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Directed by Edward Dein
USA 1959

 

Vampiric gunfighter Drake Robey (Michael Pate, Hondo) goes West and terrorizes a small town. When the fiend sets his fangs on beautiful rancher Dolores (Kathleen Crowley, Target Earth), it’s up to Preacher Dan (Eric Fleming, TV’s Rawhide) to destroy the gun-slinging bloodsucker with a bullet mounted with a cross. The first film to mix cowboys and vampires, Curse of the Undead features striking black-and-white cinematography by Ellis W. Carter (The Incredible Shrinking Man) and co-stars John Hoyt (When Worlds Collide), Bruce Gordon (Tower of London), Edward Binns (12 Angry Men) and Jay Adler (99 River Street). Directed by Edward Dein (Shack Out on 101) and written by Edward and Mildred Dein (Calypso Joe).

***

If it weren't for the unambiguous title, I'd be tempted to classify Curse of the Undead as a western, albeit with strong horror elements. Certainly all the classic Western plot elements are there: a dispute over water rights; a beautiful, plucky heroine doing battle with a corrupt land baron; the heroine's hot-headed younger brother who itches to mix it up with the land baron and his hired thugs; the straight-as-an-arrow fiancé who at first urges caution, but in the end must fight for what's right; a well-meaning but ineffectual sheriff trying his best to keep the peace; drunken cowboys drawing on each other in a saloon, and of course the hired gun dressed in black… who just happens to be a vampire.

Excerpt from Films From Beyond the Time Barrier (Brian Schuck) located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: May 1959

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Review: Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Cover

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Bonus Captures:
Distribution Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:19:17.002        
Video

1.85:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 22,500,497,731 bytes

Feature: 21,125,412,864 bytes

Video Bitrate: 31.91 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

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

Audio

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1555 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1555 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Subtitles English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Kino

 

1.85:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 22,500,497,731 bytes

Feature: 21,125,412,864 bytes

Video Bitrate: 31.91 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Tom Weaver
• Trailers
• Image Gallery


 Blu-ray Release Date: October 6th, 2020
 Standard Blu-ray Case

Chapters 9

 

 

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (September 2020): Kino have transferred Edward Dein's Curse of the Undead to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "Brand New 2K Master". It looks very strong on a single-layered disc with a very high bitrate - for the hour-20-minute film. Contrast is well-layered, there is a touch of gloss and consistent, clean visuals. I thought it looked reasonably impressive.

NOTE: We have added 56 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Kino use a DTS-HD Master dual-mono track (16-bit) in the original English language. It sounds flawless with a haunting score by Irving Gertz (The Leech Woman, It Came From Outer Space, Blonde Ice and Plunder Road, The Deadly Mantis among others)  sounding atmospheric and suspenseful throughout. Kino offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray offers a new commentary by film historian Tom Weaver... and I think it is one of his best. He incorporates wonderful actor recreation comments, has 'guest' audio of Steve Cronenberg on Michael Pate's underrated performance, David Schecter on the score and use of an electric violin... it's packed with detail on Universal horrors, the performers, director Edward Dein (The Leech Woman) and much more. I was thoroughly entertained and learned a lot as well. There are also some trailers, although none for the film, and an image gallery.

Edward Dein's Curse of the Undead is a hugely nostalgic genre-mix - cowboys and vampires. Delightful. The Kino Blu-ray offers further value with the excellent commentary. Everyone knows already that this is right up my alley. I've watched it a couple of times so far - hokey, Dracula-esque fun, pardners'. Recommended to those who share my predilection!

Gary Tooze

 

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Box Cover

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Bonus Captures:
Distribution Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray


 


 

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