The Case of the Bloody Iris 4K UHD - Edwige Fenech / George Hilton

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

(aka "The Case of the Bloody Iris" or "Erotic Blue" or "What Are Those Strange Drops of Blood Doing on Jennifer's Body?")

Directed by Giuliano Carnimeo (as Anthony Ascott)
Italy 1972

From a script by the master architect of giallo, Ernesto Gastaldi (The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh, All the Colors of the Dark, Death Walks on High Heels), comes genre director Giuliano Carnimeo's sexually-charged giallo debut (credited as Anthony Ascott), presented here, for the first time, in 4K ultra-high definition.

The gruesome murders of two young women send a shockwave of fear through the tenants of a high-rise apartment building. For photo models Jennifer and Marylin, it presents a welcome opportunity to move in together in one of the emptied flats. But the aura of terror catches up with everyone and soon, Jennifer feels like prey, stalked and targeted by the gloved killer. As her paranoia grows, Jennifer suspects everyone--her fanatic ex-husband, her spinster neighbor, the lesbian from down the hall, and even her boyfriend. But she is determined to stay one step ahead of the depraved killer!

Starring giallo's ultimate scream queen, Edwige Fenech (Strip Nude for Your Killer, Five Dolls For an August Moon), alongside George Hilton (The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh, The Case of the Scorpion's Tail) in their third collaboration together, "The Case of the Bloody Iris" is "pure giallo fun" (Mondo Digital). With its beautiful cinematography masterfully contrasted by its brutal violence, the film is every bit as exploitative and blood-spattered as it is sultry and salacious, turning it into "a luxuriant banquet of sumptuous visuals, sinister chills, and otherworldly beauty" (Deadshed). Celluloid Dreams is proud to present this newly scanned version, restored in 4K from the original camera negatives. It is the version of "The Case of the Bloody Iris" you've been dying to see.

***

This brisk little thriller is a textbook example of a giallo: Perche Quelle Strane Gocce Di Sangue Sul Corpo Di Jennifer? doesn't make a lot of sense but it keeps the viewer guessing throughout and packs plenty of wild visual excess into its running time. Ernesto Gastaldi's script is thin on characterization and logic but delivers all the elaborate murder setpieces, red herrings and radical plot twists the genre requires. Director Giuliano Carnimeo avoids allowing the viewer to dwell on the gimmicky nature of the storytelling by maintaining a snappy pace and trotting out a vast array of eye-catching visual devices (zooms, fish-eye lens shots, point-of-view camerawork) to keep the viewer's eye dazzled throughout. The performances are limited by the weak characterizations but Edwige Fenech is easy on the eyes as the film's heroine and George Hilton makes a decent square-jawed hero. All these elements make Perche Quelle Strane Gocce Di Sangue Sul Corpo Di Jennifer? a fast-paced, occasionally startling piece of macabre eye candy. Viewers looking for narrative depth won't find much of interest here but fans of 1970's Eurotrash are likely to consider it a kitschy delight.

Excerpt from MRQE located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: August 10th, 1972

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Review: Celluloid Dreams - Region FREE - 4K UHD

Box Cover		CLICK to order from: Bonus Captures:
Distribution	Celluloid Dreams - Region FREE - 4K UHD
Runtime	1:34:57.650
Video	2.39:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 47,752,846,600 bytes Features: 25,048,886,016 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 34.87 Mbps	2.39:1 2160P 4K Ultra HD Disc Size: 95,720,965,160 bytes Feature: 63,532,457,856 bytes Video Bitrate: 81.61 Mbps Codec: HEVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate Blu-ray:
Bitrate 4K Ultra HD:
Audio	DTS-HD Master Audio Italian 1108 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1108 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit) DTS-HD Master Audio English 1124 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1124 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit) Commentary: DTS-HD Master Audio English 1097 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1097 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitles	English, English (SDH), None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Celluloid Dreams 2.39:1 2160P 4K Ultra HD Disc Size: 95,720,965,160 bytes Feature: 63,532,457,856 bytes Video Bitrate: 81.61 Mbps Codec: HEVC Video Edition Details: 4K Ultra HD disc • Disc 1 (4K UHD) Brand new 4K transfer and full restoration HDR-10 • (NEW) Commentary Track by film critic Guido Henkel • (NEW) "Drops of Giallo" Featurette with writer Ernesto Gastaldi and director Giuliano Carnimeo (29:27) • "Flowers of Blood" Featurette with actor George Hilton (20:43) • "Marylin" Featurette with actress Paola Quattrini (11:51) • (NEW) Outtake Reel (1:45) • Image Gallery (5:16) • (NEW) Italian Trailer in 4K resolution (2:55) • English Trailer in 4K resolution (2:55) Disc 2 Region 'A' - Blu-ray • Brand new transfer from 4K master and full restoration • (NEW) Commentary Track by film critic Guido Henkel • (NEW) "Drops of Giallo" Featurette with writer Ernesto Gastaldi and director Giuliano Carnimeo (29:27) • "Flowers of Blood" Featurette with actor George Hilton (20:43) • "Marylin" Featurette with actress Paola Quattrini (11:51) • (NEW) Outtake Reel (1:45) • Image Gallery (5:16) • (NEW) Italian Trailer (2:55) • English Trailer (2:55) 4K Ultra HD Release Date: June 25th, 2024 Black 4K Ultra HD Case Chapters 16

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Celluloid Dreams 4K UHD (July 2024): Celluloid Dreams have released Giuliano Carnimeo's "The Case of the Bloody Iris" 4K UHD. This is described as a "newly scanned version, restored in 4K from the original camera negatives". It has HDR-10 applied. We compared the 2008 Blue Underground DVD to the 2018 Shameless (UK) Blu-ray, HERE with some comparison captures below. The package has one 4K UHD disc and one Blu-ray - both with the same extras. The image quality is exceptional with the 2160P resolution showing superior contrast layered (generally a bit darker than the included BD,) color balance and depth. This looked exceptional on my system. I was impressed with the HD presentation on a triple-layered disc with a very high bitrate. Wonderful to see from newcomer Celluloid Dreams.

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: 50 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: Reptilicus (software uniformly simulated HDR), Risky Business (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Conversation (software uniformly simulated HDR), Perfect Days, Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) (software uniformly simulated HDR), Le samouraï (software uniformly simulated HDR), Castle of Blood (software uniformly simulated HDR), Pat Garret and Billy the Kid (HDR), Fist of Legend (HDR), American Gigolo (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Long Wait (no HDR,) Bound (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Valiant Ones (software uniformly simulated HDR), Mute Witness (software uniformly simulated HDR), Narc (software uniformly simulated HDR), Peeping Tom (software uniformly simulated HDR), Dr. Terrors House of Horrors (software uniformly simulated HDR), High Noon (software uniformly simulated HDR), Picnic at Hanging Rock (Criterion) (software uniformly simulated HDR), I Am Cuba (no HDR), The Demoniacs (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Nude Vampire (software uniformly simulated HDR), Nostalghia (no HDR), Werckmeister Harmonies (no 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).

On their 4K UHD, Celluloid Dreams offer DTS-HD Master mono tracks (24-bit) in both Italian and English (DUB) languages. "The Case of the Bloody Iris" is filled with various types of assault violence. They are often accentuated by the score from Bruno Nicolai (The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave, Your Vice Is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key, Face to Face, The Perverse Countess, Torso, Ten Little Indians, Pasolini's Hawks and the Sparrows) which, adds to this Giallo with relatively passive chords augmenting the fleeing scenes, fast edit close-ups of eyes and Jennifer's nightmare. They can punctuate the soundstage but remain authentically flat. Celluloid Dreams include optional English (Italian translated) and English (SDH) subtitles - and is, like all 4K UHD, region FREE, playable worldwide. The Blu-ray is region 'A'-locked.

The 4K UHD and Blu-ray offer a new commentary by film critic Guido Henke. He describes the film as a very attractive, violent, and superbly shot whodunit. He fills in detail about the cast and crew and gives an excellent overview of the production with interesting details. I thought it was well-researched. There are more supplements (on both discs) starting with "Drops of Giallo" - a new 1/2 hour featurette with writer Ernesto Gastaldi on director Giuliano Carnimeo. "Flowers of Blood" spends 20-minutes with actor George Hilton. It was on the Shameless Blu-ray as was a dozen minute video piece, "Marilyn", with actress Paola Quattrini. Cited as 'new' is an outtake reel - there is also an image gallery and trailers (Italian and English) in 4K resolution.

Celluloid Dreams's 4K UHD release of Giuliano Carnimeo's "The Case of the Bloody Iris" should be very desirable for Giallo fans. Edwige Fenech is at her usual hypnotic best as the 'damsel in distress' and George Hilton as the stoic, but vulnerable (hemophobia) savior. Michael R. Hudson did a novelization of "The Case of the Bloody Iris" in 2015, HERE. Giuliano Carnimeo directed many of the Sartana pasta westerns including the colorfully titled I am Sartana, Your Angel of Death, Sartana's Here... Trade Your Pistol for a Coffin, Have a Good Funeral, My Friend... Sartana Will Pay and Light the Fuse... Sartana Is Coming. Ernesto Gastaldi wrote the screenplay for The Case of the Bloody Iris and many genre favorites; Werewolf in a Girls' Dormitory, The Horrible Dr. Hichcock, The Whip and the Body, The Long Hair of Death, The Sweet Body of Deborah, All the Colors of the Dark, Torso etc. "The Case of the Bloody Iris" has sexy women, some of who are prostitutes - some of whom are stabbed... to death. One of a handful of pure Giallo gems. The Celluloid Dreams 4K UHD is strongly recommended - brilliant a/v, new commentary, interviews and more.