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

ADDITION: Arrow Blu-ray (October 2022): Arrow have transferred Bob Kelljan's two Count Yorga films from the early 70s: Count Yorga, Vampire and The Return of Count Yorga to separate dual-layered Blu-rays. It is part of Arrow's The Count Yorga Collection. It is cited as being from "Brand new 2K restorations by Arrow Films of Count Yorga, Vampire and The Return of Count Yorga from new 4K scans of the original 35mm camera negatives". Yes, the first feature is improved over the 2015 Twilight Time Blu-ray, reviewed HERE. Mostly in terms of color balance and contrast. There is a slight shift in the 1.85:1 frame and overall the new Arrow is the winner in terms of image with, mostly, richer colors (vampire gals gowns) and the flesh tones generally warm, losing the orange-ness of the older 1080P. Return, made only a year later, has a similar appearance - consistent grain and only a few weaker anomalies that are surely a function of the original production limitations. I expect these more modern vampire entries look as solid as they can in this format.

NOTE: We have added 80 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Arrow use a DTS-HD Master mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. It's not very robust and the aggression is surprisingly minimal - screams abound and a few vampiric hisses and physical conflicts - swarming by hungry female blood-suckers. The scores for both films are by Bill Marx (yes, Harpo's son and nephew of the rest of the famous Marx Brothers.) He composed for a handful of genre films including Bob Kelljan's Scream Blacula Scream. It has some uniqueness and supports the films adeptly rising and falling with the occult-ish aura and 70's vibe. The audio transfer does not produce dominant sounds but is likely accurate. Arrow offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their two Region FREE Blu-rays.

The Arrow Blu-rays offer a mass of supplements. There are two commentaries for each film. Count Yorga, Vampire has a new one by, favorite, Tim Lucas, and it's at his high standard delving into the production, the vampire myths, similar films and more. Also for the first films is a an archival commentary by David Del Valle and C. Courtney Joyner also found on the 2015 Twilight Time Blu-ray. They are delightful and often fun-spirited with anecdotal and informative tidbits that make listening a pure pleasure. Also on the Count Yorga, Vampire disc is the 10-minute The Count in California, a brand new appreciation by Heather Drain and Chris O’Neill - I Remember Yorga, a new 1/4 hour interview with Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption, The Mist) in which the award-winning filmmaker talks about his love for Count Yorga, Vampire, A Vampire in L.A., is a new 10-minute interview with actor Michael Murphy plus a Fangirl Radio Tribute to Robert Quarry. This is an archival episode featuring host Jessica Dwyer in conversation with Tim Sullivan filmmaker, Yorga fan and friend of Robert Quarry. It runs 3/4s of an hour. The disc rounds out with a theatrical trailer, radio spots and image galleries of poster / stills - and a second with the 'Tim Sullivan archives'.

The Return of Count Yorga Blu-ray disc has a new audio commentary by film critic Stephen R. Bissette and another archival audio commentary by David Del Valle and C. Courtney Joyner. Included are a new 18-minute with film critic Maitland McDonagh cutely entitled "The Count and the Counterculture" which makes some interesting observations. Chamber-music of Horrors, has a new 35-minute interview with David Huckvale about the scores for both films plus there is a 1/2 hour archival interview with film critic Kim Newman making keen comparisons also exporting production data. This disc also has a theatrical trailer, radio spots and two image galleries.

The package itself (see image below) has an illustrated perfect bound collector's book featuring new writing by film critic Kat Ellinger and horror author Stephen Laws, plus archive contributions by critic Frank Collins and filmmaker Tim Sullivan. The limited edition packaging has reversible sleeves featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Heather Vaughan, a fold-out double-sided posters for both films featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Heather Vaughan, twelve double-sided, postcard-sized lobby card reproduction artcards and a reproduction pressbook for Count Yorga, Vampire. 

Once again, Arrow go all-out in terms of their complete Blu-ray package. Bob Kelljan's Count Yorga, Vampire and The Return of Count Yorga are treated to fabulous Blu-ray renderings with overflowing supplements. Count Yorga is a mysterious Bulgarian mystic who resides in a gated mansion in the Southern California hills. He hypnotically seduces budding starlets, and other attractive gals, to be his eternal lover - adding to harem of the undead. These include the comely Donna Anders, Judy Lang, Mariette Hartley and Yvonne Wilder. Few can resist his supernatural temptations. Fanged mayhem abounds as they are rescued by, and including, an LA Detective played by Craig T. Nelson! Wikipedia tells us: "The film was originally to have been a soft core porn film called The Loves of Count Iorga, and some prints of the film display this as the on-screen title. Quarry told actor/producer Michael Macready he would play the vampire role if they turned the story into a straight horror film." These early 70's horrors also have a nostalgic appeal. I fully admit that the Arrow Blu-ray has encouraged a new layer of appreciation that was absent before. It's about as extensive a package as I've seen in a while with four commentaries and a number of new extras and accoutrements. There are more than enough positives to recommend this. I almost wish there was a third entry by the same director and cast.

Gary Tooze