Blu-ray:

4K UHD:

BONUS CAPTURES:

Encore Films

Region 0 - PAL

1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 7.76 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

1.61:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.52 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 5.14 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Encore Films

Image Entertainment

French (Dolby Digital 1.0 mono)

LPCM Audio French 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit
LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio French 112 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 112 kbps / DN -30dB
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 112 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 112 kbps / DN -30dB

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1

Edition Details:
• DISC TWO:
• Audio Commentary by Jean Rollin (16:9; 1:28:16 - in French with English subtitles)
• Alternate Scene 1 (16:9; 4:41)
• Alternate Scene 2 (16:9; 3:35)
• Alternate Scene 3 (16:9; 3:45)
• French Trailer (16:9; 3:59)
• English Trailer (16:9; 4:21)
• Slideshow
• 32-page booklet with essay by Jean Rollin

DVD Release Date:
Digipack in Sleeve

Chapters 8

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen letterboxed - 1.61:1

Edition Details:
• French Trailer (4:3; 4:00 - English subtitles)
• English Trailer (4:3; 4:14)
• Behind the Scenes Photos
• Stills Gallery
• Publicity Stills
• Director Filmography
 

Chapters 18

Chapters 8

Edition Details:
• Audio commentary with director Jean Rollin (2006)
• Audio commentary with Sylvia Kristel: From Emmanuelle to Chabrol author Jeremy Richey (2023)
• Virginie Sélavy on ‘The Shiver of the Vampire’ (2023): appreciation by the author and film historian (8:00)
• Rouge Vif (2023): updated documentary on the making of The Shiver of the Vampires by Rollin’s personal assistant, Daniel Gouyette (17:18)
• Introduction by Jean Rollin (1998): filmed appraisal by the director (4:04)
• Interview with Jean Rollin by Patricia MacCormack (2004): lengthy discussion filmed in Paris (40:49)
• Deleted scenes: sex sequences filmed for the export market (24:17)
• Original French (4:12), English (4:12) theatrical trailers
• Image gallery: promotional and publicity materials

Limited edition exclusive 80-page book with a new essay by David Hinds, an archival introduction by Jean Rollin, an archival interview with the director by Peter Blumenstock, an archival interview with actor Marie-Pierre Castel, Andy Votel on Acanthus, the mysterious group behind the film’s soundtrack, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and full film credits

Blu-ray / 4K UHD Release Date: April 25h 2023
Transparent Keep case

Both Blu-ray and 4K UHD offer the same extensive supplements. There are two audio commentaries; the 2006 one, in French (with optional English subtitles), with director Jean Rollin also found on the Encore PAL DVD. Rollin informs us a lot about technical(s) of the production from lighting to editing and the features utilized to establish his own specific style of filmmaking expression. It's quite informative. We are also treated to a new audio commentary with Jeremy Richey author of Sylvia Kristel: From Emmanuelle to Chabrol and creator of the blog "Fascination - The Jean Rollin Experience". He considers The Shiver of the Vampires to be one of Rollin's greatest achievements having inspirations from Belgian artists Paul Delvaux and René Magritte, dolly work, the tragic death of writer Monique Natan shortly after production etc.. The commentary is expertly researched and I learned a lot of Rollin and his methodology and influences. We also get 8-minutes of Virginie Sélavy on ‘The Shiver of the Vampires’ - a new appreciation by the author (The End: An Electric Sheep Anthology) and film historian. Rouge Vif is a newly updated 17-minute documentary on the making of The Shiver of the Vampires by Rollin’s personal assistant, Daniel Gouyette. There is a 1998 introduction by Jean Rollin - a 4-minute filmed appraisal by the director plus a 40-minute interview with Jean Rollin by Patricia MacCormack from 2004. It is a lengthy discussion filmed in Paris. Indicator include 25-minutes of deleted scenes: sex sequences filmed for the export market, and original French, and English theatrical trailers plus indicator's usual image galleries of both promotional and publicity materials. The package contains a limited edition (8,000 numbered units (4,000 4K UHDs and 4,000 Blu-rays) exclusive 80-page book with a new essay by David Hinds, an archival introduction by Jean Rollin, an archival interview with the director by Peter Blumenstock, an archival interview with actor Marie-Pierre Castel, Andy Votel on Acanthus, the mysterious group behind the film’s soundtrack, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and full film credits.

Our reviewer Eric Cotenas was well ahead of myself in appreciating the works of Jean Rollin as visually inventive and distinctive. I recall initially dismissing him as pretentious and amateurish. I was wrong - perhaps one day I will come around to Jess Franco! I see so much via the new 4K-restored transfers of cinematographer Jean-Jacques Renon's (a regular collaborator of Rollin) exquisite work in The Shiver of the Vampires (Le frisson des vampires.) There is a very individualistic and personal style over all elements of, often limited, production - the type of auteur we rarely see in the current studio-driven cinema environment. The off-balance plot progression is definitely an acquired taste but there is a freeform poetic quality and playfully surrealistic expression with graveyards, bloodsucking ghouls and strands of imagery drawn together with tempting, mysterious, scantily-clad female characters. Via the Indicator Blu-ray and 4K UHD transfers The Shiver of the Vampires beauty shines through to showcase a true, unfettered, artist boldly expressing himself in the vampire genre. I urge many to explore Rollin's work and this may be his best that I have seen. Absolutely recommended!   

***

ADDITION: Redemption Films - Region 0 - NTSC (2010): I may be incorrect but I think there are actually two different version on this one dual-layered DVD - the French language one taking up about 2.9 Gig and the English language at about 3.5 Gig. Both are interlaced and appear to be taken from an unconverted PAL source. I began to think they were separate version when you couldn't choose subtitles or audio options on the fly (which you can do with the included Rollin short) - only via the menu. But there seems to be little to no difference between the English and French image quality (see last 2 captures) - excepting some light movement in the framing. Also the running time is slightly different but both support a probable PAL source. It may also be vertically stretched compared to the other discs (see grandfather clock face - not perfectly round). NOTE: Eric discusses more specific 'cut' differences below.

Either/or the image is significantly weaker than both other purchase options - showing even less detail than the non-anamorphic Image Entertainment transfer. The Redemption rendering is anamorphic but quite hazy in the 1.62:1 aspect ratio. Audio for both seem fine - as do the English subtitles - only available when choosing the French-language version.

Extras have some merit with a 10-minute Rollin's short; Les Amours Janunes (Their Jaundiced Lovers) and a 20-minute interview with the director. There is also a trailer and stills gallery. The Encore still wins out in regards to supplements with the commentary and alternate scenes. If you are watching via CRT and less concerned with image clarity then the Redemption should suffice. More discerning fans may wish to seek out the Encore.

Gary W. Tooze

On the Encore - PAL - DVD: Encore's 2 disc edition presents an anamorphic, dual-layer transfer which unexpectedly reveals more picture information on the sides in its 1.78:1 framing than the 1.61:1 framing of the Image disc (1.66:1 being a more likely aspect ratio of French spherical productions). French audio on both releases sounds similar in quality. The Encore disc also features the English dub track in okay quality.

Seemingly in anticipation of a future barebones release, Encore presents the extras entirely on a second disc (including an 88 minute version of the film over which is heard the Rollin audio commentary in French with English subtitles - there is no alternate track of just the film's audio). The English dubbed version of FRISSON DES VAMPIRES was initially acquired by Harry Novak's Box Office International (along with REQUIEM POUR UN VAMPIRE and LE VAMPIRE NUE but only the former was released by Novak) but not released until later as STRANGE THINGS HAPPEN AT NIGHT by a different distributor (it was released as SEX AND THE VAMPIRE in the UK in 1971). While Redemption's UK tape of the English version featured a cut that was similar to the version on both DVDs, the prints that went to the US featured some additional nudity and insert footage that was shot by someone other than Rollin (including a body-doubled sex scene between the film's main couple which doesn't make sense as the vampires seem to require that Isle's marriage be unconsummated) but they are not shot in the U.S. This version was released on cassette by Something Weird Video but is out of print. The alternative scenes on the Encore disc feature more sex and nudity but are not the bits present on the US versions. Reportedly, the original Spanish version of the film features alternate music cues (but this version would have been censored if released before 1975 in Spain). It is not known if the Spanish DVD actually presents that version or a new dub. There is also reportedly a color version of the pre-credits sequence.

 - Eric Cotenas