Planet of the Vampires

In the outer reaches of deep space, the spaceship Galliott answers a distress signal from Aura, an unexplored planet. As the ship attempts to land, members of the crew inexplicably begin to attack one another. This is the start of a terrifying expedition into the unknown, one plagued by paranoia, possession and violent mayhem wrought upon the unsuspecting explorers by the planet’s mysterious inhabitants. A sci-fi horror hybrid from genre master Mario Bava (Blood and Black Lace), Planet of the Vampires is widely regarded as one of the most influential genre films ever made, with a clear influence on films such as Alien and Pitch Black. With a uniquely chilly atmosphere and fantastic production design that belies its low budget origins, Planet of the Vampires is a true genre classic.

LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES

• 4K scan of the film from the original negative under the supervision of Lamberto Bava and carried out at Fotocinema in Rome in collaboration with CSC Cineteca Nazionale 
• High-Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation of the Italian (89 mins) and English (88 mins) versions of the film 
• Alternate Kendall Schmidt score
• Uncompressed mono audio
• Archival audio commentary by Tim Lucas, author of Mario Bava: All the Colors of the Dark (2014)
• Transmissions from a Haunted World - A new documentary which explores Planet of the Vampires, Mario Bava and the connection between gothic and science fiction. Co-directed by Dima Ballin and Kat Ellinger; featuring interviews with Guy Adams, Xavier Aldana Reyes, Alexandra Benedict, Johnny Mains and John Llewellyn Probert (2024, 41mins)
• Archival interview with Lamberto Bava (2022, 13 mins)
• Super 8 Version - a reconstruction of the cut-down version distributed as Planet der Vampire (17 mins)
• Joe Dante and Josh Olsen trailer commentaries - the filmmakers provide a short overview of the film (2013/14, 4 mins and 2 mins)
  
• Trailer
• Press and image gallery from the Tim Lucas / Alan Y. Upchurch collection
• Optional English subtitles for Italian audio and English SDH for English audio
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Time Tomorrow
• Limited edition 80-page book featuring new writing by Kyle Anderson, Martyn Conterio, Barry Forshaw, George Daniel Lea and Jerome Reuter 
• Limited edition 20-page booklet featuring a new translation of Renato Pestriniero’s original short story
• A collection of six exclusive postcards featuring promotional material
• Limited edition of 5000 copies, presented in rigid box and full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings 

This item is included in the multi-month Bundle Package "2024 Bundle 5/12" which includes Shinobi, Planet of the Vampires and Trenque Lauquen, customers who ordered this package will automatically receive this release.

Cert: 15
Format: Blu-ray
Region: ABC
RAD053BDLE
EAN: 5060974681006
Release date: 27/05/24

Press:

"Bava’s masterful use of vibrantly colored lights, evocative set and model designs, and jaw-dropping in-camera effects lends the film more atmosphere per frame than many a big-budget sci-fi extravaganza" - Slant

"Bava's film is really the only legitimate Italian science fiction film of the era capable of being appreciated as a genuine work of art" - Mondo Digital

"an atmospheric science fiction horror film that's gorgeous to look at" - The Digital Bits