By MICHAEL GINGOLD
Following its debut at the Cinema Wasteland convention earlier this month, the hi-def disc release of the Spanish classic can now be seen by everyone.
Synapse Films has made its three-disc Steelbook Blu-ray edition of Amando de Ossorio’s 1971 shocker TOMBS OF THE BLIND DEAD available exclusively at its website ($49.95 with free USPS shipping); international orders are being handled by DiabolikDVD. The saga of a group of vacationers terrorized by the living-dead, sightless Knights Templar has been restored in 2K from the original uncut camera negative, and this limited edition (4,000 units) is packaged in 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 complete specs are:
Disc 1
- Original Spanish-language and English/Spanish hybrid soundtrack versions of the uncut film (101 minutes)
- 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 (83 minutes)
- 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
See comments by Synapse’s Don May Jr. about how this set came together here.
