SHADOW OF DEATH (1969)
Label: Mondo Macabro
Region Code: Region-Free
Rating: Unrated
Duration: 92 Minutes 16 Seconds
Audio: Spanish and English PCM 2,0 Mono with Optional English Spanish and English Subtitles
Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.85:1)
Director: Xavier Seto
Cast: Larry Ward, Teresa Gimpera, Giacomo Rossi Stuart, Fernando Sánchez Polack, Silvana Venturelli
In this twisty Spanish/Italian co-production Shadow of Death (1969) a mysterious man named Gert (Giacomo Rossi Stuart, The Crimes of the Black Cat) arrives in a dreary northern Spanish town looking to reconnect with his former lover/showgirl Denise (Teresa Gimpera, The Spirit of the Beehive), who is now married to the well-off John (Larry Ward, The Deathhead Virgin). Gert's presence threatens Denise and John's twin brother Peter's (Ward again) diabolical plan to steal her husbands money and run off together to Paris, not by killing him but by driving him mad through drug induced brainwashing and taking advantage of his epileptic seizures as a cover, and to frame him for the murder of Peter's other lover Annie (Silvana Venturelli, Camille 2000). The overly convoluted plan is actually seems to be coming along quite well, but Gert proves to be a dangerous figure in need of cash to pay off some life-threatening debts, and when he stumbles upon their plan he blackmails the cheating lovers with unexpected consequences, chock full of whiplash inducing twists and turns that make for a wild thriller.
In this twisty Spanish/Italian co-production Shadow of Death (1969) a mysterious man named Gert (Giacomo Rossi Stuart, The Crimes of the Black Cat) arrives in a dreary northern Spanish town looking to reconnect with his former lover/showgirl Denise (Teresa Gimpera, The Spirit of the Beehive), who is now married to the well-off John (Larry Ward, The Deathhead Virgin). Gert's presence threatens Denise and John's twin brother Peter's (Ward again) diabolical plan to steal her husbands money and run off together to Paris, not by killing him but by driving him mad through drug induced brainwashing and taking advantage of his epileptic seizures as a cover, and to frame him for the murder of Peter's other lover Annie (Silvana Venturelli, Camille 2000). The overly convoluted plan is actually seems to be coming along quite well, but Gert proves to be a dangerous figure in need of cash to pay off some life-threatening debts, and when he stumbles upon their plan he blackmails the cheating lovers with unexpected consequences, chock full of whiplash inducing twists and turns that make for a wild thriller.
This is a Spanish thriller that's often called a Spanish Giallo, but to me it has more of a noir/psychological thriller vibe, along the lines of something like Les Diaboliques (1955). It's notable for it's twists and surreal drug-induced brainwashing sequences, I rather enjoyed it, plus it's greatly aided by a groovy score from Franco Micalizzi (The Cynic, the Rat and the Fist), plus some moody lensing by cinematographer Antonio Piazza that captures the atmosphere and the dreary locations nicely, adding a layer of unease to the proceedings. I thought Ward was a bit lifeless in both roles, but Giacomo Rossi Stuart as the scar-faced Gert and Teresa Gimpera as the icy femme fatale (and who is quite a looker) more than make up for it.
Audio/Video: Shadow of Death (1969) makes it's US Blu-ray debut from Mondo Macabro in 1080p HD widescreen (1.85:1), this being the original Spanish version, restored from 35mm negative. The source material looks fantastic, there are only minor blemishes that don't prove too distracting and colors looks solid throughout. Audio comes by way of original Spanish or English PCM 2,0 Mono with optional Spanish or English subtitles. Both tracks are solid though I give the edge to the Spanish audio. Dialogue exchanges are precise, the score sounds great and both tracks are largely free of any hiss or distortion though there are a few spots where hiss creeps in.
Bonus features include a 20-min Interview with Ángel Sala, director of the Sitges International Film Festival; 7-min of Alternate Scenes; a 3-min Original English Trailer; and a 13-min Mondo Macabro Promo Reel. The single-disc release arrives in a standard keepcase with a single-sided sleeve of artwork featuring an attractive illustration.
Special Features:
- Original Spanish version, digitally restored from 35mm negative.
- Interview with Ángel Sala, director of the Sitges International Film Festival (20:14)
- Original Spanish version, digitally restored from 35mm negative.
- Interview with Ángel Sala, director of the Sitges International Film Festival (20:14)
- Alternate Scenes (6:33)
- Original English Trailer (2:32)
- Mondo Macabro Promo Reel (13:29)
- Original English Trailer (2:32)
- Mondo Macabro Promo Reel (13:29)
Screenshots from the Mondo Macabro Blu-ray:
Extras:
