The Diabolical Dr. Z Blu-ray

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

(aka "Miss Muerte" or "Miss Death and Dr. Z in the Grip of the Maniac" or "Miss Death" or "Le diabolique docteur Z" )

directed by Jess Franco
France, Spain 1966

This dark, surrealistic horror film from cult filmmaker Jesus Franco is perhaps best-remembered for its images of the lethal Miss Muerte (Estella Blain) luring victims with razor-sharp fingernails while clad in a skull-mask and a revealing bodysuit. The real star of the film is Mabel Karr, portraying Irma von Zimmer, daughter of a mad scientist whose public humiliation led to his fatal heart attack. Vowing revenge, Irma uses her father's mind-control techniques to possess Miss Muerte, a nightclub performer. The hypnotized dancer murders the doctors whom Irma blames for her father's death, slicing their throats with her poisoned nails, until police Inspector Tanner (Franco) and Miss Muerte's boyfriend (Fernando Montes) track her down. One of Franco's most entertaining films, Miss Muerte is a great improvement over the similar El Secreto del Dr. Orloff, released the previous year.

Excerpt from B+N located HERE

***

The Diabolical Dr. Z very effectively follows his adventures with Dr Orloff and Baron Von Klaus, feels like a spin-off to Orloff - the character is mentioned and his scientific work as a surgeon is used in one of the twists. But Franco pulls off a great and original twist, worthy of Hitch - and beware of spoilers - Dr Z is just a MacGuffin, it's his daughter that we should focus on.

Yes, the Diabolical Doctor Zimmerman (Antonio Jiménez Escribano in a deliciously over-the-top yet sensitive performance) dies quite fast, just after showing us one brutal human experiment. His daughter Irma (Mabel Karr) decides to take revenge on the people responsible for his death and fakes her death and uses his technology to take control over her maid and a serial killer the good doctor earlier took control of. But the final masterpiece is Miss Muerte (Estella Blain), an exotic dancer with long sharp nails who can lure the stupid men into Irma's trap!!!

Excerpt from NinjaDixon located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: August 1966 (Madrid)

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Comparison:

Mondo Macabro - Region 0 - NTSC vs. vs. Redemption / Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Big thanks to Gregory Meshman and Gary Tooze for the Screen Caps!

(Mondo Macabro - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Redemption Films/Kino Lorber Region 'A' - Blu-ray - RIGHT)

Box Covers
Distribution	Mondo Macabro Region 0 - NTSC	Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:23:04	1:26:44.000
Video	1.74:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 6.93 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	Disc Size: 23,249,763,105 bytes Feature Size: 22,215,786,048 bytes Average Bitrate: 28.85 Mbps Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG4-AVC
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Mondo Macabro
Bitrate: Redemption Films/Kino Lorber Blu-ray
Audio	English, French (Dolby Digital Stereo)	LPCM Audio French 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 224 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps / DN -2dB
Subtitles	English, None	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Mondo Macabro Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.74:1 Edition Details: � Poster Gallery (12 images) � Stills Gallery (28 images) � Cast & Crew Bios (Jess Franco, Estella Blain, Howard Vernon, Daniel White) � The Diabolical Mr. Franco (Documentary) (15:22) � English Language Titles (1:45) � Trailer (1:03) DVD Release Date: April 29th, 2003 Red Keep Case Chapters 13	Release Information: Studio: Kino Lorber Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Disc Size: 23,249,763,105 bytes Feature Size: 22,215,786,048 bytes Average Bitrate: 28.85 Mbps Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG4-AVC Edition Details: • Commentary by Tim Lucas • Trailer (3:03) Blu-ray Release Date: February 6th, 2018 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters: 9

Comments

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

ADDITION: Redemption / Kino - Region 'A' Blu-ray (January 2018): There are striking differences in the Mondo Macabro, dual-layered, DVD image as compared to the new Kino/Redemption 1080P. Judging by the running times it looks as though the DVD was taken from a PAL source and it is significantly softer than the, single-layered, Blu-ray. The 1.66:1 framed HD image has dramatically more information in the frame, contrast is nicely layered, textured grain is visible and consistent, and the overall image is excellent. There are still a few speckles but overall the new visuals are an outstanding upgrade.

Kino include both original French and English DUBs in linear PCM tracks (16-bit) - and the effects are supported with some depth. This adds some crispness to the score by veteran Daniel White (Female Vampire, Crimson, Zombie Lake, The Erotic Rites of Frankenstein, The Sadistic Baron Von Klaus, The Man with the Severed Head) described by Tim Lucas as 'Acid-Jazz' at times and it's hard not to note its uniqueness with orchestral and church-organ riffs. It sounds deep and rich in the lossless. There are optional English subtitles (different from the DVD) and the Blu-ray disc is Region 'A"-locked.

The only supplements, besides a theatrical trailer, is another excellent commentary by Tim Lucas. He references many other associated films, performers, crew writer Jean-Claude Carrière, DoP Alejandro Ulloa etc.. It's wonderful to listen to and filled with relevant details, impressions and analysis. You could easily listen multiple times learning something new each time.

Considered one of Jess Franco's best, The Diabolical Dr. Z. has some bona-fide production values (storyboarding, more accomplished sets etc.) and carries great atmosphere, solid female leads. With the very valuable commentary this is a very enticing package - one that we can recommend to fans of this euro-centric genre.

-Gary Tooze

DVD Menus
Mondo Macabro - Region 0 - NTSC