screenwriter Ramón Obón
• Interview with Roberto Coria (2024): the horror cinema and literature specialist examines the life and career of actor Germán Robles and the representation of the vampire myth in Mexican cinema
• Interview with Elisa Lozano (2024): the film historian and curator discusses the work and impact of the revered production designer Gunther Gerzso
Original theatrical trailers
• Image galleries: promotional and publicity materials, and The Vampire's Coffin French photo-novel
• New and improved English translation subtitles
• New English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Limited edition exclusive 80-page book with new essays by Jesús Palacios and David Wilt, archival essays by Eduardo de la Vega Alfaro and Carmen A Serrano, cast interviews, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits
• World premieres on Blu-ray
• Limited edition set of 8,000 units for the UK and US

All extras subject to change

#PHILE397B
BBFC cert: PG
REGION FREE
EAN: 5060697924619

[Finch]

Wonderful news. Is another Macabre box set still happening or are the films going to be split into double bills like this one? Either way, preordering this as soon as the Orbit listing goes up!

[rapta]

I did wonder if they might do another Mexico Macabre set since it did so well, and when they teased El Vampiro it seemed clear they'd probably pair it with the sequel at the very least. Perhaps they'll do a few single titles if they don't have enough for a set, but there are a few that have been restored in recent years (and more are being restored every year). The Skeleton of Mrs. Morales might seems an obvious choice, for example, but I'm surprised Indicator haven't released it yet.

[Orlac]

What aspect ratios are these going to be?

[MichaelB]

The Vampire is 1.37:1, The Vampire's Coffin is 1.75:1.

[Orlac]

The Vampire is 1.37:1, The Vampire's Coffin is 1.75:1.

thanks!

[Matt]

I just got my copy from Orbit DVD — the slipcase is beautiful! I haven’t had a chance to look at the films yet.

[MichaelB]

Final specs:



The Vampire (El vampiro):



The Vampire's Coffin (El ataúd del vampiro):

[Orlac]

I wonder why EL VAMPIRO is open matte, and for that matter 3 of the 4 titles on the MEXICO MACABRE set. They look OK blown-up to 16:9 with my TV zoom but the subtitles are nearly totally eradicated by doing this.

[MichaelB]

El Vambeavo.

[EddieLarkin]

I wonder why EL VAMPIRO is open matte, and for that matter 3 of the 4 titles on the MEXICO MACABRE set. They look OK blown-up to 16:9 with my TV zoom but the subtitles are nearly totally eradicated by doing this.

I found the same re: the MM set.

If your player has a zoom function, the subtitles will remain in their usual position on the screen, they won't be cut off. Much better than ever using a TV zoom.

[Orlac]

I wonder why EL VAMPIRO is open matte, and for that matter 3 of the 4 titles on the MEXICO MACABRE set. They look OK blown-up to 16:9 with my TV zoom but the subtitles are nearly totally eradicated by doing this.

I found the same re: the MM set.

If your player has a zoom function, the subtitles will remain in their usual position on the screen, they won't be cut off. Much better than ever using a TV zoom.

Thanks for the tip!

[Orlac]

I wonder why EL VAMPIRO is open matte, and for that matter 3 of the 4 titles on the MEXICO MACABRE set. They look OK blown-up to 16:9 with my TV zoom but the subtitles are nearly totally eradicated by doing this.

I found the same re: the MM set.

If your player has a zoom function, the subtitles will remain in their usual position on the screen, they won't be cut off. Much better than ever using a TV zoom.

Unfortunatly the zoom on my Panasonic 4K player cropped the sub too. What make player do you have? thanks!

[EddieLarkin]

An Oppo.

Do you have a BD player? Zoom functions were often pared back on UHD players (both of my UHD players have none at all).

[Orlac]

An Oppo.

Do you have a BD player? Zoom functions were often pared back on UHD players (both of my UHD players have none at all).

My Sony blu-ray player has no zoom at all sadly.

[MichaelB]

Mondo Digital.

Loaded with fog, graveyards, spooky music, bats, and moody lighting, The Vampire is a blast from start to finish as well as an oft-noted link between the Universal cycle and the rip-roaring Dracula films from Hammer starting in 1958. Robles also made it into the history books as the first bona fide traditional screen vampire to bear canine fangs, which became a signature accessory thanks to the Christopher Lee, and he's great fun here as an imposing nobleman preying on the community. Absolutely matching him here is the striking Montejo, who's so compelling here she should have gotten her own spin-off movie.