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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "Slaughter Hotel" or "Cold Blooded Beast" or "Asylum Erotica" or "Les insatisfaites poupées érotiques du docteur Hitchcock" )

 

directed by Fernando Di Leo
Italy 1971

 

An isolated villa clinic for wealthy women is the setting for a series of grisly murders committed by a cloaked and hooded killer utilizing medieval weaponry (conveniently displayed on the walls and readily-accessibly to just about anyone). The suspects are many including not only the staff – including sinister Professor Osterman (John Karlsen, THE CHURCH) – but also the patients who are prone to murderous tendencies themselves. The first few murders go largely unnoticed since the residents are otherwise engaged. Nurse Helen (Monica Strebel, THE BIG GUNDOWN) is wooing virginal patient Mara (Jane Garret), nympho Anne (Rosalba Neri, THE DEVIL'S WEDDING NIGHT) is hot and bothered by the scythe-wielding gardener (John Ely, SHOOT THE LIVING AND PRAY FOR THE DEAD) and any other convenient orderly, Ruth (Gioia Desideri, THE LABYRINTH OF SEX) tries to murder her husband and her doctor on the first day, and stressed out heiress Cheryl (Margaret Lee, THE SECRET OF DORIAN GRAY) is torn between her husband (Piero Nistri, A LIZARD IN A WOMAN'S SKIN) and her inexplicable attraction to her doctor Francis Clay (perennial nutso Klaus Kinski, NOSFERATU THE VAMPYRE) who skulks around a lot when the murders occur. The staff cannot help but call the police, however, when the killer steps up his game and takes out three of the residents in one night (by crossbow, battle axe, and iron maiden). Cheryl's devotion to Clay is such that she volunteers herself as bait, but the killer is not going to let the revelation of his identity stop him from splattering the walls of SLAUGHTER HOTEL red.

SLAUGHTER HOTEL is less of a Giallo than a sexploitation film punctuated by crude but sadistic blood-letting. Better known for his crime films, writer/director Fernando Di Leo (SHOOT FIRST, DIE LATER) sketches out a meandering scenario of bedroom encounters and murders (usually preceded by undressing and masturbation seen through the eyes of the killer and/or the probing camera lens). More than its exploitable elements, it is really the Euro-sleaze cast that makes the film worth watching. Although rather low-key here, Kinski is so obviously a red herring (it is no coincidence that two characters have roughly the same hairstyle as the killer) as to be wasted if he did not have a degree of chemistry with the gorgeous Lee (previously his co-star in Jess Franco's VENUS IN FURS). Although Strebel shows more in a clinical sense, Neri makes the most striking impression (clothed or otherwise) and the camera caresses her throughout. The cinematography of di Leo's regular DP Franco Villa (MALABIMBA, THE MALICIOUS WHORE) is flatly lit and condescends often to canted angles, but the undraped beautiful women and the atmospheric villa backdrop provide a suitably interesting palette when accompanied by the scoring of willowy scoring of Silvano Spadaccino (NAKED VIOLENCE). The American advertising tied the film into the 1966 Richard Speck killings by highlighting "the slashing massacre of 8 innocent nurses" (the film's most gratuitous and unmotivated bit of violence) which would be more obviously exploited in the 1976 Canadian/German/French/Italian film NAKED MASSACRE (which transposes the events to Northern Ireland).

Eric Cotenas

Theatrical Release: January 1973 (USA)

English title card which appeared on the previous US and Italian DVD releases:

Reviews                                                                            More Reviews                                                                    DVD Reviews

 

Comparison:

Shriek Show / Media Blasters - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Raro Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray vs. 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Big thanks to Eric Cotenas and Gary Tooze for the Screen Caps!

1) Shriek Show / Media Blasters - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT

2) Raro Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray  - MIDDLE

3) 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - RIGHT

 

Box Covers

 

 

 

 

   

Distribution

Shriek Show / Media Blasters

Region 0 - NTSC

Raro Video
Region FREE -
Blu-ray
88 Films
Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:35:51 1:34:07.875 1:36:41.045 
Video

2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 8.21 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

2.34:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 23,750,221,539 bytes

Feature: 21,674,606,592 bytes

Video Bitrate: 26.85 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

2.30:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 27,754,055,747 bytes

Feature: 20,504,782,848 bytes

Video Bitrate: 24.99 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

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

Bitrate:

Shriek Show / Media Blasters 

Bitrate:

 

Raro Video Blu-ray

 

Bitrate:

 

88 Films Blu-ray

 

Audio English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1051 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1051 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 16-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio Italian 1067 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1067 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 16-bit)

LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps

Subtitles None English, None English, None (NOTE subtitled German and Italian sections where English audio does not exist)
Features Release Information:
Studio: Shriek Show / Media Blasters

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1

Edition Details:
• Interview with Fernando di Leo (4:3; 10:28)
• Theatrical Trailer (16:9; 2:09)
• Rosalba Neri Alternate Scene (16:9; 1:14)
• Stills Gallery
• Shriek Show Trailers

DVD Release Date:
Amaray

Chapters 15

Release Information:
Studio: Raro Video

 

2.34:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 23,750,221,539 bytes

Feature: 21,674,606,592 bytes

Video Bitrate: 26.85 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• Lady Frankenstein's Memoirs (19:51)

• Asylum of Fear (12:10)

• Deleted Scenes (2:13)
 

Blu-ray Release Date: December 9th, 2014
Standard Blu-ray case inside cardboard slipcase

Chapters: 12

Release Information:
Studio: 88 Films

 

2.30:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 27,754,055,747 bytes

Feature: 20,504,782,848 bytes

Video Bitrate: 24.99 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• Audio Commentary by genre expert NATHANIEL THOMPSON of Mondo-Digital.com
• Hot Blooded Rosalba - A 2017 Interview with star Rosalba Neri (13:02)

• Script Supervising in the 70s with Silvia Petroni (15:41)
• Theatrical Trailer (2:08)
• English Opening and Closing Credits (2:29)
• Reversible Sleeve
 

Blu-ray Release Date: July 24th, 2017
Transparent Blu-ray case inside cardboard slipcase

Chapters: 12

 

 

 

Comments

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

ADDITION: (July 2017) 88 Films Region FREE - Blu-ray: 88 Films version of "Cold Blooded Beast" aka "La Bestia Uccide a Sangue Freddo" is the longest version so far assembled. They have had to use a variety of sources to complete the soundtrack as English dialogue was never recorded for some scenes. They have subtitled the minimal instances of foreign languages.

The 88 Films is easily the best video - it doesn't have the artifacts (mentioned below) of the Raro - see the black girl (Jane Garret?) forehead in the 4th set of captures below and, the pixilation in the Raro in the 8th capture on the bed. The Raro is pictureboxed - with black borders down the side edge and it, also, shows less information in the frame than the 88 Films. The 88 Films Blu-ray has some inconsistency but generally looks much better, in the 2.30:1 AR, through the entire presentation.

88 Films go with a linear PCM audio transfer, a shade more robust but also 16-bit and it fares about the same as the Raro with DUB sync issues obvious but acceptable. The 88 Films offers optional English subtitles throughout but have also subtitled the German and Italian language sections where English audio does not exist. The Films 88 Blu-ray disc is, also, region FREE.

88 Films add an audio commentary by genre expert Nathaniel Thompson and he is excellent detailing factoids about the film and giving a great overview of Giallo. Hot Blooded Rosalba is a new 13-minute interview with star Rosalba Neri plus we get a 1/4 hour Script Supervising in the 70s piece with Silvia Petroni detailing her work process in the 70s. There is also a theatrical trailer - the English opening and closing credits for the curious and comes with a reversible sleeve with the Italian title.

The 88 Films is the best in every area - a superior 1080P presentation, longest assembled content, and the commentary adds significant value. fans of Giallo should have this in their collection.

***

ADDITION: (December 2014) Raro Region FREE - Blu-ray: While the 1080P resolution beats the interlaced DVD - hands down - there are some unusual artifacts in the Blu-ray. This shows in odd colorizations (see forehead of girl on the left in capture #4 and, what appears to be, pixilation in capture #8). It is very rough in-motion as well. The aberrations are rare and I wouldn't say it deterred my viewing extensively. Perhaps I just got a bum disc? Colors do brighten with more realistic skin tones, detail and depth are both present when comparing beside the SD. Summarizing - it does look significantly better but is far from an ideal appearance. It also runs almost 2-minutes shorter - and I don't know why (perhaps the Media Blasters includes the 2 minutes of deleted scenes available as a supplement on the Blu-ray.)

Audio gives similar DTS-HD Master options for both Italian and English tracks. The score is by Silvano Spadaccino (more noted as an actor) and seems as awkward as the plot, but is relatively clean. There are similar drop-out issues as found on the DVD. The Raro offers optional English subtitles and the Blu-ray disc is region FREE.

Extras include two Nocturno featurettes (in Italian with English subtitles) Lady Frankenstein's Memoirs runs about 20-minutes interview and discussion with actress Rosalba Neri mostly about her career; and there is a dozen minutes of Asylum of Fear which has director Fernando Di Leo talking about the film. There are also 2-minutes of hideous deleted scenes (slashing, hacking etc.). I'll double check - but I believe there were some liner notes.

Obviously we don't recommend! The Blu-ray which has issues. Pass.

 - GaryTooze

 


 Menus


Shriek Show / Media Blasters - Region 0 - NTSC
 

Raro Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray

88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 


 CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

Subtitle Sample

 

1) Raro Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray  - TOP

2) 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

Screen Captures

1) Shriek Show / Media Blasters - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP

2) Raro Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray  - MIDDLE

3) 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 


1) Shriek Show / Media Blasters - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP

2) Raro Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray  - MIDDLE

3) 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 


1) Shriek Show / Media Blasters - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP

2) Raro Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray  - MIDDLE

3) 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

NOTE: Artifacts on Raro (forehead)

 

 


1) Shriek Show / Media Blasters - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP

2) Raro Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray  - MIDDLE

3) 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 


1) Shriek Show / Media Blasters - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP

2) Raro Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray  - MIDDLE

3) 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 


1) Shriek Show / Media Blasters - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP

2) Raro Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray  - MIDDLE

3) 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 


(Shriek Show / Media Blasters - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. Raro Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM)

 

 


(Shriek Show / Media Blasters - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. Raro Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM)

 

 


(Shriek Show / Media Blasters - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. Raro Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM)

 

More Captures from 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray


 

Report Card:

 

Image:

88 Films Blu-ray

Sound:

Blu-ray

Extras: 88 Films Blu-ray

 
Box Covers

 

 

 

 

   

Distribution

Shriek Show / Media Blasters

Region 0 - NTSC

Raro Video
Region FREE -
Blu-ray
88 Films
Region FREE - Blu-ray





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