Released in the U.S with one of the most hilariously misleading titles of all time, Planet of the Vampires is a 1965 Italian science-fiction film that was always a bit more than typical drive-in fodder. At a glance, one might be tempted to write it off as B-movie buffoonery, but that would be selling it short.
First off, the film is directed by Mario Bava, the legend behind such classics as Black Sunday, Blood and Black Lace and Black Sabbath. If you’ve seen any of those, you know Bava’s work is almost always aesthetically striking and Planet of the Vampires is no exception. Sure, some of the special effects are a little daffy, such as the film’s depiction of spaceflight, but the production design is gorgeous and bursting with vivid color…like a sci-fi Suspiria, if you will.
The film is also historically important, mainly because of its obvious influence on one of the greatest sci-fi/horror movies ever made. See if this rings a bell…responding to an unknown distress signal, two ships land on a remote planet, where the crew finds a derelict alien spacecraft, as well as the giant fossilized skeletal remains of its pilots. But something more malevolent awaits the crew. Sensing a bit of deja vu yet? If you were to take the first half of this film and the second half of It! The Terror from Beyond Space, you’ve got the basic plot of Alien. Over the years, Planet of the Vampires has been acknowledged as a major influence on that classic.
Watching it for the first time for this review, I was certainly surprised. It’s been my experience that, when it comes to horror and sci-fi, it’s usually the Italians doing the copying.
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But really, Planet of the Vampires is entertaining just to look at. Not only is it beautifully shot, there’s a lot of creative imagination behind the planet’s surreal landscape, hellish sky and volcanic terrain. Considering the film’s budget, the technical aspects are really impressive. And it all looks & sounds wonderful with this 4K UHD restoration from Radiance Films.
In fact, this might be the best Radiance physical media release I’ve had the opportunity to review so far, and not just because of the picture and sound quality. Regardless of what one thinks about the movie itself, this attractively packaged two-disc set (including a Blu-ray) is loaded with great bonus features. Some are old, some are new, but all of them are entertaining and provide plenty of backstory and context. Whether you love the film, appreciate its influence or simply enjoy the imagery, this is worth grabbing. Just don’t expect any actual vampires.
EXTRA KIBBLES
4K & BLU-RAY COPIES
ITALIAN & ENGLISH VERSIONS - English version also includes an option to play it with a different music score, by Kendall Schmitt
FEATURETTES - The best of the bonus features, Transmissions from a Haunted World is a new 40-minute retrospective documentary; Lamberto Bava is an archival interview with director Mario Bava’s son, who later carved a nice directorial career himself (most notably, Demons), and worked with a father on this one.
AUDIO COMMENTARY - By Tim Lucas.
2 “TRAILERS FROM HELL” SEGMENTS - Featuring Joe Dante and Josh Olson.
SUPER 8 VERSION - Studios used to offer shortened versions (10-20 minutes long) of certain movies for sale on single 8mm reels (pretty much the only way to “own” a film back then). This one includes both English and Italian versions.
SUPPLEMENTAL BOOK - An 80-page book featuring five essays, photos, poster art, cast, crew & transfer credits.
“ONE NIGHT OF 21 HOURS” - Another booklet features the original short story, by Renato Pestriniero, on which the film was based.
6 POSTCARDS - Featuring poster art from around the world.
STILL GALLERY
TRAILER
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