By MICHAEL GINGOLD

The Knights Templar ride again in high definition, and their first stop is a popular horror convention.

At the Cinema Wasteland con this weekend in Strongsville, OH, Synapse Films will be selling a limited number of prerelease copies of its Steelbook Blu-ray release of Amando de Ossorio’s 1971 classic TOMBS OF THE BLIND DEAD. The saga of the long-dead, sightless Knights rising from the grave to terrorize a group of vacationers has been restored from the original uncut camera negative for this three-disc set. This limited-edition (4,000 units) package features Steelbook art by Wes Benscoter and a slipcover bearing the original theatrical poster, plus a booklet with liner notes by film historian/home video columnist Patrick McCabe. The full contents are:

Disc 1

• Original Spanish-language and English/Spanish hybrid soundtrack versions
• Lossless Spanish PCM 2.0 mono soundtrack
• Lossless “hybrid” English/Spanish PCM 2.0 mono soundtrack
• Optional English subtitles for the Spanish track and the Spanish sections of the hybrid soundtrack
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the hybrid soundtrack
• Audio commentary by horror film historian and author Troy Howarth
• Audio commentary by star Lone Fleming
• Audio commentary by Rod Barnett and Troy Guinn of the NaschyCast podcast
• MARAUDERS FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN, a feature-length documentary exploring the history of the Spanish zombie film, featuring interviews with NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD writer/producer John Russo, Sitges Film Festival deputy director Mike Hostench, film critic John Martin, academic Calum Waddell, THE LIVING DEAD AT MANCHESTER MORGUE director Jorge Grau, TOMBS OF THE BLIND DEAD star Lone Fleming, actors Helga Liné, Manuel de Blas, Antonio Mayans and Jack Taylor, Paul Naschy’s son Sergio Molina, author/film critic Kim Newman and academic/writer Steve Jones
• REVENGE OF PLANET APE: alternate U.S. opening sequence
• Awakening of Spanish Horror Cinema featurette
• Salem’s Pop “Templar’s Tears” music video
• Original theatrical trailer
• Still gallery

Disc 2

• Re-edited U.S. theatrical cut of the film
• Lossless English PCM 2.0 mono soundtrack
• Optional English subtitles

Disc 3: Exclusive TRIBUTE TO THE TEMPLARS CD
Audio CD created exclusively for this limited edition, containing music inspired by TOMBS OF THE BLIND DEAD. Featuring tunes from Zoltan, Cathedral, Hooded Menace, Machetazo and The Transylvania Hellhounds

A general release announcement for TOMBS OF THE BLIND DEAD including ordering information is coming soon. Synapse’s Don May Jr. discusses the creation of the set here.