Symptoms coming to Blu-Ray

[Andrew Monroe]

Oh, yes I'm very excited about this. I emailed the BFI a couple of years ago when SYMPTOMS was screened via a 35mm print in Brussels, and received a fairly positive response (I think I posted it here) which suggested that even if the leads were positive, it may of course take several years for the film to be released, if at all. This has come round much sooner than I could have hoped.

Yes, I remember you posting that here, Paul.

I too have been dying to see that documentary ever since I got wind of it. I have a made for television doc on Larraz that's pretty god albeit way too brief. This is shaping up to be a contender for release of the year for me.

The reason I mentioned DEVIATION, WHIRLPOOL, and SCREAM AND DIE here is that, to me at least, they have certain similarities in tone and twisted atmosphere as SYMPTOMS. WHIRLPOOL in particular I'm dying to see in a gorgeous restoration. That time-coded eyesore is a real drag. That film is right up there with SYMPTOMS for me, one of his major works. That it's scored with one of Cipriani's finest soundtracks is the cherry on top.

[Randy G]

Awesome. Had thought this would never happen. You can tell how beautifully shot this was even in the boots so it will be amazing on blu.

[Tom Clark]

Yeah, I'd cheekily asked for a screener too but suspect she thought it might be... distributed.

A logical fear in this day and age. This is really the perfect venue for it. It sounds quite fascinating. From what I gather its nothing like a typical documentary.

[Clive Smith]

Yeah, I'd cheekily asked for a screener too but suspect she thought it might be... distributed.

[Tom Clark]

I emailed her a couple of years ago to see if this was going to be distributed somehow but got no response.

Heh, I asked her the same and she just said something like "I hope it gets released someday". I know she sent some DVD-R screeners out to some for review but I never had the nerve to ask for one.

[Paul L]

Ha, absolutely. I'm sure Paul will notice soon and add his tuppence-worth.

Oh, yes I'm very excited about this. I emailed the BFI a couple of years ago when SYMPTOMS was screened via a 35mm print in Brussels, and received a fairly positive response (I think I posted it here) which suggested that even if the leads were positive, it may of course take several years for the film to be released, if at all. This has come round much sooner than I could have hoped.

[Clive Smith]

Symptoms coming to Blu-Ray

Great that Celia Novis' doc on Larraz is included as an extra. Been itching to see that since I first heard of it.

I emailed her a couple of years ago to see if this was going to be distributed somehow but got no response. Very excited that it's part of the package. I just wonder if the MM and BFI will be the same beast...

[Tom Clark]

And Estigma!

I believe Code Red has been teasing Stigma, Black Candles and Deadly Manor for a while now. More Larraz on disc is a good thing no matter the film although it goes without saying that this announcement of Symptoms is massive. Hopefully it'll get Larraz's name out there to more people. His day is long overdue. Great that Celia Novis' doc on Larraz is included as an extra. Been itching to see that since I first heard of it.

Now, since we're rolling boxcars here, how about getting WHIRLPOOL, DEVIATION, and SCREAM AND DIE on BD as well.

Boy howdy. You know, some time back a short clip from Whirlpool dubbed in Italian was uploaded to YouTube. The quality was almost VHS, miles better than the time coded print everyone has seen. The clips been gone for a while now but seeing even such a short bit of the film in better condition than what was thought to be the only print was an eye opener to say the least.

[Ian Jane]

Correct.

[s.chivers]

So are we saying the Bfi are releasing this in the UK and Mondo Macarbro are releasing it in the US?

[slizwiz]

Now, since we're rolling boxcars here, how about getting WHIRLPOOL, DEVIATION, and SCREAM AND DIE on BD as well. Then I can shuffle off this tilt-a-whirl a relatively happy man.

And Estigma!

[Clive Smith]

Now, since we're rolling boxcars here, how about getting WHIRLPOOL, DEVIATION, and SCREAM AND DIE on BD as well.

Ha, absolutely. I'm sure Paul will notice soon and add his tuppence-worth.

[Ian Jane]

Official Press Release:

For years only viewable as a blurry bootleg derived from an early 80s British TV broadcast, this haunting thriller can now be seen as it was intended with a brand new HD transfer of the recently discovered negatives. It's taken us more than 15 years of searching and negotiating to get here, but with the indispensable assistance of the BFI we can finally bring this film to the world on Blu-ray and DVD.

Symptoms is an intense and claustrophobic study of a woman's descent into madness and murder. Made in the same years as Larraz's better known Vampyres with much of the same crew and a similar vibe, Symptoms is more atmospheric and ambiguous, and less exploitative. But it casts a powerful spell and is perhaps the most potent example of director Jose Larraz's unique style.

Starring Angela Pleasance (From Beyond the Grave) in what is probably her best ever role, Symptoms is a film whose time has finally come. After premiering at the 1974 Cannes Film Festival as the official UK entry and a brief theatrical run, the film sank into almost complete obscurity until being rescued from oblivion by books like Tohill and Tombs' Immoral Tales and the ever-diligent video underground. With this stunning new blu ray release Symptoms can now be seen as the masterpiece of 70s horror that it truly is.

Mondo Macabro's Blu-ray and DVD releases will be out in early spring, and will include the following extras:

The 2011 documentary on Jose Larraz, ON VAMPYRES AND OTHER SYMPTOMS
FROM BARCELONA to TUNBRIDGE WELLS, a 1999 TV documentary on Larraz, part of the EUROTIKA! series
New interviews with stars Angela Pleasence and Lorna Heilbron and editor Brian Smedley-Aston

The retail version of this release will be preceded by a limited, numbered version (500 copies only) with exclusive extras, only available through our webstore MondoMacabro.BigCartel.com

[John Bernhard]

[slizwiz]

Yes! I friggin' love Symptoms.