I Vampiri 1957 Lust of the Vampire Blu-ray Radiance Mario Bava Riccardo Freda

Classic Italian horror that started the Gothic boom!

Introducing Radiance Film's Limited Edition Blu-ray for I vampiri, a 1957 Italian thriller from Riccardo Freda (The Horrible Dr. Hichcock). A mad scientist captures young women in Paris and drains them of their blood in service of an evil Duchess. Also known as Lust of the Vampire, Riccardo Freda’s I vampiri mixes the Bathory and Frankenstein stories to create its gothic tale, Italy’s first horror film.

Made as a challenge by Freda at breakneck speed, cinematographer Mario Bava would complete direction and post-production of the film, adding his signature in the process. With its baroque imagery and stunning visuals, I vampiri forged the path for Italian horror and remains a landmark of Italian cinema history.

Limited Edition Features: 

• Reversible sleeve featuring artwork based on original posters
• Booklet featuring new writing by Roberto Curti, author of Italian Gothic Horror Films, 1957-1969
• Limited Edition of 5000 copies, presented in full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings

Features: 

• 2K restoration of the film presented with Italian audio
• Alternate presentation of the UK Lust of the Vampire cut, newly transferred for this release from archival materials courtesy of the BFI National Archive (1959, 66 mins)
• Alternate SD presentation of the US The Devil’s Commandment cut (1960, 72 mins)
• Audio commentary by Tim Lucas (2023)
• Bloodthirst - a featurette on the making of the film with Fabio Melelli, Mario Bava and Dario Michaelis (2013, 17 mins)
• Interview with Lamberto Bava (2022, 15 mins)
• Interview with Leon Hunt, author of Mario Bava: The Artisan as Italian Horror Auteur (2024, 21 mins)
• The Devil’s Commandment trailer
• Optional English subtitles for Italian audio and English SDH for English audio

Technical Specs:

• Year: 1957
• Region Code: ABC
• Audio: Mono
• Picture: 2.35:1
• Runtime: 82
• Language: Italian/English
• Subtitles: English