VEANGEANCE OF THE ZOMBIES (originally released in Europe in 1972 as La Rebelion De Las Muertas) borrows liberally from NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, it also features lots of black magic components seen in several of the best Hammer movies like THE DEVIL RIDES OUT, COUNTESS DRACULA, and TO THE DEVIL A DAUGHTER. This Waldemar-less effort features Paul Naschy is three different roles (and Eddie Murphy was in diapers when this came out.). The sexy Elvire Irving and her researcher boyfriend Vic Winner are dragged into the black magic circle of evil caused by Naschy's characters like Krishna the Hindu magician. Naschy returns as Satan himself to round up the undead zombie mayhem during the climax.

NIGHT OF THE WEREWOLF (originally released in Europe in 1980 as El Retorno Del Hombre Lobo) was released in the US as THE CRAVING. Thanks to a bigger budget this time around, NIGHT OF THE WEREWOLF is one of Naschy's best thanks to the period castles, gothic trappings, a decent script this time, bloody mayhem, appropriate scoring, and monsters and vampires make for one hell of a treat. Once again, Waldemar Daninsky battles the undead vampires, courtesy of the legendary Elizabeth Bathory at the head of the clan.

I must say these older features look quite spectacular in High Def, thanks to BCI's bit rate adjustments and first rate transfer authoring. You can clearly see the wonderful period detail in NIGHT OF THE WEREWOLF's 1.85.1 scope transfer like never before. You can make out every brick from these authentic gothic castles. The bloody violence and 'skin' shots look stellar too. Now, you are not going to believe this, but VENGEACE OF THE ZOMBIES's 1.33.1 ratio transfer is nearly 10 years older than it's companion film here, but it looks even BETTER and SHARPER (I kid you not)!. Its pure eye candy for the demented.

As one would imagine, this BCI double feature Blu Ray compiles the special features from their standard definition counterparts. For NIGHT OF THE WEREWOLF, it includes the Paul Naschy introduction and the deleted scenes (in Spanish and English with English subtitles). Also included is the NIGHT OF THE WEREWOLF theatrical trailer, the original Spanish language credit sequence, and a NIGHT OF THE WEREWOLF still and poster gallery.

For VENGEACE OF THE ZOMBIES, extras includes the ever-popular alternate naked clothing sequences, the Paul Naschy introduction, the original Spanish language opening, the English language trailer, and a VEANGEANCE OF THE ZOMBIES still and poster gallery, which showcases the tremendous multi-national advertising campaign. Note that these special features are presented in standard definition and not high-def.

This BCI double feature is a significant release, as it earmarks the first time a European horror (and double feature too, mind you) feature is presented on the young, Blu Ray platform. So far, the Blu Ray platform is very scarce on classic films and catalog titles. So leave it to my favorite under-rated studio, BCI Home Video, to mine the genre film vaults to make these Euro-classics available on Blu Ray along with other BD double features like KILLING MACHINE/SHOGUNS NINJA, or SISTER STREET FIGHTER/SISTER STREET FIGHTER II. So whether you are a fan of either Waldimar himself, Paul Naschy, or the sadistic street fighter Sonny Chiba, you'll want to invest in these treasures for your High Def TV.

-  Brian Cleary