Jean Rollin On 4KUHD From Indicator

Film distribution label Indicator have recently put out two vampiric French vampire flicks. The Shiver of the Vampires (1971) and Two Orphan Vampires (1997). Each film comes in a thin hard bound slip box, very swish indeed. Both sets contain perfect bound books to accompany the films, featuring lots of essays and on set photographs. I purchased both sets as blind buys. To put it to you straight, they are well worth the £24.99 UK price tag. The artwork on both look awesome and really scream watch me. Although there is no newly commissioned art, the original poster art fits perfectly with what Indicator are known for putting out. Shiver of the Vampire’s pops magnificently, with an abundance of orange and a splash of green.

Each set is loaded with special features, giving you the opportunity to dive further into each movie’s production. I have viewed the two films for the first time and can say they are both excellent French style horrors. It’s easy to see why Jean Rollin is renowned as a master of vampiric style.

Two Orphan Vampires

A tale of two siblings, their craving for blood and a comfortable place they can call home. The film starts in an eerie orphanage equipped with a creepy cemetery, for the sisters to dwell in the late hours. They are soon adopted by an eye doctor and sneak out venturing the streets. They long to feel like they have significant origins and try to avoid temptation however their blood lust consumes them. With it’s sombre colour pallet, quirky characters and elaborate ideas to add to the lure of vampire mythology. I will say this had me gripped and the ending was executed very stylistically.

The shiver of the Vampires

Looking equally as good in UHD, Shiver of the vampires delivers a mysterious, predominantly one location, stylish horror thriller. Its best to go in blind as things unravel, not say to the plot is complex at all, it is actually simple. The film is dialogue heavy with fairly graphic nudity scattered throughout. The castle where the film takes place adds to the old worldly feel although being set in the seventies. The final scenes are fantastically strange giving you an ending only a seventies film could pull off.

Final thoughts

Both sets are presented wonderfully with each film being a vampiric French treat. This is definitely a director who’s filmography is going to be binged by me at some point. The sets are limited editions so purchase whilst they are available. Have some piece of mind however as standard 4K’s of the films will be released from Indicator eventually. There is also a Blu ray edition of each set available.