The Nude Vampire 4K UHD - Caroline Cartier / Marie-Pierre Castel

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

(aka "La vampire nue" or "The Naked Vampire" or "The Nude Vampire")

Directed by Jean Rollin
France 1970

Jean Rollin’s second feature film, and his first in colour, The Nude Vampire (La Vampire nue) finds the master of the fantastique combining his signature risqué-vampire themes with an homage to the mystery serials of his youth.

When Pierre (Olivier Martin), the son of a wealthy industrialist, witnesses a beautiful woman (Caroline Cartier) being pursued and captured by men in bizarre masks, he decides to investigate, uncovering a sinister vampire cult...

Starring Caroline Cartier (Lumière), veteran French character actors Bernard Musson (The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie) and Paul Bisciglia (The Demoniacs), Lettrist artist Maurice Lemaître (co-writer of Rollin’s The Iron Rose), and Rollin regulars Olivier Martin and twins Cathy and Marie-Pierre Castel (Lips of Blood), The Nude Vampire is one of Jean Rollin’s most eccentric and effective works.

***

A young man falls in love with a beautiful woman being chased by sinister masked figures at night. He tries to track her down, and learns she's being held captive by his father and colleagues who believe she's a vampire.

Posters

Theatrical Release: May 20th, 1970

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Review: Indicator - Region FREE - 4K UHD

Box Cover		CLICK to order from: Also available on new Blu-ray by Indicator: Bonus Captures:
Distribution	Indicator - Region FREE - 4K UHD
Runtime	1:24:51.377
Video	1.66:1 2160P 4K Ultra HD Disc Size: 65,318,545,426 bytes Feature: 57,609,024,384 bytes Video Bitrate: 83.94 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	DTS-HD Master Audio French 1056 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1056 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit) DUB: DTS-HD Master Audio English 1082 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1082 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit) Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 112 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 112 kbps / DN -30dB
Subtitles	English, English (SDH), None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Indicator 1.66:1 2160P 4K Ultra HD Disc Size: 65,318,545,426 bytes Feature: 57,609,024,384 bytes Video Bitrate: 83.94 Mbps Codec: HEVC Video Edition Details: 4K Ultra HD disc • Audio commentary with film historians Kevin Lyons and Jonathan Rigby (2024) • Jean Rollin Introduces ‘The Nude Vampire’ (1998 - 5:24) • Le Passage (2024): updated documentary on the making of The Nude Vampire by Rollin’s personal assistant, Daniel Gouyette, including interviews with key collaborators Natalie Perrey, Jean-Noël Delamarre and Jean-Pierre Bouyxou (8:54) • Fragment d’un dialogue (2024): extracts from selected interviews with Rollin conducted by Gouyette between 1998 and 2003 (19:19) • Interview with archivist Lucas Balbo exploring Rollin’s connection to the French anarchist union (2024) (5:20) • Critical appreciation by the author and film historian Virginie Sélavy (2024) (9:54) • Original French (3:42) and English theatrical trailers (3:42) • Image galleries: promotional and publicity material, and behind the scenes Limited edition exclusive 80-page book with a selection of new and archival writing including a new essay by David Jenkins, an archival introduction by director Jean Rollin, an archival interview with Rollin, and full film credits 4K Ultra HD Release Date: April 29th, 2024 Black 4K Ultra HD Case Chapters 11

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Indicator 4K UHD (April 20224): Indicator are releasing Jean Rollin's "The Nude Vampire" to 4K UHD. It is advertised as being a "New 4K HDR restoration from the original negative by Powerhouse Films - 4K (2160p) UHD presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)." Both French and English versions (3.5 minutes differently ordered opening with credits) are offered via seamless branching for the rest of the feature.

We compared two DVDs to the Redemption Blu-ray HERE and to some captures below. The new 2160P is a massive jump in image quality notable for the fine grain texture, intensity of colors, detail, more information in the frame etc. Overall the image is darker with beautifully balanced contrast. Another impressive upgrade for a Rollin's film, by Indicator.

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: 46 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 recently: Nostalghia (no HDR), Werckmeister Harmonies (software uniformly simulated HDR), Goin' South (software uniformly simulated HDR), La Haine (software uniformly simulated HDR), All Ladies Do It (software uniformly simulated HDR), Old Henry (software uniformly simulated HDR), To Die For (software uniformly simulated HDR), Snapshot (software uniformly simulated HDR), Phase IV (software uniformly simulated HDR), Burial Ground (software uniformly simulated HDR), Dark Water (software uniformly simulated HDR), Fear and Desire (software uniformly simulated HDR), Dr. Jekyll and the Werewolf (no HDR), Paths of Glory (software uniformly simulated HDR), Southern Comfort (software uniformly simulated HDR), Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (software uniformly simulated HDR,) The Wages of Fear (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Roaring Twenties (software uniformly simulated HDR), Universal Classic Monsters Limited Edition Collection (software uniformly simulated HDR), Scarlet Street (software uniformly simulated HDR), eXistenZ (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Horrible Dr. Hichcock (software uniformly simulated HDR), Conan the Barbarian (software uniformly simulated HDR), Django (no HDR), Lone Star (software uniformly simulated HDR), Suspect Zero (software uniformly simulated HDR), Count Dracula (software uniformly simulated HDR), Full Circle - The Haunting of Julia (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Warriors (software uniformly simulated HDR), Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (software uniformly simulated HDR), Blackhat (software uniformly simulated HDR), Mark of the Devil (software uniformly simulated HDR), Barbarella (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Last Picture Show (software uniformly simulated HDR).

On their 4K UHD, Indicator offer the option of linear PCM mono tracks (24-bit) in the original French language or an optional English DUB. "The Nude Vampire" has some of the weakest gunfire ever in film (perhaps intentionally)- it is quite hollow. There is no demonstrative violence. The moody score is by Yvon Gérault (his only composition credit). Indicator include optional English subtitles - and this is, like all 4K UHD discs region FREE, playable worldwide.

There are plentiful extras on the 4K UHD disc starting with the commentary team of Jonathan Rigby (author English Gothic: A Century Of Horror Cinema) and Kevin Lyons (The Encyclopedia of Fantastic Film and Television) who never fail to both entertain and educate. They identify the performers, discuss the crew - including Olivier Rollin, half-brother to the director, playing 'Pierre Radamante' (billed as Olivier Martin) - Ly Lestrong's dance routine, Jio Berk's set designs, the twin sisters Catherine and Marie-Pierre Castel plus they reference Rollin's other works, the film's night lighting, the atmosphere of undisclosed mystery, the strange beguiling and bizarre exposition of the director's work that one needs to absorb the emotion / the aesthetic rather than logically discern. The address the plot often being an excuse for the visuals. Very good. We also get a Jean Rollin introduction to ‘The Nude Vampire’ from 1998 running over 5-minutes. Le Passage is an updated, 9-minute, documentary on the making of The Nude Vampire by Rollin’s personal assistant, Daniel Gouyette, including interviews with key collaborators Natalie Perrey (The Two Orphan Vampires), Jean-Noël Delamarre and Jean-Pierre Bouyxou (The Living Dead Girl.) Fragment d’un dialogue offers extracts from selected interviews with Rollin conducted by Gouyette between 1998 and 2003. This runs shy of 20-minutes and fans will find it interesting if not revealing. Included is a new interview with archivist Lucas Balbo exploring Rollin’s connection to the French anarchist union and an enjoyable 10-minute critical appreciation by film historian Virginie Sélavy author of The End: An Electric Sheep Anthology in a video piece called Counterculture Gothic. She talks about Rollin being inspired by Universal horror films and the work of Georges Franju (Eyes Without a Face.) Lastly are both original French and English theatrical trailers, three image galleries of promotional and publicity material, and behind the scenes. The package has a limited edition exclusive 80-page book with a selection of new and archival writing including a new essay by David Jenkins, an archival introduction by director Jean Rollin, an archival interview with Rollin, and full film credits.

So a group of the 'beau monde' dress up, meet in a swanky mansion, wear hoods with eye slits (as others with gaudy, animal, masks lurk about) and naked activities ensue - sound familiar? However, unlike Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut, Jean Rollin's The Nude Vampire concerns a suicide cult, a 'sequestered' female vampire (actually a girl with a rare, healing, blood affliction - alluded to in spin offs of Richard Matheson's story of The Last Man on Earth) and a cult of immortal mutants (also mistakenly judged as vampires.) At least, I think that is the main plot. There are genre elements of sci-fi, gothic horror, conspiracy, blood's relationship to immortality etc. with the director's "... 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..." as described on Wikipedia. Indicator have already upgraded Rollin's The Rape of the Vampire, The Shiver of the Vampires, Lips of Blood, The Night of the Hunted, Fascination and The Two Orphan Vampires to 4K UHD with The Demoniacs simultaneously released in this format with The Nude Vampire. Each are premium examples of the superiority of this 2160P home theatre format that certainly elevate the viewing experience. With this second feature there is less eroticism yet it is still undeniably Rollin with mood and atmosphere taking precedence over narrative. Indicator's 4K UHD has the film looking it best, by a wide margin, on digital, commentary, appreciations, interviews, a booklet. Another keepsake for Rollin's fans or a strong initiation into his unique genre cinema stylings. Absolute recommended.

Gary Tooze

Menus / Extras

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY and 4K UHD CAPTURE TO SEE IN FULL RESOLUTION

1) Redemption UK - Region 0 - PAL TOP

2) Indicator (French translation) - Region FREE - 4K UHD MIDDLE

3) Indicator (SDH) - Region FREE - 4K UHD BOTTOM