Discovering films on Blu-ray and DVD

The Vampire Lovers

Poster of The Vampire Lovers

Beautiful temptress… or bloodthirsty monster?

  • Photo of Dr. Steve Haberman

    This is a very interesting combination of very faithful, and well-produced, and cleverly structured literary adaptation of an historic novella and exploitation. It’s a great combination. … This is a very well-made movie, but I think what makes it a classic and the version of “Carmilla” that we return to all the time is Ingrid Pitt.

    Dr. Steve Haberman, The Vampire Lovers audio commentary (Scream Factory, 2021)
  • Photo of Constantine Nasr

    If you are watching this film now for the first time within the context of Hammer movies you’re going to sense something that has not been presented in a Hammer vampire film, which is a very distinct supernatural flavour in the presentation of vampire as a ghostly ethereal being. This is something that is very distinct even from the variations on the vampire theme that Hammer presented with movies like The Kiss of the Vampire.

    Constantine Nasr, The Vampire Lovers audio commentary (Scream Factory, 2021)
  • Photo of Jonathan Rigby

    The Vampire Lovers gets off to a promising start with an especially atmospheric pre-credits sequence. An evanescent, shrouded figure emerges from a a mist-wreathed graveyard and turns out, magically, to be a dazzling blonde beauty in a diaphanous gown. As she embraces the apprehensive Baron Hartog, her exposed breast comes into contact with his crucifix, whereupon she bares shark-like teeth and Hartog smartly decapitates her with a single sweep of his sword. ... That provocative nipple/crucifix collision crystallises Hammer’s new approach in a single frame. The Vampire Lovers has as its protagonist a devouring bisexual seductress who sinks her fangs, not into the necks, but into the breasts of her female victims.

    Jonathan Rigby, English Gothic: Classic Horror Cinema 1897-2015 (Signum Books, 2015)

Selected disc options for The Vampire Lovers

Extras
Scream Factory box art
Scream Factory BD-A/US 2021
Scream Factory box art
Scream Factory BD-A/US/OOP 2013
HanseSound box art
HanseSound BD-B/DE/OOP 2020
Anolis box art
Anolis BD-B/DE/OOP 2016
Final Cut box art
Final Cut BD-B/UK/OOP 2014
Shock box art
Shock BD-B/AU/OOP 2011
Shout! Factory box art
Shout! Factory DVD-1/US/OOP 2014
MGM box art
MGM DVD-1/US/OOP 2003
Audio Commentary by Dr. Steve Haberman and Constantine Nasr has extra
Audio Commentary by Actress Ingrid Pitt, Director Roy Ward Baker and Screenwriter Tudor Gates, Moderated by Jonathan Sothcott has extra has extra has extra has extra has extra has extra
Audio Commentary by Dr. Rolf Giesen and Volker Kronz (In German) has extra has extra
Audio Commentary by Marcus Hearn and Jonathan Rigby has extra has extra
“Carmilla” by Sheridan Le Fanu: Excerpts Read by Ingrid Pitt - With Photo Montage (12:06) has extra has extra has extra has extra has extra has extra
Carnal Crimson - Interview with Kim Newman (19:06) has extra
Fangs for the Memories: Remembering “The Vampire Lovers” - Interview with Jonathan Rigby (24:32) has extra
Feminine Fantastique: Resurrecting “The Vampire Lovers” (9:56) has extra has extra has extra has extra
New Blood: Hammer Enters the 70s (26:23) has extra has extra
The Rapture of Cruelty: Carmilla in Classic Cinema - Audio Essay by Dr. Steve Haberman, Read by Actress Madeline Smith (52:38) has extra
Madeline Smith: Vampire Lover - Interview with Actress Madeline Smith (20:33) has extra has extra has extra has extra
To Love a Vampire - Interview with Actress Madeline Smith (15:54) has extra
Deleted Shot of the Opening Beheading (1:23) has extra
Trailers from Hell with Mick Garris (2:35) has extra
Restoration Comparison (5:19) has extra
Stills Gallery [Anolis] - German Advertising, American Pressbook, British Pressbook, Film Programs, Photos (1:04, 6:28, 3:08, 2:22, 4:20) has extra has extra
Stills Gallery [Final Cut] (6:14) has extra
Stills Gallery [Scream Factory 2013] (8:18) has extra
Stills Gallery [Scream Factory 2021] (15:05) has extra
German Theatrical Trailer (2:16) has extra has extra
US Theatrical Trailer (2:19) has extra has extra has extra has extra has extra has extra has extra
US Radio Spot 1 (0:51) has extra has extra has extra has extra
US Radio Spot 2 (0:27) has extra has extra has extra
Search Blu-ray.com

Blu-ray and DVD comparisons available on Rewind logo

Notes

  • Scream Factory’s 2021 “Collector’s Edition” Blu-ray is missing a nude scene – a replacement disc is available.
  • Anolis’ Blu-ray is also available in two Mediabook editions, each containing a 36-page booklet with writing by Dr. Rolf Giesen, Uwe Huber and Uwe Sommerlad (in German).
  • Shock’s Blu-ray reissued (2015/07/03).
  • Shout! Factory’s DVD contains no extras. It is included in the “Movies 4 You: Horror” box set with The Vampire (1957), The Screaming Skull (1958) and The Bat People (1974).
  • MGM’s “Midnite Movies Double Feature” DVD also includes Countess Dracula (1971).

Ultimate Edition

Combine the best digital presentation with a selection of choice extras for the ultimate edition.

  • Screen shot for “Carmilla” by Sheridan Le Fanu: Excerpts Read by Ingrid Pitt
    “Carmilla” by Sheridan Le Fanu: Excerpts Read by Ingrid Pitt (12:06)
  • Screen shot for Carnal Crimson
    Carnal Crimson (19:06)
  • Screen shot for Fangs for the Memories: Remembering “The Vampire Lovers”
    Fangs for the Memories: Remembering “The Vampire Lovers” (24:32)
  • Screen shot for Feminine Fantastique: Resurrecting “The Vampire Lovers”
    Feminine Fantastique: Resurrecting “The Vampire Lovers” (9:56)
  • Screen shot for New Blood: Hammer Enters the 70s
    New Blood: Hammer Enters the 70s (26:23)
  • Screen shot for Madeline Smith: Vampire Lover
    Madeline Smith: Vampire Lover (20:33)
  • Screen shot for To Love a Vampire
    To Love a Vampire (15:54)
  • Screen shot for Trailers from Hell with Mick Garris
    Trailers from Hell with Mick Garris (2:35)
  • Screen shot for Restoration Comparison
    Restoration Comparison (5:19)
Presentation Scream Factory BD 2021
  • Video
    • File 1
      • Codec: MPEG-4 AVC
      • Resolution: 1080p23.976
      • Overall bit rate: 31.76 Mbps
      • Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
      • Length:1:31:07.936
      • File size: 21.91 GiB
    • File 2
      • Codec: MPEG-4 AVC
      • Resolution: 1080p23.976
      • Overall bit rate: 30.79 Mbps
      • Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
      • Length:1:31:07.936
      • File size: 21.29 GiB
      • Notes: Corrected Disc
  • Audio
    • File 1
      • Language: English DTS-HD MA 1.0
      • Sampling rate: 48 kHz
      • Bit rate: 1095 kbps
      • Bit depth: 24-bit
  • Subtitles
    • English SDH
Scream Factory BD 2013
  • Video
    • File 1
      • Codec: MPEG-4 AVC
      • Resolution: 1080p23.976
      • Overall bit rate: 29.93 Mbps
      • Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
      • Length:1:31:21.809
      • File size: 21.61 GiB
  • Audio
    • File 1
      • Language: English DTS-HD MA 2.0 Mono
      • Sampling rate: 48 kHz
      • Bit rate: 2048 kbps
      • Bit depth: 24-bit
  • Subtitles
    • English SDH
HanseSound BD 2020
  • Video
    • File 1
      • Codec: MPEG-4 AVC
      • Resolution: 1080p
      • Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
  • Audio
    • File 1
      • Language: English DTS-HD MA 2.0 Mono
    • File 2
      • Language: German DTS-HD MA 2.0 Mono
  • Subtitles
    • German
Anolis BD 2016
  • Video
    • File 1
      • Codec: MPEG-4 AVC
      • Resolution: 1080p
      • Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
  • Audio
    • File 1
      • Language: English DTS-HD MA 2.0 Mono
    • File 2
      • Language: German DTS-HD MA 2.0 Mono
  • Subtitles
    • German
Final Cut BD 2014
  • Video
    • File 1
      • Codec: MPEG-4 AVC
      • Resolution: 1080p23.976
      • Overall bit rate: 25.00 Mbps
      • Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
      • Length:1:31:21.267
      • File size: 16.95 GiB
  • Audio
    • File 1
      • Language: English LPCM 2.0 Mono
      • Sampling rate: 48 kHz
      • Bit rate: 1536 kbps
      • Bit depth: 16-bit
  • Subtitles
    • English SDH
Shock BD 2011
  • Video
    • File 1
      • Codec: MPEG-4 AVC
      • Resolution: 1080i50
      • Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
  • Audio
    • File 1
      • Language: English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
  • Subtitles
    • None
Extras Audio Commentary by Dr. Steve Haberman and Constantine Nasr Scream Factory BD
Audio Commentary by Actress Ingrid Pitt, Director Roy Ward Baker and Screenwriter Tudor Gates, Moderated by Jonathan Sothcott Scream Factory BD
Audio Commentary by Marcus Hearn and Jonathan Rigby Scream Factory BD
“Carmilla” by Sheridan Le Fanu: Excerpts Read by Ingrid Pitt - With Photo Montage (12:06, 1080p) Scream Factory BD
Carnal Crimson - Interview with Kim Newman (19:06, 1080p) Scream Factory BD
Fangs for the Memories: Remembering “The Vampire Lovers” - Interview with Jonathan Rigby (24:32, 1080p) Scream Factory BD
Feminine Fantastique: Resurrecting “The Vampire Lovers” (9:56, 1080p) Scream Factory BD
New Blood: Hammer Enters the 70s (26:23, 1080p) Scream Factory BD
The Rapture of Cruelty: Carmilla in Classic Cinema - Audio Essay by Dr. Steve Haberman, Read by Actress Madeline Smith (52:38) Scream Factory BD
Madeline Smith: Vampire Lover - Interview with Actress Madeline Smith (20:33, 1080p) Scream Factory BD
To Love a Vampire - Interview with Actress Madeline Smith (15:54, 1080p) Scream Factory BD
Deleted Shot of the Opening Beheading (1:23, 1080p) Scream Factory BD
Trailers from Hell with Mick Garris (2:35, 1080p) Scream Factory BD
Restoration Comparison (5:19, 1080i50) Final Cut BD
Stills Gallery [Anolis] - German Advertising, American Pressbook, British Pressbook, Film Programs, Photos (1:04, 6:28, 3:08, 2:22, 4:20) Anolis BD
Stills Gallery [Final Cut] (6:14, 1080i50) Final Cut BD
Stills Gallery [Scream Factory 2013] (8:18, 1080p) Scream Factory BD
Stills Gallery [Scream Factory 2021] (15:05, 1080p) Scream Factory BD
US Theatrical Trailer (2:19, 480i) Scream Factory BD
US Radio Spot 1 (0:53) Scream Factory BD
US Radio Spot 2 (0:27) Scream Factory BD

Notes

  • MGM’s “Carmilla” extra has a more extensive gallery than Scream Factory’s.