DANZA MACABRA VOLUME 3: THE SPANISH GOTHIC COLLECTION is the latest in our acclaimed series of Gothic Horror Blu-ray box sets and the first to focus on Spain’s tradition of Gothic Horror, which – particularly during the Franco dictatorship – was characterized by daring concepts, lush visuals, extreme sexuality, and a startling aestheic all its own. These four classic shockers from the 1970s represent the genre at its most audacious: In NECROPHAGOUS, the debut feature by writer/director Miguel Madrid, a fractured family in a crumbling castle conceals a grisly graveyard secret. The anthology film CAKE OF BLOOD – never previously available outside of Spain – presents a quartet of supernatural tales by four young filmmakers. Hammer Films director John Gilling brings his inimitable style to the occult thriller in CROSS OF THE DEVIL. And a terminally ill woman is enticed by eternal life in Leon Klimovsky’s vampire masterwork, NIGHT OF THE WALKING DEAD. Each film in this collection has been scanned from its original negative – with over 8 hours of Special Features – for the first time ever in America.
What We Thought:
Danza Macabra Volume Three: The Spanish Gothic Collection is a beautiful box set with four Spanish films hitting Blu-ray in North America for the first time. The 4 movies come in their own individual Blu-ray cases inside a very cool box that opens up to see the four Blu-ray cases.
Necrophagous is about a nobleman who returns to his family castle to find out his wife died while giving birth to their child who also died. But the story isn’t that simple, her body is missing as are others in the graveyard. The doctor seems shady and their is a doctor/scientist type who seems to be doing experiments that aren’t working out. There are some cool practical effects with the graveyard creature.
Cake of Blood is an anthology film with four segments. They take place in different time periods including the Middle Ages, the Roman era with vampires, a take on Frankenstein and more. Like all anthology films, certain segments are better than others.
Cross of the Devil is from Hammer director John Gilling and is about a writer who goes home when his sister is murdered. The Knights Templar are the bad guys in this one as their ghosts are sort of a condemned cult that no one wants to be around in a certain place at a certain time. The name of this site is The Nerds Templar so you know I’ll watch anything with Templar storylines.
The Night of the Walking Dead isn’t about zombies, it’s a pretty cool vampire flick. A dying woman finds herself involved with a vampire who she wants to turn her. Her father is a religious man and the town fear the walking dead vampires. Like most vampire flicks of the time, it’s pretty sexy and you can see vampiric lore even back then.
Danza Macabra Volume Three: The Spanish Gothic Collection is a collection of some pretty obscure horror. I binged the four movies over two days and thought Cross of the Devil and The Night of the Walking Dead were the best of the four. If you are into gothic horror and/or obscure Spanish cinema then this is a must own. Each film comes with its own set of bonus features and the case itself is really something special. I wish I had gotten previous volumes after watching this.
NECROPHAGOUS Special Features
Audio Commentary With Andy Marshall-Roberts, Host Of The Nasty Pasty Podcast
Something You’ve Never Seen – Appreciation By Ángel Sala, Head Of Programming At The Sitges Film Festival
The First Horror Film Festival In The World – Remembrance By Maria Pilar Rafáles, Daughter Of Sitges Film Festival Founder Antonio Rafáles
Trailers
BLOOD Special Features
Audio Commentary With Rod Barnett Of NaschyCast And The Bloody Pit, And Dr. Adrian Smith, Co-Author Of Norman J. Warren: Gentleman of Terror
My Generation – Interview With Actress Marisa Paredes
I Just Wanted To Have Fun – Interview With Co-Director Jaime Chávarri
To Whoever Wants To Watch – Interview With Actor José Lifante
An Arthouse UFO – Appreciation By Ángel Sala, Head Of Programming At The Sitges Film Festival
CROSS OF THE DEVIL Special Features
Audio Commentary With Kim Newman, Author Of Anno Dracula, And Barry Forshaw, Author Of Brit Noir
Fascinated By Bécquer – Interview With Screenwriter Juan José Porto
The Real Templar Knights Movie – Appreciation By Ángel Sala, Head Of Programming At The Sitges Film Festival
Fantasy And Imagination: The Legacy Of Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer – Video Essay By Xavier Aldana Reyes, Author Of Spanish Gothic: National Identity, Collaboration And Cultural Adaptation
THE NIGHT OF THE WALKING DEAD Special Features
Audio Commentary With Kat Ellinger, Author Of Daughters Of Darkness
A Deadly Invitation To Another Dimension – Appreciation By Ángel Sala, Head Of Programming At The Sitges Film Festival
Leo’s Signature – Interview With Writer Juan José Porto
Dead Man Walking – Interview With Actor José Lifante
Spain’s Cinematic Vampires – Video Essay By Xavier Aldana Reyes, Author Of Spanish Gothic: National Identity, Collaboration And Cultural Adaptation Alternate Spanish Credit Sequence
The Nerds Templar 