Search - Planet of the Vampires on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Questionable for Children Movie Release: 1965 DVD Release: 08/28/2001 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 28 mins Studio: MGM Members Wishing: 3 Genres: Science Fiction, Horror, Alien Film, Sci-Fi Horror

This classic blend of science-fiction and horror belies its extremely low budget with buckets of atmosphere and some genuinely creepy setpieces. The story concerns the crews of two spaceships, who land on a foggy, seemingly deserted planet. What they don't know is that the planet was home to a race of vampiric aliens, who possess their minds, eventually rising from their strange, misty graves to seek human blood. Legendary director Mario Bava once again proves himself a master at atmospheric composition, using color, sound, and minimalistic sets in original and unnerving ways. Barry Sullivan stars with Angel Aranda and Brazilian actress Norma Bengell. The American version, running several minutes shorter than the original, was put together by Ib Melchior (The Angry Red Planet). ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide

Barry Sullivan - Capt. Mark Markary
Norma Bengell - Sanya
Angel Aranda - Wess
Evi Marandi - Tiona
Fernando Villena - Karan

Though the great Italian genre director Mario Bava was known more for his melodramatic gothic horror films than anything else, his 1965 film Planet of the Vampires shows that he was also adept at working in the science fiction genre.
MGM Home Entertainment's DVD is a great treat for Bava fans, as the film's transfer is absolutely beautiful to behold. The director's visual trademarks (garish color filters, ingenious optical special effects) are perfectly showcased here. The film has never looked so surreal and visually startling on home video as it does here. The picture is presented in its accurate theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1, though it has not been enhanced for widescreen televisions. Regardless, the transfer is excellent and free of any noticeable compression problems or digital artifacts. Colors never bleed and the overall picture appears stable throughout. Great to finally see this low-budget pulp science fiction film look so sharp and crisp after all these years.
The English mono soundtrack is clean throughout and perfectly suitable. The disc has also been equipped with French and Spanish subtitles. A great and very hysterical theatrical trailer has also been included. Interesting to compare the trailer's subpar visual condition to the remastered quality of the film itself. An overall excellent bare-bones disc and a must for any Bava fan. ~ Derek Hill, All Movie Guide