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

ADDITION: Shout! Factory Blu-ray (April 2019): Shout! Factory have released the 1972 cult-classic "Grave of the Vampire" on a dual-layered Blu-ray. The 1.85:1 HD image benefits from a nicely maxed-out bitrate. Though the film still shows some signs of wear and tear from the print used, there is a healthy amount of grain giving the feature a film-like texture. The colors of the film exist in a somewhat muted palette, with reds skewing brown, and yellows looking a little dominant. This could very well be the intended look of the film, and should not dissuade you from watching. Contrast levels could be stronger, with a certain uniform blackness to certain darkly-lit scenes, though this lack of information in the shadows does add to the creepiness factor. Not a reference-quality level of a transfer by any account, though it is nice to finally have this film on Blu-ray, with the expected 1080p bump in detail.

The film is presented in a 24-bit 2.0 DTS-HD Master audio Mono track. The eerie music (thanks to Jaime Mendoza-Nava -Mausoleum, Aloha Bobby and Rose, A Boy and His Dog, The Town That Dreaded Sundown, The Stewardesses) pairs nicely with the creepy sound effects, whether it is the crickets in the graveyard or the pulsating heartbeat looming in the background. There are optional English subtitles on this Region 'A' Blu-ray from Shout! Factory.

Shout! Factory have included some interesting extras for this release. First up is an all new audio commentary with author/historian, Troy Howarth. Howarth does a deep-dive into the film, espousing his love for this long overlooked 70's gem of a film. Also new here is another commentary, this time with film historians Nathaniel Thompson (Mondo Digital) and Howard Berger (Destructible Man). While there is some slight overlapping with the Howarth track, the two also have a clear fondness for the film, and this track is equally worth your time. Also here are 2-minutes of deleted scenes (mostly sourced from a Standard definition VHS tape), 5-minutes of trailers for the film (which are pretty silly and worth checking out) and an image gallery.

"Grave of the Vampire" is an often overlooked 70's vampire film that deserves to be seen. Filmmaker John Hayes (director of 1969's absolutely bonkers "The Cut-Throats") had a knack for creating totally unique exploitation films, and this is no exception. This is no Hammer Dracula. Recommended to fans of films such as "Count Yorga, Vampire" and the like.