Plot Synopsis:
In Larraz s debut feature, the hitherto ultra-rare Whirlpool (1970), Vivian Neves stars as Tulia, a young model invited to a photographer s secluded country home for what purports to be a quiet weekend retreat but soon turns into a descent into deadly depravity. 1974 s Vampyres perhaps the best known and most widely-released of all José Larraz s films sees a duo of blood-hungry female vampires prowling the British countryside, from where they lure unsuspecting male motorists back to their imposing, dilapidated mansion. Meanwhile, in 1978 s The Coming of Sin (La Visita del Vicio, in its native Spanish), a young gypsy girl experiences a violent sexual awakening as her dreams of a naked young man on horseback become reality.
By turns terrifying, titillating, artful and scandalous, these three films assembled here collectively offer film fans a unique perspective on the fascinating, highly-varied career of one of the horror genre s most overlooked auteurs.
SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS
- Three films by José Ramón Larraz: Whirlpool, Vampyres and The Coming of Sin, restored in 2K from original film elements
- English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing for all features
- Newly commissioned artwork by Gilles Vranckx
WHIRLPOOL (1970)
- Original US Theatrical Cut
- Audio commentary with Tim Lucas
- Obsessive Recurrence: The Early Films of José Larraz author and critic Kim Newman reflects on the recurring themes and underlying obsessions linking together the early productions of José Larraz
- A Curious Casting actor Larry Dann on the strange story behind his casting in Whirlpool
- Deviations of Whirlpool featurette comparing the differences between the US Theatrical Cut and a previously circulated, alternate cut of the film
- Vivian Neves interviewed by Michael Parkinson on BBC s Parkinson, originally broadcast in July 1972
- Extract from an archival interview with José Larraz
- Original US Theatrical Trailer
VAMPYRES (1974)
- Audio commentary with Kat Ellinger
- Interviews withproducer Brian Smedley-Aston, actors Marianne Morris, Anulka, Brian Deacon, Sally Faulkner, makeup artist Colin Arthur and composer James Kenelm Clarke
- Reimagining Vampyres an interview with Larraz s friend and collaborator Victor Matellano, director of the 2015 Vampyres remake
- Extract from an archival interview with José Larraz
- José Larraz and Marianne Morris Q&A at 1997 Eurofest
THE COMING OF SIN (1978)
- Spanish and English language versions of the feature
- Audio commentary with Kat Ellinger and Samm Deighan
- Variations of Vice: The Alternate Versions of The Coming of Sin exploitation expert Marc Morris on the strange and scandalous release history of José Larraz s most censored film
- Remembering Larraz author and filmmaker Simon Birrell shares his fond and extensive memories of his long-time friend and collaborator José Larraz
- His Last Request (2005, 27 mins) short film by Simon Birrell made under the guidance of José Larraz and starring Spanish horror legend Jack Taylor
- Extract from an archival interview with José Larraz
