NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Arrow Blu-ray (November 2021): Arrow have transferred Giorgio Ferroni's Mill of the Stone Women in 1080P presentations of four different versions of the film on two dual-layered Blu-rays: the original 96-minute Italian and English export versions on the first disc and the 90-minute French version, containing exclusive footage, and the 95-minute US version, containing alternate dubbing, re-ordered scenes and added visual effects on the second Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "New 2K restoration from the original negative by Arrow Films".

Subkultur Entertainment out of Germany came out with a Blu-ray in 2016 (reviewed HERE) that has four versions of the film; Italian, International (both with English language options), then French and German theatrical. We've compared screen captures to this Blu-ray as well as the Mondo Macabro DVD from 2004, and Neo Publishing (with English and French versions) also from 2004.

The Italian and English export versions are seamlessly-branched (notable opening title/credit difference) on the first Blu-ray. Predictably the Arrow transfer looks marvelous - an obvious upgrade in the image with tighter lines, fine texture and plenty of depth. The only weaknesses are in the opening credits and various title with the rest of the HD presentations looking impressive.    

NOTE: We have added 65 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Arrow use a linear PCM mono tracks (24-bit for the first Blu-ray and 16-bit for the second.) Mill of the Stone Women has a few aggressive moments that come through flat but very clean with a score by Carlo Innocenzi (many sword + sandal Italian films including Son of Samson, Caesar Against the Pirates, The Vengeance of Ursus and Atlas Against the Cyclops), there is also a singing act in the local public house, all sounding clean with fairly obvious DUB'ing in the lossless transfer. The second disc US version differs from the original export version on the first Blu-ray with alternate dubbing, re-ordered scenes and added visual effects. The French and Italian versions don't have any English DUB options and all Arrow's versions offer optional English subtitles (with SDH for the English versions) on their Region FREE Blu-rays.

The Arrow Blu-ray offers a new commentary by favorite Tim Lucas - only on the, disc 1, English export version. He accurately covers other films of the 'Gothic' genre in the 60's, Galatea Film production, the fetishism, necrophilia expressions, connections for production designer Arrigo Equini, many of the actors; Pierre Brice, Hans von Arnim, Scilla Gabel, Wolfgang Preiss, Dany Carrel, Liana Orfei and director Giorgio Ferroni, who only did one other horror, 1972's Night of the Devils. He references Mario Bava and mentions one the most impactful scenes that hunted him a s child, and happily paying $60 the Neo Publishing VHS decades ago. His commentary certainly helped appreciation of Mill of the Stone Women. There is a new visual essay on the trope of the wax/statue woman in Gothic horror entitled Mill of the Stone Women & The Gothic Body, a new visual essay by Kat Ellinger running over 24-minutes. Also included are "Turned to Stone"- a newly edited featurette containing archival interviews with actress Liana Orfei and film historian Fabio Melelli for close to 1/2 hour. There is a 1/4 hour archival interview with actor Wolfgang Preiss called "A Little Chat with Dr. Mabuse" and the opening titles from the UK release, re-titled “Drops of Blood” as well as German opening titles, US and German theatrical trailers and an image gallery. There is a fold-out double-sided poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Adam Rabalais, six double-sided, postcard-sized lobby card reproduction artcards and an illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Roberto Curti, an in-depth comparison of the different versions by Brad Stevens, and a selection of contemporary reviews.   

Giorgio Ferroni's Mill of the Stone Women is slightly risqué (bound women, medical procedures), creepy mechanically animated statues, Gothic-drenched horror with some cool, if budget-conscious, sets including misty docks and a shadowy, lavishly decorated, Mill. This certainly isn't Giallo although it is in the pre-cursor vicinity with a stylish edge. The Arrow Blu-ray, and its multiple language versions, is the best way to see this 60's Italian shocker, and it is very much worth owning for genre fans. Lucas commentary, Ellinger video essay, booklet, interviews - a keeper. Buy with confidence.  

Gary Tooze