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

ADDITION: Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray (August 2022): Vinegar Syndrome have transferred a Jesús Franco Double Feature of 1969's Two Undercover Angels and Kiss Me Monster to Blu-ray. It is cited as "Newly scanned and restored in 4K from their 35mm original camera negatives". The two films share one dual-layered Blu-ray disc with the extras on a second BD. Both films look very strong with the prints having excellent density, exporting bright colors and pleasing black levels. Aside from a persistent vertical surface scratches, a few speckles, imperceptible damage marks in-motion and rare color flecks - the 1080P transfer are very good showing consistent grain textures and respectable contrast. Vinegar Syndrome do excellent video transfer work and these have very high bitrates. They looked super on my system. 

NOTE: We have added 28 (for each film) more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Vinegar Syndrome use a DTS-HD Master mono tracks (24-bit) in the English and optional German languages. Two Undercover Angels and Kiss Me Monster have, surprisingly, modest aggression - a few gunshots, machine gun fire, blow dart etc. and an occasional karate chop and scream. These come through authentically flat with some intensity. DUBs aren't egregiously noticeable. The score for both films is by Jerry van Rooyen (who had done a handful of Euro-horrors including Jesús Franco's Succubus, plus Freddie Francis' The Vampire Happening as well as Adrian Hoven's Castle of the Creeping Flesh - the latter also starring Janine Raynaud.)  It all sounds clean in the lossless transfer. Vinegar Syndrome offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on both of their Region FREE Blu-rays.

Vinegar Syndrome offer a second Blu-ray of supplements. We get a 3/4 hour Stephen Thrower (author of NIGHTMARE USA: The Untold Story of the Exploitation Independents) on Two Undercover Angels and Kiss Me Monster stating how they were literally made back-to-back about the same two lead characters. He talks a lot of Jesús Franco's career as well as the two gals; Janine Reynaud and Rosanna Yanni. It's quite informative. Both films are also available on this second Blu-ray in their alternate Spanish versions in SD (presumably the only available sources.) These are in Spanish with English subtitles. Include are two vintage Jess Franco interviews running almost 40-minutes in total - these are in Spanish (or is it French?) with optional English subtitles. He talks about his preferences and filmmaking in general. Lastly are original trailers for both films and stills galleries for both films. The package has a reversible sleeve (see below.)     

Having mostly been exposed to select Jesús Franco's films (like the Fu Manchu pair that I find throwaways,) I believe I should reevaluate my initial dismissal as the list of his features keeps growing of efforts that I embrace; Attack of the Robots, Vampyros Lesbos, The Diabolical Dr. Z., She Killed in Ecstasy, The Sadistic Baron Von Klaus etc. Perhaps I am becoming more forgiving. Two Undercover Angels + Kiss Me Monster have a similar appeal to Deadlier Than the Male with a cool femme fatale pairing played by Elke Sommer and Sylva Koscina. Here we have two Euro-based babes, French Janine Reynaud (the aforementioned Castle of the Creeping Flesh and The Case of the Scorpion's Tale) and Argentinean Rosanna Yanni (The Fox With a Velvet Tail and Fangs of the Living Dead), navigating dangerous crimes, using their alluring feminine attributes to solve murders within a pseudo Bond-spy-satire, if at times amoral activities. Franco makes a couple of cameos. Lots to enjoy including a pet werewolf-looking henchman, 'Morpho' - the same character name that Franco himself played in his The Erotic Rights of Frankenstein. Yes, details are rarely fleshed-out but it's the intriguing sexploitation atmosphere, highly attractive gals - good and bad - plus a fun, silly, Euro flavor. I enjoyed both films that follow each other with the same character vibe. Appreciated is the highly pleasing Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray package that has the appealing 60's films in very positive 4K-restored a/v, alternate versions, excellent Stephen Thrower piece, director interviews etc. and handsome case. To the right crowd this is strongly recommended!

Gary Tooze