I first found Horror Rises From The Tomb in the video section of an old Woolworth’s store in Reno, NV (which is gone now - along with Park Lane Mall, the once-glorious shopping center that housed it). The video label (Alpha) was a dubious one at best (as were many labels back then), but it didn’t prevent a young lad like me from purchasing it: after all, it was a Spanish horror film that featured both Paul Naschy and (hopefully) boobies. It has been many years since I last saw the old print, so I don’t remember if my desire to see some hot Spanish chiches was fulfilled or not (update: I did a little research - the Alpha print did not have any nudity… which is probably why I don’t remember), but I do remember the print being all washed out with this awful audio that made me wonder if the soundtrack wasn’t recorded next to Niagara Falls (gasp) Niagara Falls! Slowly I turned… step by step… inch by inch… !
Whoops, got carried away there, sorry. Anyway, despite the cons, Horror Rises From The Tomb proved to be an enjoyable film for a mere boy in a beardless youth (of course, I’m still beardless - couldn’t grow one to save my life, as a matter of fact). This movie has just about everything there is for a Spanish horror freak to love: Witchcraft, Satanism, Zombies, Scythe Killings, and (trumpet fanfare) boobies! Over the years, Horror Rises From The Tomb has risen on more than one occasion via both videocassette and DVD (some under dubious labels still): everyone thought Crash Cinema’s 2004 issue was the definitive release and that it couldn’t get any better... then I picked up the BCI version: wow, I seriously doubt that Horror Rises From The Tomb has ever looked this good!
Horror Rises From The Tomb is one of several fan-favorites from the late Carlos Aured starring Spanish horror icon Paul Naschy. In it, Naschy goes for the Peter Sellers Multiple Roles Award by playing both the good guy, the bad guy and (in a flashback) the bad guy’s twin brother (who also happens to be the good guy’s ancestor… as well as the bad guy’s… but I’m sure you can do that math yourself) in this epic that was undoubtedly inspired by Universal’s The Thing That Couldn’t Die (it’s no secret that Naschy was inspired by the classic Universal horror films… even the lousy ones from the '50s, too, I guess).
 Alaric de Marnac (Naschy) is a medieval French warlock who is beheaded for crimes against the church in medieval France and his girlfriend (wife?), Mabille De Lancré (Helga Line) is burned at the stake by Alaric’s own puritan brother, Armand de Marnac (also Naschy) and Andre Roland (the invincible Vic Winner). Much like the pre-credit sequence for Curse Of The Devil, the dying (burning) woman places a curse on her executors, promising to make life a living hell for their descendants. Sure enough, when modern-day swinger Hugo de Marnac (yes, Naschy) and his artist-buddy Maurice Roland (we have a Winner!) hold a séance to figure out why they’re having weird visions, they discover that the cursed corpse of Alaric is being a very bad dead guy… so they decide to take a road trip to Hugo’s family chateau way up in the secluded mountains. The remote, secluded mountains. The isolated, remote, secluded mountains.
 Like all truly stupid people depicted in horror movies, our male leads bring their girlfriends along for the ride… despite the fact that there are some lusty, busty, young Spanish vixens (including heroine Emma Cohen) waiting for them at the chateau in the guise of servants (and I wonder why my significant other won’t let me hire maids). After digging around on the property, our heroes discover a buried chest which (unbeknownst to them) contains Alaric’s severed head - raring and ready to party hardy. It isn’t long before the proverbial possessed-henchmen-guy is wandering about with a scythe, killing anyone and everyone in his path! Maidens are slain, breasts are exposed, hearts are broken (and eaten), the boys go bad, and the girls go gay… all in the name of The Dark Prince, Satan… what a crazy guy!
 Presentation
BCI Eclipse has definitely earned a spot on the map for their release of Horror Rises From The Tomb - this print is outstanding! Colors are rich and invigorating while the 2.0 English dub comes just fine. The original Castilian Spanish 2.0 soundtrack sounds a little tinny but is a welcome addition nonetheless. Optional English Subtitles for the Castilian track are included.
Extras
Horror Rises From The Tomb features an Audio Commentary with Paul Naschy, Director Carlos Aured and Moderator Angel Gomez Rivero. The Commentary is in Castilian with optional English Subtitles. Other Special Features include a special Introduction to the film by Paul Naschy (1:04), the original Spanish Credit Sequence (1:54), the original US Theatrical Trailer (2:42), which (even though the onscreen title reads Horror) is referred to as Fear Rises From  The Tomb by the narrator, a Photo Gallery (showcasing various International press materials) and a reel of Alternate Scenes (8:53). Some of the Alternate Scenes were used in the “Clothed” version (from the original Spanish release) while the rest are silent.
The Bottom Line
BCI: in the future, it would be greatly appreciated if you would lengthen the duration of canned music that accompanies the menus: it gets old - fast. Other than that, thank you, thank you, thank you… and I hope to see every single Spanish horror film you can get your hands on (even the really bad ones).
|
