Killer Dames: Two Gothic Chillers by Emilio P. Miraglia (Blu-ray / DVD)
Anthony Arrigo
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Starring Anthony Steffen, Erika Blanc, Sybil Danning, Barbara Bouchet
Directed by Emilio P. Miraglia
Distributed by Arrow Video
Arrow Video has been killing it with stellar releases, and their box set game in particular has been stronger than any other specialty company. One of their best releases of the year features two stylish, gothic entries in the giallo subgenre – The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave (1971) and The Red Queen Kills Seven Times (1972), both of which are directed by Emilio P. Miraglia. In addition to featuring the usual marquee-massacring titles for which gialli are known, Miraglia’s twofer comes with all the standard trappings: a drippy gothic atmosphere, red herrings aplenty, costumed figures, spectacular deaths, frequent police interrogations, and a lack of coherence. In regard to that last point, it is a testament to the artistry of giallo filmmakers that their films can entertain and thrill equally as much as they confuse and frustrate. I would have a simpler time counting the number of gialli that are easy to follow than the number of films where I just said “Screw it!” and sat back to visually feast on beautiful cinematography, bloody kills, and gorgeous women before arriving at a conclusion that kinda/sorta wraps up everything. Speaking of ladies, Miraglia sure knew how to cast his films with sultry sirens of the silver screen. Neither of the two titles included here reach the apex of gialli, though each combine so many strong elements that their stories can be seen as secondary to the imagery.
A crumbling gothic mansion located on a palatial estate, complete with its own mausoleum. An insane eccentric aristocrat. The haunting memory of a dead wife. A sex dungeon. Strippers. These are the wares of The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave, one of only two giallo films directed by Emilio P. Miraglia. Alan (Anthony Steffen) has just been released from a mental institution following the death of his wife, Evelyn. He retreats to an impressive country estate where he engages in all sorts of fun activities, like hiring red-headed hookers who look like his former wife and bringing them downstairs to his literal sex dungeon where he whips and kills them. Evelyn was a cheater, but even worse she died before Alan could get some proper revenge! So, instead he kills these unfortunate escorts. It’s very cathartic, apparently.
At a séance, where a medium attempts to contact Evelyn, Alan has another episode and passes out. His cousin and only heir (who certainly wouldn’t try to exploit that fact…), Farley (Umberto Raho), agrees to stay over and make sure Alan recovers. His first order of business is to get Alan to a strip club, where he finds another redheaded pole princess that he takes home and tries to kill. Only this one is smart; she manages to escape Alan’s clutches and flee into the night. On Farley’s advice Alan ditches his digs and heads to London, where he has an overnight affair with yet another firecrotch… except this time he marries her. Good luck, lady. His new wife, Gladys (Marina Malfatti), isn’t feeling very welcomed at home, as though some sinister presence wants her out. She also isn’t well liked by Albert (Roberto Maldera), Evelyn’s creeper brother who skulks around the property, or Aunt Agatha (Joan C. Davis), but that doesn’t matter because both die horrible deaths. Gladys has noticed a new maid appearing at night, one with red hair. Is Evelyn dead? Or is something else continuing to haunt Alan and his new bride?
This is the lesser of Miraglia’s two giallo pictures, though that is only because the story is a bit unfocused and the ending sputters right out. There is still plenty of wild depravity and the giallo staples are well executed. One thing that works very well is the hinting of a supernatural element without being explicit about its veracity. Given the decrepit stone mansion and eerie woodsy locale, the setting appears ideal for some malevolent specter to give a few frights and exact some revenge. The film plays with this notion, at times dismissing it before once again giving it credence. Most giallo film killers are of the “human, black-gloved” variety; the ghostly suggestions here add a little diversity.
That theme of possible poltergeists continues with The Red Queen Kills Seven Times. Although released just one year later, Miraglia’s direction is tighter, the story improved, and the giallo elements even stronger. When Grandpa Tobias (Rudolf Schundler) has to break up a shockingly violent fight between his two young nieces, Kitty and Eveline, he reminds them both of the Red Queen. A hundred years ago, the Black Queen stabbed her sister, the Red Queen, seven times and buried her. The Red Queen rose from the grave and claimed six victims before killing the Black Queen as her seventh and final. Legend has it the curse is doomed to be repeated throughout all history, occurring a hundred years before that tale and again one hundred years after. At the time of Tobias’ telling, there are fourteen years left until it is set to happen again.
Cut to fourteen years later and Tobias has just kicked the bucket. His granddaughters Franziska (Marina Malfatti), Kitty (Barbara Bouchet), and Eveline have been summoned to the reading of the will… except Eveline never shows. Kitty says she went off to America when in reality she knows exactly where Eveline is – because she killed her. Gramps has a clause in his will stating that it can’t be executed for a year, so everyone will have to reconvene then. What can be executed now, however, are the people surrounding Kitty and her family. The witnesses to these murders have reported a person wearing a red cape, with a face that looks an awful lot like Eveline, something that spooks the hell out of Kitty. When she and Franziska check the crypts under the family mansion, they find the Eveline’s body and a red cape before being scared off by a mysterious stranger. If Eveline is dead, then who is carrying out the Red Queen killings?
A big part of why this film is superior to The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave is the killer. That film left it largely ambiguous as to who was doing the deeds, whereas this film presents the character of the Red Queen. She’s striking, memorable, a bit spooky, and a bit sexy. Giallo films love their dressed-up killers, and the Red Queen is one of the best. I may also be a bit biased since I have been in love with her design for years, having a little Red Queen figure prominently displayed on my desk. Plus, her mask reminds me of Christiane in George Franju’s Eyes Without a Face (1960), a film that likely had an influence on Miraglia’s work.
Let’s give it up for the other ladies here, too. Remember how hot Sybil Danning looked in Howling II: Your Sister is a Werewolf (1985)? Especially her, uh, rather special cameos during the end credits. Knock thirteen years off her and she is practically unrecognizable here as a fresh-faced actress who, even at the beginning of her career, clearly had no issue with nudity. Miraglia shot this film in Germany, which explains many of the casting decisions.
Fans of these films will recall NoShame released an attractive little double feature some years ago, featuring remastered versions of both films, a nice selection of bonus features, and that adorable little Red Queen figure I have in front of me. Arrow Video has, unsurprisingly, one-upped that release by presenting both titles with excellent a/v quality, a host of new extra features in addition to those found on NoShame’s release, reversible cover art, and a 60-page booklet filled with photos and essays – all housed inside a sexy side-loading sturdy slipcase.
The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave bonus features:
Actress Erika Blanc provides a newly-recorded introduction for the film, which can be selected on the main menu.
Author and Italian cinema authority Troy Howarth provides an audio commentary.
“Remembering Evelyn” – Author Stephen Thrower sits down for an in-depth look at the film. Thrower is very knowledgeable and his appearances are always worth watching.
“The Night Erika Came Out of the Grave” – Erika Blanc sits down for a new interview, discussing her role here and a bit about her career.
Trailers in both Italian and English are included.
The archival features brought over from NoShame include a 2006 film introduction by Erika Blanc, a 20-minute interview with Blanc recorded at the same time, and a lengthy interview with production designer Lorenzo Baraldi.
The Red Queen Kills Seven Times bonus features:
Critics Alan Jones and Kim Newman deliver the audio commentary this time around.
Production designer Lorenzo Baraldi provides an introduction to the film, from 2006.
“The Red Reign” – Stephen Thrower once again appears to deliver his insight and thoughts on Miraglia’s second giallo.
“Life of Lulu” – Actress Sybil Danning still looks fabulous, and she sits down here for a new interview about her film career.
An odd alternate opening is included, as well as trailers once again in Italian and English.
The archival features that appear here include an interview with Baraldi, an interview with actor Marino Marse, a featurette detailing what some of Miraglia’s collaborators might say if they saw him today, and a very short interview clip of Barbara Boucher.
Both films also included DVD copies of their respective features.
Special Features:
LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS
- Limited Edition box set (3000 copies) containing The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave and The Red Queen Kills Seven Times
- Brand new 2K restorations of the films from the original camera negatives
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentations
- Original Italian and English soundtracks in mono audio (lossless DTS-HD Master Audio on the Blu-ray Discs)
- Newly translated English subtitles for the Italian soundtracks
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the English soundtracks
- Limited Edition 60-page booklet containing new writing by James Blackford, Kat Ellinger, Leonard Jacobs and Rachael Nisbet
THE NIGHT EVELYN CAME OUT OF THE GRAVE
- New audio commentary by Troy Howarth
- Exclusive introduction by actress Erika Blanc
- Writer Stephen Thrower on The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave
- The Night Erika Came Out of the Grave exclusive interview with Erika Blanc
- The Whip and the Body archival interview with Erika Blanc
- Still Rising from the Grave archival interview with production designer Lorenzo Baraldi
- Original Italian and US theatrical trailers
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Gilles Vranckx
THE RED QUEEN KILLS SEVEN TIMES
- New audio commentary by Alan Jones and Kim Newman
- Writer Stephen Thrower on The Red Queen Kills Seven Times
- Archival introduction by production/costume designer Lorenzo Baraldi
- Dead à Porter archival interview with Lorenzo Baraldi
- Rounding Up the Usual Suspects archival interview with actor Marino Masé
- If I Met Emilio Miraglia Today archival featurette with Erika Blanc, Lorenzo Baraldi and Marino Masé
- My Favourite… Films archival interview with actress Barbara Bouchet
- Alternative opening
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Gilles Vranckx
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The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave
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The Red Queen Kills Seven Times
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Special Features
Categorized:Reviews
