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

ADDITION: Mondo Macabro Blu-ray (February 2021): Mondo Macabro have transferred Tonino Cervi's Queens of Evil to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "Brand new 4k transfer from film negative". It's quite miraculous that this has made it to 1080P after slumming in poor video-like digital incarnations for years. While still not premium - the image is a function of the sources elements - and has very few inconsistencies - occasionally looking quite pleasing with some color depth, textures and detail in close-ups. There is no untoward damage and plays watch-ably in-motion. Thrilling to see it looking this good, considering.  

NOTE: We have added 100 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Mondo Macabro offer DTS-HD Master dual-mono tracks (16-bit) in both the English DUB and Italian soundtracks. The audio is likewise imperfect but has general consistency - the DUB is not fraught with too much sync weakness - overall; authentically flat and a bit hollow but clean. The score is by Angelo Francesco Lavagnino (The Colossus of Rhodes, The Savage Innocents, Revolt of the Slaves, Chimes at Midnight, Othello, Legend of the Lost) and Ray Lovelock does sing a couple of songs; in the opening; "We Love You Underground" and "Swimming" during the swimming/fishing ritual scene. There are also some Gregorian chant samplings played, as well, adding atmosphere. All good. Mondo Macabro offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Mondo Macabro Blu-ray offers a wonderful commentary by Kat Ellinger and Samm Deighan. They discuss the film's satire as part of the genre, Lovelock's Hippie-period and other films, the three 'witches' and their other films, corporate power as evil - the theme of Satanism being corporate, Queens of Evil as a strange fairy tale, its unique and unusual qualities, food themes (fairly tale-ish), evoking Baba Yaga, 1970's Tam Lin, The Touchables (1968), they talk about cinematographer Sergio D'Offizi, the castration nightmare and much more. They are so much fun and their enthusiasm is contagious. Really an excellent examination of this enigmatic film, its charms and ambiguous expressions. Also included is a 27-minute archive interview, where Ray Lovelock talks about his early days as an actor, his brief musical career and how he became a big star in Japan with the films Plagio and Queens of Evil. There are also two alternate sequences - Forest Chase and Empty House running shy of 8-minutes in total. Queens of Evil was a French/Italian co-production. The French and Italian versions have slightly different edits in these two scenes. There is also a trailer and 14-minutes of exotic Mondo Macabro previews. 

Tonino Cervi's Queens of Evil is delightfully strange and magical. Such and intentionally mysterious film, dropping satire and unexplored fable themes throughout. Wow - this is special. Some may be interested that Cervi produced Michelangelo Antonioni’s Red Desert. There is also a eastern European vibe to the film - evoking Jaromil Jires' Valerie and Her Week of Wonders. Lovelock is great as the man-child and the three witches - Haydée Politoff (some may remember her from the 'dream sequence' of Éric Rohmer's Chloe in the Afternoon) Silvia Monti (Deborah in A Lizard in a Woman's Skin), and Evelyn Stewart (Fulci's The Psychic and The Sweet Body of Deborah) - are desirable and complex - love the 70's fashion and wild 'big hair' wig changes. The Mondo Macabro Blu-ray is a bit of an event to own this in HD - 4K restored to boot - such a clandestine odd genre horror gem. The commentary is fabulous - as are the Lovelock interview and other extras. This has our highest recommendation! What a keeper.

Gary Tooze