The Vampire Lovers - Scream Factory Blu-ray Review

THE VAMPIRE LOVERS

If you dare...taste the deadly passion of the blood-nymphs!

Year: 1970

Director: Roy Ward Baker

Writer: Tudor Gates
Starring: Ingrid Pitt, Madeline Smith, Peter Cushing

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"A female vampire with lesbian tendencies ravages the young girls and townsfolk of a peaceful hamlet in eighteenth century Europe who, years earlier, killed off her fellow vampires. A rousing hunt for the vampiress ensues as a group of men follow her bloody trail of terror through the countryside. Adapted from J. Sheridan LeFanu's novella "Carmilla," The Vampire Lovers stars Ingrid Pitt, George Cole and Peter Cushing."

Coming April 30th from Shout! Factory's Scream Factory line is the Blu-ray debut of The Vampire Lovers, the 1970 Hammer film directed by Roy Ward Baker which stars the beautiful Madeline Smith, Ingrid Pitt and the not quite as beautiful Peter Cushing. Cushing in a Hammer vampire film, what?! This was originally released by MGM in 2003 under their beloved Midnite Movies line, paired up as a double feature with Countess Dracula. Despite the fact that I own the MGM DVD - and have since 2003, this was actually my first viewing of The Vampire Lovers.

Lifeforce and Vampire Lovers Blu-Ray

Following March's From Beyond and Phantasm II releases, Scream Factory will be unleashing Lifeforce and The Vampire Lovers on Blu-ray April 30th

From the Press Release:
Horror/sci-fi enthusiasts and movie collectors, rejoice! SCREAM FACTORY™ will unleash the special effects extravaganza LIFEFORCE from director Tobe Hooper (The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Poltergeist) and THE VAMPIRE LOVERS from Hammer Film Productions on April 30, 2013. These two much-loved cult film classics debut for the first time on Blu-ray. LIFEFORCE will be presented as a Collector’s Edition Blu-ray™ + DVD combo pack that boasts the rare original theatrical version of the film (available on the Blu-ray disc only) and its longer international cut, plus newly rendered retro-style artwork and a reversible wrap with original theatrical key art. Both home entertainment collections of LIFEFORCE and THE VAMPIRE LOVERS feature high-definition anamorphic widescreen presentations and new exciting bonus content!
LIFEFORCE Collector’s Edition Blu-ray™ + DVD combo pack is priced to own at $29.93; THE VAMPIRE LOVERS Blu-ray™ has a suggested retail price of $19.97.
***Avid horror movie fans and collectors take note: Those who order LIFEFORCE from Scream Factory will receive the exclusive 18”x24” poster featuring the newly commissioned artwork. Only 300 posters will be printed, so these are available while supplies last.***

LIFEFORCE Collector’s Edition Blu-ray™ + DVD Combo Pack
From the director of Poltergeist and the co-writer of Alien comes a thrilling sci-fi adventure of explosive action and pulse-pounding suspense! With mind-blowing special effects by Academy Award® winner John Dykstra (1977 Best Visual Effects, Star Wars), Lifeforce is a gripping mélange of genres that’s “so bizarre, it’s fascinating” (Leonard Maltin)!
A mission to investigate Halley's Comet discovers an even stranger phenomenon: an alien spacecraft! Following a deadly confrontation, the aliens arrive on Earth, where their seductive leader begins a terrifying campaign to drain the lifeforce of everyone she encounters. Her victims, in turn, continue the cycle, and soon the entire planet is in mortal danger. And when the mission's sole survivor (Steve Railsback – The Stunt Man) sets out to destroy her, he comes face to face with the most charming - and horrifying – being he's ever known. Will he be able to destroy the lovely vampiress...or will he become yet another victim of her fatal charm?
Special Features

Both Theatrical & International Versions (Theatrical cut available on the Blu-ray only.)

New Audio Commentary with Director Tobe Hooper

New Retrospective with Cast & Crew including Star Steve Railsback, Director Tobe Hooper and others!

Original vintage “Making-Of Lifeforce” Featurette

Original Theatrical Trailer

TV Spot

Still Gallery

And more to be announced!

THE VAMPIRE LOVERS Blu-ray™
A female vampire with lesbian tendencies ravages the young girls and townsfolk of a peaceful hamlet in eighteenth century Europe who, years earlier, killed off her fellow vampires. A rousing hunt for the vampiress ensues as a group of men follow her bloody trail of terror through the countryside. Adapted from J. Sheridan LeFanu's novella "Carmilla," The Vampire Lovers stars Ingrid Pitt, George Cole and Peter Cushing.
Now this “rather erotic Hammer chiller” (Leonard Maltin) appears on Blu-ray for the first time… If you dare, come into a twilight world of unspeakable horror and taste the deadly passion of the blood-nymphs!

Special Features

Feature Length Commentary with Roy Ward Baker (Director), Tudor Gates (Writer) and Ingrid Pitt (Carmilla) moderated by Jonathan Sothcott.

Excerpts from the novella Carmilla, which inspired the film, read by Ingrid Pitt

Original Theatrical Trailer

New Interview with Madeline Smith (Emma)

New Interviews with Hammer Films Scholars

Original Radio Spot

Visit the Scream Factory website to preorder today.