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

ADDITION: Synapse Films Blu-ray (October 2023): Synapse Films have transferred Amando de Ossorio's Tombs of the Blind Dead to Blu-ray. It is cited that "Synapse Films is proud to present Tombs of the Blind Dead in a new restoration from the uncut original camera negative!".  Last year's steelbook BD release of the film(s) included a third disc exclusive "Tribute to the Templars" audio CD. This package includes a second disc of; "Additional 1080p Blu-ray featuring the alternate U.S. cut entitled, THE BLIND DEAD." 1080P image quality is excellent - the 'uncut version' is on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate. It's clean, bright, and rich, balanced, colors and a smattering of film grain. The US cut is also adeptly transferred and looks quite similar in a brief comparison (see subtitle sample below.)

NOTE: We have added 76 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their "uncut version" Blu-ray, Synapse Films offer the choice of linear PCM dual-mono tracks (24-bit) in the original Spanish language plus the option of a “hybrid” English/Spanish uncompressed audio track in mostly English with some sections in Spanish. The US version is totally in English. Tombs of the Blind Dead has aggressive moments; torture and other physical assault, plus a train etc. but is really supported by the score by Antón García Abril (Texas, Adios, The Werewolf Versus the Vampire Woman, The Loreley's Grasp) that is effective if occasionally "lounge-y". Audio is fine and the DUB'ing not fatally poor for those that go the 'hybrid' route. Synapse Films offer optional three subtitles choices; optional English subtitles for the Spanish track, optional English subtitles for the Spanish sections of the hybrid soundtrack and even, optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the hybrid soundtrack on their Region FREE 'uncut' Blu-ray. The US version Blu-ray offers optional English subtitles and is also region FREE.

The Synapse Films 'uncut version' Blu-ray offers three commentaries. The first is by Troy Howarth author of So Deadly, So Perverse: 50 Years of Italian Giallo Films. He is the go-to guy from Euro Cult cinema. He calls Tombs of the Blind Dead emblematic example of Spanish 70's horror as there is. He talks about the unusual alt-title  "Revenge from Planet Ape" to capitalize on the Planet of the Apes film series. He discusses the locations, the circular structure of the story, the possibility of the film being one long flashback - essentially opening and closing on the same screen - the performers, director Ossorio - the three sequels of Tombs of the Dead series - what was cut for the US version, and much more. He is always thorough and fun - a super commentary. The next commentary is by audio commentary with Calum Waddell (author of Minds of Fear: 30 Cult Classics of the Modern Horror Film) and star Lone Fleming - and the third by The Naschycast (Troy Guinn and Rod Barnett) from Madrid. We have heard them in Blu-ray supplements/commentaries for Paul Naschy's Inquisition, Panic Beats, Howl of the Devil, The Beast and the Magic Sword and in The Scream of the Demon Lover as part of Serverin's Danza Macabra - Volume 1: The Italian Gothic Collection Blu-ray set. They are experts in everything 'Naschy' and add a lot with discussions revolving the production, cast, Spanish genre films of that era etc. Marauders from the Mediterranean is a 1.5 hour 2022 Naomi Holwill-directed documentary feature exploring the history of the Spanish zombie film which rose to prominence in the 1970s, featuring interviews with Night of the Living Dead writer/producer John A. Russo, Stiges Film Festival deputy director Mike Hostench, plus Manuel de Blas, Lone Fleming, Jorge Grau, Helga Liné, Antonio Mayans, Kim Newman, Jack Taylor and Calum Waddell. Revenge of Planet Ape shows the alternate U.S. Opening sequence for 3.5 minutes in poor quality, Awakening of Spanish Horror Cinema is a 1/4 hour featurette by film historian Marcus Stiglegger in German with optional English subtitles and Salem’s Pop “Templar’s Tears” music video, an original theatrical trailer and stills gallery. The second disc Blu-ray with the US version has no extras.

Amando de Ossorio's Tombs of the Blind Dead is credited with kickstarting the Spanish horror film boom of the early 1970s. So, this is great - in an empty ruinous ancient town, reanimated blind corpses - of the dissolved Knights Templar from back in the 14th century - leave their tombs at night and cause mayhem. Slighted Virginia (María Elena Arpón) departs her train ride, leaving behind boyfriend (César Burner) and friend Betty (Lone Fleming) - with whom she had explored lesbianism when school chums. Virginia wanders into this zombified zone that the nearby suspicious locals refuse to talk about. So many delightful genre conventions - walking dead, morgue-revived corpses, aged professor research, captive maidens, ancient demonic rituals, a dimly lit mannequin factory etc. It spawned three sequels - Return of the Blind Dead (1973), The Ghost Galleon (1974) and Night of the Seagulls (1975.) Tombs of the Blind Dead is in the top tier of 70's Euro-cult horror - neither Giallo, Gothic, Corman, Hammer nor pure exploitation. This is a definite keeper for myself - which include 60's titles Horrors of Spider Island, Werewolf in a Girls' Dormitory, 70's Naschy efforts; Werewolf vs. the Vampire Woman and Fury of the Wolfman, Mario Bava's Hercules in the Haunted World, Piero Schivazappa's The Laughing Woman, plus The Forest of the Wolf (1970), Beatriz (1976), all the Mexico Macabre Vol. 1 titles, and so many more. I am very pleased with the Synapse Films excellent Blu-ray package of Tombs of the Blind Dead with three commentaries, feature documentary etc. - and encourage it for the niche of Euro-cult genre-lovers everywhere.

Gary Tooze