PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Remember when they released Amando de Ossorio’s Blind Dead films on DVD in that groovy coffin-shaped box? Not to be outdone, Synapse Films is bringing those crusty-ass Templar zombies back, in stunning high definition, starting with the original, Tombs of the Blind Dead, AKA La noche del terror ciego, on Blu-ray!
Synopsis
Medieval knights executed for their black magic rituals come back as zombies to torment a group of vacationing college kids.
Scanned from the uncut, original camera negative, Spanish director Amando de Ossorio’s (The Loreley’s Grasp) first entry into his now legendary Blind Dead series looks better than ever. The somewhat sordid tale of Roger (Cesar Burner: Green Inferno) and Virginia (Maria Elena Arpon: The House That Screamed), a couple (don’t believe the above synopsis, these ain’t college co-eds) who, coincidentally, meet up with Virginia’s old friend, Betty (Lone Fleming: The Fourth Victim), while vacationing. Roger, being the most thirsty for a three-way guy in cinema history, starts a flirtation with Betty, predictably angering Virginia, who, quite literally, jumps off a train to get away. She makes her way to the abandoned town of Berzano where, that night, she encounters the titular blind dead.
After her torn-up corpse is found the next day by a train conductor, Roger and Betty (now all cozy and enjoying their vacation together and seemingly undisturbed by her departure, who knows, maybe she was a drama queen?), decide to look into her whereabouts, and then the plot really gets cooking. Enlisting a local smuggler, Pedro (Jose Thelman: Return of the Evil Dead), and his girl, Nina (Veronica Llimera; Who Raped Linda? (?!?)), as guides, they set up shop at the ruined town, and soon fall victim to the eyeless ghouls.
Spanish horror, and maybe even Euro-horror as a whole, of this period favors atmosphere over plot, and Tombs of the Blind Dead is no exception. But in a lot of ways, the aesthetic of the undead Templars is what makes this film so goddamned cool! You almost get itchy watching their dried-up husks emerging from their graves. The fact that their horses are undead, too (and surprisingly fleshy), and come along on the flesh feast with them just adds to the oddly fascinating visuals of the film.
Plotwise, there is the usual “sins of the father” narrative (and the desiccated knights are eyeless because the crows pecked ‘em out when they were hanged) with some betrayal, superstition, and cringey casual rape thrown in for good, Euro-sleaze measure. I really enjoyed this film years ago when I first saw it, and it holds up well today, although I would advise against wearing white go-go boots when exploring ancient ruins…
The Synapse package is crammed full of everything you need! Two versions of the film—U.S. Theatrical, and the very cool, uncut Spanish and Spanish/English hybrid versions on two separate discs. The transfers and audio are as pristine as a midnight train ride through the countryside. The extras are too long to list, but feature commentaries and interviews with a plethora of film scholars, filmmakers, critics, and actors concerning the film. And for film history buffs, there’s a feature-length documentary on the history of Spanish zombie films. All of this, and more, is packaged in a slick, black Blu case with the original, vivid box art. Tombs of the Blind Dead is another winner of a retro release from the reliable crew at Synapse!
Tombs of the Blind Dead is available now on Blu-ray, from Synapse Films at fine retailers.
