Blu-ray Film Review | Radiance

I Vampiri (1957) • Limited Edition Blu-ray [Radiance] — Gothic grandeur overshadows plot problems in Italy’s first horror movie

Young women are found dead in Paris, drained of blood, so a journalist investigates and is seduced by a beautiful woman from a noble family.

I Vampiri may not be a great film, but it is a very important one and represents a considerable achievement when the circumstances of its production are considered. It is also a pivotal moment in the history of horror cinema as well as the careers of its two immensely influential directors: Riccardo Freda and Mario Bava. So, this newly restored print from Radiance on Blu-ray, boasting a beautiful 2K restoration of the unadulterated Italian theatrical version, will be welcomed by connoisseurs of Italian Gothic — the subgenre it spawned. It’s presented here alongside the significantly re-hashed UK and US cuts, respectively titled Lust of the Vampire and The Devil’s Commandment.