Mark Of The Devil (1970/Arrow Region Free Import Blu-ray)

Picture: B+ Sound: B+ Extras: B+ Film: B

PLEASE NOTE: This import Blu-ray is now only available from our friends at Arrow U.K. and can be ordered from the links below.

Once proclaimed as positively the most horrifying film ever made, Mark of the Devil finally arrives uncut in the UK. It's a shame that the U.S. market is not getting discs like this because the presentation and supplement materials, along with the extraordinary cover art makes this edition memorable, though Arrow is supposed to start issuing some of their titles in the U.S., so we'll see. In the meantime, you can enjoy this one just by ordering the film once rated V for Violence.

A bloody and brutal critique of religious corruption, Mark of the Devil sees horror icon Udo Kier (Flesh for Frankenstein, Suspiria) play a Witchfinder's apprentice whose faith in his master (Herbert Lom) becomes severely tested when they settle in an Austrian village. Presided over by the sadistic albino (a memorably nasty turn from Reggie Nalder), the film presents its morality not so much in shades of grey as shades of black.

Written and directed by Michael Armstrong, who would later pen Eskimo Nell, The Black Panther and House of the Long Shadows, this classic shocker has lost none of its power over the years - especially now that British audiences can finally see it in one piece. The film is brutal, thought provoking and extraordinarily shot. You'll have to see the rest to believe and and see what you think for yourself, but the censorship shows the hype had some basis in its context.

The 1.66 X 1 digital High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD (480p, not available for our coverage) presentations of the feature have both transferred from original film elements. The Blu-ray transfer is stunning despite its age and has many moments of color you would never expect from all the poor-quality versions that have shown up on video over the years.

There are both optional 2.0 English PCM Mono and German audio tracks along with optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing on the Blu-ray. There's even newly translated English subtitles for the German audio and an Audio commentary by Michael Armstrong, moderated by Calum Waddell.

The disc has a wealth of extras including:

Mark of the Times - exclusive feature-length documentary from High Rising Productions on the emergence of the new wave of British horror directors that surfaced during the sixties and seventies, featuring contributions from Michael Armstrong, Norman J. Warren (Terror), David McGillivray (Frightmare), Professor Peter Hutchings (author of Hammer and Beyond) and famed film critic Kim Newman

Hallmark of the Devil - author and critic Michael Gingold looks back at Hallmark Releasing, the controversial and confrontational distributor that introduced Mark of the Devil to American cinemas

Interviews with composer Michael Holm and actors Udo Kier, Herbert Fux, Gaby Fuchs, Ingeborg Schöner and Herbert Lom

Mark of the Devil: Now and Then - a look at the film's locations and how they appear today

Outtakes

Gallery

Reversible Sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Graham Humphreys

Illustrated collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by Adrian Smith and Anthony Nield, plus an interview with Reggie Nalder by David Del Valle, all illustrated with original stills & artwork and the DVD version.

If you are able to get your paws on this and you are a horror fan then this is a must!

You can order the Blu-ray directly from this link...

http://www.arrowfilms.co.uk/mark-of-the-devil/

...or go to the general link to see even more...

http://shop.bfi.org.uk/dvd-blu-ray.html

- James Harland Lockhart V

https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv