Daughters of Darkness [Special Edition] [2 Discs]

"Daughters Of Darkness has finally received a definitive DVD presentation with this lavish, double-disc reissue from Blue Underground. It boasts a new high-definition, anamorphic transfer that is a noticeable improvement on past editions, offering a lot more depth in both color and detail. In terms of sound, the disc uses the original mono soundtrack and it acquits itself fine, with a nice balance of dialogue and the film's odd, rock-tinged musical score. This set also includes plentiful extras. The first disc offers a pair of commentaries from prior editions of this film. First is a track with director/co-writer Harry Kumel that was created for the original Blue Underground disc. Kumel offers plenty of comments on his choices as a filmmaker as well as on-the-set stories, with moderator David Gregory providing the right amount of prompting in the necessary spots. The other track originated with the laserdisc of this title and features actor John Karlen discussing the film with journalist David Del Valle. It's a relaxed, informal chat that is often very witty and offers a different (but no less interesting) perspective on the film. Also included on the first disc is a trio of featurettes. Two of them are exclusive to this edition: ""Locations of Darkness"" features Kumel and producer Pierre Druout revisiting the film's locations to discuss their memories of the film while ""Playing The Victim"" is an interview with star Danielle Ouimet that features her discussing the film and her career as an actress. The final featurette is ""Daughter Of Darkness,"" an interview with Andrea Rau that appeared on the original Blue Underground disc. The first disc is rounded out by the film's trailer and a quartet of amusingly kitschy radio spots for the film. The second disc is devoted to The Blood Spattered Bride, a Spanish film that is also part of the 'lesbian vampire' subgenre of 1970's horror films. It's an interesting counterpart to Daughters Of Darkness because it is just as artsy as that film but takes the thematic material in a different, more masculine-minded direction. A trailer for the film's American release (on a double bill with I Dismember Mama) is also included. All in all, this special edition gives Daughter Of Darkness the deluxe treatment it deserves and adds further value with its many extras (not to mention the bonus film). Needless to say, it's a must for the Eurocult aficionado."