Forgotten Gialli: Volume 2 (BLU-RAY)
With the giallo at its peak in the early 70s, it seemed that every filmmaker working in Italy was vying to make one and put their unique creative stamp on this highly popular genre. Presented here are a trio of early 70s gialli, all directed by filmmakers who had never made one before - or after - and all presenting wildly different approaches to the genre’s most prevalent trappings, ranging from deliriously sleazy, to high camp, to unwaveringly grim and sombre. All three films are presented in brand new and exclusive restorations of their original, uncensored, 35mm camera negatives. Vinegar Syndrome is proud to present the second entry in their 'Forgotten Gialli' series.
THE GIRL IN ROOM 2A
After being released from prison, a young woman named Margaret goes to stay at a halfway house for female ex-cons, run by the kindly Mrs. Grant. It’s not long before Margaret begins experiencing strange happenings in the old house, such as a recurring red stain on the floor. And worse, she begins to be plagued by visions of young women being tortured and murdered by a mysterious figure in a red hood. But things take an even more unsettling turn when she befriends Charlie, who is searching for his sister, who has disappeared after staying in Mrs. Grant’s house...
A bizarre giallo directed by American exploitation filmmaker, William L. Rose (Rent-A-Girl) and produced by globe trotting sleaze impresario, Dick Randall (For Y’ur Height Only). THE GIRL IN ROOM 2A (or ‘House of Fear’ in Italian) plays like an American roughie that’s been dressed as a murder mystery. Chock full of surprisingly brutal torture sequences, which are juxtaposed with classic spook show horror antics, the film stars some of Italy’s cult movie stalwarts, headlined by Daniela Giordano (Bloody Friday), Rosalba Neri (Lady Frankenstein), Raf Vallone (The Godfather III), and Karin Schubert (Christina). Vinegar Syndrome is pleased to present THE GIRL IN ROOM 2A in a brand new 2K restoration of its original 35mm camera negative and in its longest and most complete version ever presented on disc!
Directed by: William L. Rose
Starring: Daniela Giordano, Rosalba Neri, Raf Vallone, Karin Schubert
1974 / 86 min / 1.66:1 / English and Italian Sound
• Region Free Blu-ray
• Newly scanned & restored in 2k from its 35mm original negative
• Includes both the English and Italian language dubbed soundtracks
• Archival interview with actress Daniela Giordano
• Audio essay by film historian and critic Rachael Nisbet
• Original trailer (sourced from tape)
• Promotional still gallery
• English subtitles
THE FRENCH SEX MURDERS
Following the brutal death of a prostitute at an exclusive Parisian brothel, grizzled Inspector Fontaine is brought in to investigate. After implicating Antoine, a petty thief and regular client of the murdered woman, Fontaine believes the case to be closed. However, Antoine makes a daring attempt to escape custody, only to get decapitated in the process, after which his eyes are given over to strange Professor Waldemar for study. But soon enough those affiliated with implicating him begin to meet their own violent ends. Has Antoine's vengeful spirit returned to kill those he believes responsible for his own gruesome fate? Or has another, more sinister character been behind these diabolical murders from the very beginning?
A sublimely trashy giallo produced by Dick Randall (Don't Open Till Christmas) and helmed by career assistant director, Ferdinando Merighi (as F.L. Morris), THE FRENCH SEX MURDERS constantly straddles the line between a clever murder mystery and a distinctly 70s sleaze-fest, chock full of gore and nudity. Starring Humphrey Bogart lookalike Robert Sacchi (the film was briefly retitled Call Girls For Inspector Bogart!), alongside Euro-sleaze favorites Howard Vernon (Awful Dr. Orlof), Rosalba Neri (Devil's Wedding Night), Barbara Bouchet (Don't Torture a Duckling), and Anita Ekberg (Killer Nun), Vinegar Syndrome is proud to present the world Blu-ray debut of this cult favorite, newly restored from its original 35mm camera negative!
Directed by: Ferdinando Merighi
Starring: Robert Sacchi, Howard Vernon, Rosalba Neri, Barbara Bouchet, Anita Ekberg
1972 / 91 min / 1.85:1 / English and Italian Sound
• Region Free Blu-ray
• Newly scanned & restored in 2k from its 35mm original negative
• Includes both the English and Italian language dubbed soundtracks
• Historical commentary track with authors and film historians Kat Ellinger and Samm Deighan
• “The Wild, Wild World of Dick Randall” - a featurette on the career of producer Dick Randall
• Promotional still gallery
• English subtitles
MY DEAR KILLER
After a man is decapitated by an excavator at a rural construction site, Inspector Luca Peretti is assigned to the case. But what initially seems to be an isolated killing soon paves the way for an ever growing number of vicious murders. As Peretti tries desperately to unmask the killer, he discovers that all of the victims were, in some way, connected to another shocking crime, the horrific murder of a young girl, which has remained unsolved for several years...
Directed by Tonino Valerii (Day of Anger), who is best known for making spaghetti westerns, MY DEAR KILLER was his sole foray into the giallo genre. The result is a handsomely produced and unrelenting mystery-thriller that revels in clever twists and brutally depicted murders. Starring favorite giallo leading man, George Hilton (The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh) along side William Berger (Keoma), Patty Shepard (Slugs) and Helga Line (Horror Express), Valerii crafts a tight and suspenseful film which is further anchored by Manuel Rojas’ (Bell From Hell) long-take heavy cinematography and Ennio Morricone's (The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly) unnerving jazz and percussion based soundtrack. Vinegar Syndrome is proud to present this sleeper masterpiece of prime era giallo cinema on Blu-ray, from a stunning new 4K restoration of its 35mm original negative.
Directed by: Tonino Valerii
Starring: George Hilton, William Berger, Patty Shepard, Helga Line
1972 / 100 min / 2.35:1 / English and Italian Sound
• Region Free Blu-ray
• Newly scanned & restored in 4k from its 35mm original negative
• Includes both the original Italian language and the English dubbed version, with the English version being sourced from tape
• “Innocence Lost” a brand new video interview with writer Roberto Leoni (40 min)
• Archival interview with actor George Hilton and director Tonino Valerii
• English subtitles