Black Cats (Box set)
Black Cats Box Set
4.5 stars

Release Date: October 27, 2015

Format: Blu-Ray Color: Color

Audio: English / Italian Subtitles: English / Italian

Distributor: Arrow Video

Movies

Your Vice is a Locked Room
and Only I Have the Key

Your Vice is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key

4 stars

The Black Cat

The Black Cat

3.5 stars

Starring: Edwige Fenech, Anita Strindberg, Luigi Pistilli, Ivan Rassimov, Franco Nebbia

Directed: Sergio Martino

Run Time: 96 Minutes

Theatrical release Date: August 4, 1972 (Italy)

Starring: David Warbeck, Patrick Magee

Directed: Lucio Fulci

Run Time: 91 Minutes

Theatrical release Date: April 19, 1981 (Italy)

Edgar Allan Poe’s celebrated story The Black Cat has provided the inspiration for numerous films over the years. But few adaptations are as stylish as those offered up by the twin Italian titans of terror, Sergio Martino and Lucio Fulci.

Finally together on Blu-ray and in stunning new 2K restorations from the original camera negatives, fans can enjoy the double-dose of terror that is Edgar Allan Poe’s Black Cats – Italian-style!

  • Limited Edition boxed-set (3000 copies) containing Your Vice Is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key and The Black Cat
  • Brand new 2K restorations of the films from the original camera negatives
  • High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentations
  • Original Italian and English soundtracks in mono audio (uncompressed PCM on the Blu-rays)
  • Newly translated English subtitles for the Italian soundtracks
  • Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the English soundtracks
  • Limited Edition 80-page booklet containing new articles on the films, Lucio Fulci’s last ever interview and a reprint of Poe’s original story
Thoughts on Black Cats Box Set

Black Cats box set overall is a nice collectible Item with two good movies that feature a good amount of extras along with both formats (Blu-Ray and DVD) and a Booklet. Both films look good but I have to say the older film looks better. But not only that, the first film is also a better movie with more realistic gore and no fake cats or bats. A Better story with a ton more nudity and sharper detail. The 2nd movie called The Black Cat isn’t a bad movie just a step down from the first adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s Story. My grip with The Black Cat is that the story go’s more Weird in the story with the mind controlling and a story that starts off randomly in the middle of the first 3 deaths of the film giving us no plot or character build up. More Mystery is needed but the Gothic look was a good touch.

With that said the box set is a great addition to the shelf next to my other Arrow Video films. With the two Movies tons of extras and a Nice Booklet I have to give the Overall Ratting of this Box Set a 4.5 out of 5 Stars

 

Your Vice is a Locked Room
and Only I Have the Key

Your Vice is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key
Synopsis

In Martino’s classic giallo Your Vice is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key, teacher Oliviero (Luigi Pistilli, A Bay of Blood) finds himself under suspicion for murder when one of his students – and mistress – is found brutally murdered. As more bodies start to pile up, the arrival of Oliviero’s attractive niece (Edwige Fenech, Five Dolls for an August Moon, All the Colours of the Dark) brings with it complications of its own.

Audio/Video

Audio

Audio Language: Italian
Dubbed: English
Subtitles: English / Italian

The Sound Quality is pretty good for the age of the film. No distortion and clear dialogue. Bassy tones are minimal in this film so its hard to judge on that.

Rating: 4.5 stars

 

Picture Quality

Disc Format: Blu-Ray

The Picture Quality is really good. Sharp Details, colors pop and skin tones look good. I haven’t seen any distortions, dirt or damaged film but the grain is a tad heavier in some parts but that’s the old film look.

Rating: 5 stars

Note: Equipment used to watch the film can be found below

Extras

 

  • Through the Keyhole – a brand new interview with director Sergio Martino
  • Unveiling the Vice – making-of retrospective featuring interviews with Martino, star Edwige Fenech and screenwriter Ernesto Gastaldi
  • Dolls of Flesh and Blood: The Gialli of Sergio Martino – a visual essay by Michael Mackenzie exploring the director’s unique contributions to the giallo genre
  • The Strange Vices of Ms. Fenech – film historian Justin Harries on the Your Vice actress’ prolific career • Eli Roth on Your Vice and the genius of Martino
  • Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Matthew Griffin

 

 

My Thoughts

Your Vice is a Locked Room and Only I have the Key is a Mystery Thriller involving a killer and a cat that likes to scratch people. People are dying and we might think we know who is doing it. Is it the Abusive Husband who has sexual fantasy and or had with his own mother who recently passed? Is it the cat who is named Satan?…No we see a person with a knife. Only the ending will shows what happens but through out we get to see the death.

The story was good as it is loosely based on the Edgar Allen Poe Story. We get some Gore, Nudity, Mystery that has Twists and turns. On top of that The Blu-Ray looks great. Not much more you can ask for except more death and nudity scenes. At time the story did have a slow feel but the score kicks in and makes it a tad bit better in all its string glory.

Overall the Movie was a good watch, enjoyable Gothic like score and the mystery that gets you thinking until the twists happen to make you go What? If your an arrow Collector, Horror/ Mystery Fan I say pick this beauty of a boxset up.

With that said I give this film a 4 out of 5. Off to the Next film in this two movie boxset.

 

Rating – 5 Star System

Film:

PQ:

Sound:

4.5 stars

5 stars

4.5 stars

Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMBtjDjzb8c

The Black Cat

The Black Cat
Synopsis

In The Black Cat, from that “other” Godfather of Gore, Lucio Fulci (Zombie), Scotland Yard Inspector Gorley (David Warbeck, The Beyond) find himself summoned to a sleepy English village to investigate the recent murder of a young couple. With no obvious signs of entry at the murder scene, Gorley is forced to start considering the possibility that his suspect may not be human…

Audio/Video

Audio

Audio Language: English
Dubbed: Italian
Subtitles: English / Italian

The Sound Quality is good for an older film from the 80’s no distortion that I can hear. Maybe some during a scene when fire was involved but overall its good sounding on the English Version.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Picture Quality

Disc Format: Blu-Ray

The Picture Quality is pretty good. Real Sharp Details on close-ups, colors pop and black levels look good. In Two Scenes a thick line running down the right side can be seen for a second or two twice during the film. Also Film grain is smooth but still there which is a good thing. The Film Looks great with the lines aside.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Note: Equipment used to watch the film can be found below

Extras
  • Brand new audio commentary by filmmaker and Fangoria editor Chris Alexander
  • Poe into Fulci: The Spirit of Perverseness – film historian Stephen Thrower on Fulci’s Poe-tinged classic
  • In the Paw-Prints of the Black Cat – a look at the original Black Cat locations
  • Frightened Dagmar – a brand new career interview with actress Dagmar Lassander
  • At Home with David Warbeck – an archive interview with The Black Cat star
  • Original Theatrical Trailer
  • Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Matthew Griffin
My Thoughts

The Black Cat is the second adaptation in this box set, presenting two versions. An English Version and an Italian version. I Viewed the English version and from what I can tell that the way the film was filmed. The Controller gets controlled in this Horror film about a deadly black cat. Wont go into details but the story starts off with really no plot just a cat killing a few people. After that has happen we settle down in a town where the black cat has been taking out a few people who get in the way. More details on the story Can be viewed in the Synapses, Personally I go in Blindly so I can be surprised as this is the way I write my reviews.

The Effects are OK while the cat is fake when its scratching or clawing up someones face but the leap in and out of the attack its real. The fakest portion was brought up toward the end in a room full of rubber bats on strings. We get some gore as things get a little blood after the scratches and burning of people. We also get some nudity towards the beginning of the film…Nice.

Overall the film was a good watch, not great but Liked the darker elements and the set used for the film as its Gothic like especially the house the cat resides in. Just like the first adaptation in this boxset I’m not sure how much of the movie runs with Story written by Edgar Allen Poe. Some gore, Nudity, A Psycho Black Cat, A Little Gothic in the set and a story that was OK, I have to stay Its worth the view.

With that said I give this film a 3 out of 5. Looks great on Blu-Ray and fans of Arrow Video Should pick this up to add to the collection. Happy its on my shelf.

 

Rating – 5 Star System

Film:

PQ:

Sound:

3.5 stars

4.5 stars

4.5 stars

Trailer

 

Buy Box Set

Blu-Ray

Prices are posted at time of review and most likely before release.
Prices will or could have changed after this review.

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This Film was Played on the listed Equipment below

Click Here To Drop Down the List of Equipment
TV

Samsung (UN46C6900) 46-Inch 1080p LED HDTV

DVD/Blu-Ray Player

OPPO BDP – 103 (Highly Recommended)

Click here to Learn More

Stereo Receiver

Pioneer VSX-516-K 7.1-Channel

Click here to Learn More

(1) Center Speaker

Pioneer S-HF 11C

Click here to Learn More

(2) Front Speaker

KLH 9250B Floor – 350 watts

(4) Surround sound Speakers

KLH 100 watt Bookshelf

(1) Subwoofer

Sony SA-W3000 180 Watt 12″ sub

Click here to Learn More


Note: I Know my speakers are way outdated. OPPO Blu-Ray Player is one of the best around and used in most home theaters. The Receiver is pretty good but on the line of out dated. Subwoofer is good with tons of bass but not the theater quality from a $400 Sub. Front speakers are fun with tons of power and are good for standalone’s but higher end sound (Hz) is lower quality. Overall I need to update on all speakers granted I do get decent sound out of them just the higher end falls short.

 

My Setup

By Masked Avenger

CEO/Webmaster of soreelflix.com. The Name Is James and I love Film ranging from Silent 20's to highly CGI Blockbusters of today. Westerns, Horror, world film, basically anything that peaks my interest I own it But Asian Films are what I Prize the most and Half of My collection Consists of Asian Films. Thanks to the Film 5 Deadly Venoms I Hail From The US, Maryland Is where The Ninja Studies and views the Scrolls of Film That Shine on his 46" Screen. I own a sword, I can do a thousand upside down situps, and I randomly disappear in smoke when I'm not writing movie news and or reviews.

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