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

ADDITION: Eureka Blu-ray (May 2025): Eureka have transferred Yueh Feng's The Bells of Death to Blu-ray. It is transferred in 1080P on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate. The film, shot by cinematographer Hsueh-Li Pao (Golden Swallow and director of The Delightful Forest, The Boxer from Shantung among others), features strong and imaginative visuals, with dynamic camera angles, moody lighting, and creative framing. Scenes are often filtered through natural elements like trees or branches, and wistful cutaways to mark the passage of time. The aesthetic is gritty and dark, with a muted, neutral color palette. Costumes and backgrounds lack vibrant contrast, even when red is used, giving the film a somber, brooding tone. The use of real countryside locations over elaborate sets enhances the raw, grounded feel, making it appear more modern than its 1968 production date suggests. The HD presentation delivers a commendable visual experience, showcasing the film’s stylized aesthetic (dark) with clarity and fidelity. There is inherent softness and certain scenes can look a shade waxy although I found no digitization present. The image is clean and clear.

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On their Blu-ray, Eureka offer linear PCM dual-mono tracks (24-bit) in the original Mandarin and an English language DUB. The audio of The Bells of Death is a vital component of its identity, enhancing its dark tone, visceral violence, and emotional depth. The film’s auditory landscape - comprising sound effects, a dramatic musical score, and minimal but impactful dialogue - amplifies the tension, violence, and emotional stakes of Wei Fu’s (Chang Yi) quest for vengeance. The musical score for The Bells of Death, composed by Wang Fu-Ling (The Magnificent Trio, The One-Armed Swordsman, The Enchanting Ghost, The Flying Guillotine, The Dragon Missile, The Big Boss, Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story) blends traditional Chinese instrumentation with Western-inspired dramatic themes, enhancing the film’s tension and emotional depth while reflecting its hybridized influences. A recurring motif, often played on strings with a sharp, staccato rhythm, accompanies Wei Fu’s journey, its intensity building as he approaches each confrontation. While the English DUB lacks the emotional nuance of the original Mandarin track it preserves the film’s action-driven narrative, though purists will prefer the original audio for its authenticity. This sounds authentically flat and clean, via the uncompressed, matching the pleasing video presentation. Eureka offer optional English (translation) or English (SDH for the DUB) subtitles on their Region 'B'-locked Blu-ray.

The Eureka Blu-ray offers two new commentary tracks. Frank Djeng, an East Asian cinema expert from the NY Asian Film Festival, provides the first feature-length audio commentary. Djeng offers a detailed analysis of the film, covering its production history, its place within the Shaw Brothers catalog, and its significance in the evolution of the wuxia genre. The Bells of Death was released during a transformative period for Hong Kong cinema, as the Shaw Brothers studio sought to compete with both local and international markets. He discusses Yueh Feng’s directorial style, the performances of Chang Yi and Chin Ping, and the film’s cultural context in 1960s Hong Kong, as well as its influences from Spaghetti Westerns and samurai films. Djeng’s commentary is rich with historical facts, cultural insights, and trivia about the Shaw Brothers studio. His commentary deepened my appreciation for the film. Action cinema experts Mike Leeder (editor of 100% Jackie Chan: The Essential Companion) and Arne Venema provide a second feature-length audio commentary track, focusing on the film’s action choreography, cinematography, and global influences. They discuss the swordplay sequences, the innovative use of gore for 1968, and the film’s stylistic connections to Spaghetti Westerns and samurai films. Leeder and Venema are known for their engaging, conversational style, often sharing personal anecdotes about Hong Kong cinema, insights into the Shaw Brothers’ production methods, and technical details about the fight scenes. This commentary offers a more action-oriented perspective, complementing Djeng’s historical analysis with a focus on the film’s technical achievements and cinematic influences. Leeder and Venema’s enthusiasm for martial arts cinema makes this an engaging listen for fans of the genre’s action elements. For Whom the Bell Tolls is a 19-minute interview with Wayne Wong, published in Asian Cinema, Martial Arts Studies and Global Media and China, who provides a new perspective on The Bells of Death. Wong explores the film’s thematic elements, such as the psychological use of the bells, the revenge narrative, and its place within the broader wuxia genre. He discusses the film’s historical context in 1960s Hong Kong, its cultural significance, and its influence on later martial arts cinema, drawing on his expertise in martial arts scholarship to offer a detailed analysis. Wong’s interview adds an academic dimension to the release, offering a thoughtful examination of the film’s themes and legacy. The package has a limited edition O-Card slipcase featuring new artwork by Grégory Sacré (Gokaiju) and a collector’s booklet featuring new writing on The Bells of Death by East Asian Cinema Expert Camille Zaurin.

Yueh Feng's The Bells of Death is a significant entry in the Hong Kong martial arts genre, blending elements of spaghetti westerns, samurai films, and traditional Chinese wuxia storytelling. Set in a stylized version of ancient China, the film follows Wei Fu (Chang Yi), a woodcutter turned vengeful swordsman, on a bloody quest to avenge his family’s murder. The Bells of Death offers a compelling exploration of revenge, trauma, and redemption, while also showcasing the evolving aesthetics of wuxia cinema in the late 1960s. The titular bells serve as a powerful symbol of trauma and memory, their eerie sound haunting Wei Fu and his enemies alike. The Eureka Blu-ray provides an impressive presentation of Yueh Feng’s dark wuxia classic, offering a high-quality video transfer, faithful original Mandarin mono audio with an optional English DUB. The extras are a well-rounded selection that caters to both casual fans and dedicated scholars of wuxia cinema. The dual audio commentaries by Djeng and Leeder/Venema provide complementary perspectives. Wayne Wong’s interview adds an academic dimension, exploring the film’s themes and legacy, while the booklet enhances the Eureka Blu-ray release’s collectible value. The Bells of Death is one of the better of the wuxia genre that I have seen - an absolute keeper - and certainly recommended!

Gary Tooze