Lips of Blood 4K UHD - Annie Belle / Marie-Pierre Castel

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

(aka" Lips of Blood" or "Suck Me, Vampire" or "Jennifer")

Directed by Jean Rollin
France 1975

One of Jean Rollin's best-loved films, Lips of Blood (Lèvres de sang) finds the master of the fantastique marshalling all of his obsessions - ruined châteaux, remote beaches, abandoned graveyards, mysterious twins, and female vampires. When a photograph of a decrepit seaside château evokes a childhood vision of an encounter with a mysterious girl, Frederick is compelled to investigate. Soon, he uncovers a surreal and erotic netherworld of vampirism from which he might never return. Starring regular Rollin actors Jean-Loup Philippe (The Rape of the Vampire), Natalie Perrey (The Iron Rose), and twins Cathy and Marie-Pierre Castel (Requiem for a Vampire), Lips of Blood is a tour de force within Rollin's inimitable oeuvre.

***

While at a party to promote a new perfume, Frederic (co-writer Jean-Loup Philippe, The Rape of the Vampire) recognizes the setting of one of the ad campaign photographs from a vague childhood memory involving a mysterious woman (Anne Brilland). His mother (Natalie Perry) tries to discourage his delving into the past but he is eventually lead by the ageless apparition of this woman to a crypt where he accidentally unleashes a quartet of vampire women from their tombs. As Frederic continues to pursue the mystery woman, his mother dispatches henchmen to deal with the vampire epidemic and goes to extraordinary lengths to keep the past a secret.

One of Rollin's least financially successful films (after The Iron Rose ), Lips of Blood is one of his most densely plotted vampire films. It is less dream-like than his others but more suspenseful and action-oriented. Despite the modern setting, it has its share of striking imagery as scantily-clad vampire women prowl the city (one segment where two nurses remove their face masks to reveal fangs may have inspired a notable unused sequence in Hellbound: Hellraiser II), Frederic follows his mystery woman (he sees her in a theater screening The Rape of the Vampire though it advertises The Nude Vampire outside), and his flashbacks lead him to a location full of crumbling ruins and Rollin's favorite shooting location: the beach at Dieppe.

Eric Cotenas

***

Frédéric sees a photograph of a ruined seaside castle, which triggers a strange childhood memory. He then goes on a strange quest, aided by four female vampires, to find the castle and the beautiful woman who lives there.

Posters

Theatrical Release: May 18th, 1975

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Review: Indicator - Region FREE - 4K UHD

Box Cover		CLICK to order from: Also on Blu-ray from Indicator: Bonus Captures:
Distribution	Indicator - Region FREE - 4K UHD
Runtime	1:26:55.501
Video	1.66:1 2160P 4K Ultra HD Disc Size: 65,659,076,122 bytes Feature: 57,231,932,352 bytes Video Bitrate: 81.15 Mbps Codec: HEVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate 4K Ultra HD:
Audio	LPCM Audio French 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit Commentaries: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -30dB
Subtitles	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Indicator 1.66:1 2160P 4K Ultra HD Disc Size: 65,659,076,122 bytes Feature: 57,231,932,352 bytes Video Bitrate: 81.15 Mbps Codec: HEVC Video Edition Details: 4K Ultra HD disc • Audio commentary with genre-film experts, critics and authors Stephen Jones and Kim Newman (2023) • Selected scenes audio commentary with Jean Rollin (2005) • Jean Rollin Introduces 'Lips of Blood' (1998): filmed appraisal (2:25) • The Beach That Follows Me (2005): Rollin reminisces about the beach in Dieppe, and his many experiences of filming there (24:36) • Newly edited archival interview with Rollin (2023) (9:27) • Newly edited archival interview with actor and frequent Rollin collaborator Natalie Perrey (2023) (10:58) (10:34) • Newly edited archival interview with actor Jean-Loup Philippe (2023) (15:13) • Newly edited archival interview with actor Serge Rollin (2023) (10:43) • Newly edited archival interview with actor Cathy Tricot (2023) (11:09) • Critical appreciation by the author and film historian Virginie Sélavy (2023) (9:04) • Original theatrical trailer (2:19) • Image galleries: promotional and publicity material, and behind the scenes Limited edition exclusive 80-page book with a new essay by Maitland McDonough, archival writing by Jean Rollin on the making of the film, archival interviews with Rollin and Annie Brilland, an analysis of Suck Me, Vampire, the hardcore film Rollin made using scenes from Lips of Blood, and full film credits 4K Ultra HD Release Date: October 23rd, 2023 Black 4K Ultra HD Case Chapters 10

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray and 4K UHD captures were taken directly from the respective discs.

ADDITION: Indicator 4K UHD (October 2023): Indicator's are releasing Jean Rollin's "Lips of Blood" ("Lèvres de sang") to 4K UHD. It is cited as a "New 4K HDR restoration from the original negative by Powerhouse Films". The HDR pass has Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible.) This package is one dual-layered 4K UHD disc housing the 2160P feature and all the supplements.

It looks fabulous - it may be the most appealing HD presentation of all the Jean Rollin titles that Indicator have brought to 4K UHD so far; The Night of the Hunted, Two Orphan Vampires, The Rape of the Vampire and The Shiver of the Vampires, although I could be bias as I enjoyed this title so much. Eric compared the Redemption Blu-ray to two DVDs back in 2012, HERE.

It is likely that the monitor you are seeing this review is not an HDR-compatible display (High Dynamic Range) or Dolby Vision, where each pixel can be assigned with a wider and notably granular range of color and light. Our capture software if simulating the HDR (in a uniform manner) for standard monitors. This should make it easier for us to review more 4K UHD titles in the future and give you a decent idea of its attributes on your system. So our captures may not support the exact same colors (coolness of skin tones, brighter or darker hues etc.) as the 4K system at your home. But the framing, detail, grain texture support etc. are, generally, not effected by this simulation representation.

NOTE: 42 more more full resolution (3840 X 2160) 4K UHD captures, in lossless PNG format, for Patrons are available HERE

We have reviewed the following 4K UHD packages to date: The Others (no HDR), It Came From Outer Space (software uniformly simulated HDR), Don't Look Now, Rosemary's Baby (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Last Wave (no HDR), The Train (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Trial (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Walkabout (software uniformly simulated HDR), Black Magic Rites, The Night of the Hunted (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Rape of the Vampire (software uniformly simulated HDR), Gorgo (software uniformly simulated HDR), Akira Kurosawa's Dreams (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Man From Hong Kong (software uniformly simulated HDR), One False Move, The Tall T (software uniformly simulated HDR), Cold Eyes of Fear (software uniformly simulated HDR), Rules of the Game (no HDR), The Manchurian Candidate (software uniformly simulated HDR), After Hours, Rain Man (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Changeling (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Night of the Hunter (software uniformly simulated HDR), 12 Angry Men (software uniformly simulated HDR), Branded to Kill (no HDR), Picnic at Hanging Rock (software uniformly simulated HDR), Two Orphan Vampires, The Shiver of the Vampires, Drowning By Number (software uniformly simulated HDR), Serpico (software uniformly simulated HDR), Cool Hand Luke (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Seventh Seal (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Maltese Falcon (software uniformly simulated HDR).

On their 4K UHD, Indicator use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original French language. "Lips of Blood" doesn't have extensive audio effects (ocean waves etc.) although there are a few chase/escape sequences. The audio remains authentically flat. The score was by Didier William Lepauw - his first of only five film composures in his career. It seems to suit this Rollin film adeptly with mysterious overtones. I heard no excessive imperfections in the film's audio. The disc offers optional, and vastly improved, English subtitles from previous digital editions - and is, like all 4K UHD, region FREE, playable worldwide.

There are plentiful extras on the 4K UHD disc - a few new. First is a new (2023) audio commentary by genre-film experts, critics and film historians Kim Newman (author of Classic Monsters Unleashed) and Stephen Jones (author of The Mammoth Book of Folk Horror: Evil Lives On in the Land!), who share their enthusiasm for the vampiric genre, deciphering Rollin, noting the careers of the gals in the cast and much more. It was easy listening and highly informative. Also included is a selected scenes audio commentary with Jean Rollin from 2005 (on the Encore Entertainment DVD) as he discusses his memories associated with "Lips of Blood" and his recollections of the production, including the Dieppe beach that is addressed in a supplemental video extra. Included is that 25-minute "This Beach That Follows Me" featurette - where Rollin reminisces about the beach in Dieppe, and his many experiences of filming there - (in French with English subtitles) also found on the second disc of the 2005 Encore Entertainment DVD. There are 6 separate archival (newly edited) interviews running about an hour in total with Rollin, actor and frequent Rollin collaborator Natalie Perrey, actor Jean-Loup Philippe, actor Serge Rollin, and with actor Catherine (Castel) Tricot. These appear to be originally on the 2005 Encore Entertainment DVD. New is a 10-minute critical appreciation by the film historian Virginie Sélavy author of The End: An Electric Sheep Anthology. Lastly are an original theatrical trailer and Indicator's usual image gallery of promotional, publicity material, and behind the scenes. The package has a limited edition exclusive 80-page book with a new essay by Maitland McDonough, archival writing by Jean Rollin on the making of the film, archival interviews with Rollin and Annie Brilland, an analysis of Suck Me, Vampire, the hardcore film Rollin made using scenes from Lips of Blood, and full film credits.

Indicator's 4K UHD release of Jean Rollin's "Lips of Blood" is certainly a reason to celebrate for fans of the director's distinctive and individually-derived cinema. I reflect again on how Wikipedia describes him; "His films are noted for their exquisite, if mostly static, cinematography, off-kilter plot progression, poetic dialogue, playful surrealism and recurrent use of well-constructed female lead characters. Outlandish dénouements and abstruse visual symbols were trademarks." "Lips of Blood" has some recognizable Rollin signature conventions; unexplained visions, ruins of an old château by the sea, a mysterious gunman, empty beaches, nudity, decaying graveyards and multiple female vampires - two of which are twins! Perhaps the most intentional and concretely evolved of Rollin's vampiric oeuvre (and hence desirable), Lips of Blood looks excellent on Indicator's 4K UHD transfer. I really enjoyed this one and with all the extras, including a new commentary, appreciation and booklet - this is certainly recommended - even to those uninitiated into Rollin's, occasionally awkward, cinema.

Gary Tooze

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