These two tales of horror are inspired by the work of Edgar Allan Poe. The Two Tales are titled "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar" and "The Black Cat". "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar" is written and directed by George A. Romero (Bruiser, The Dark Half). "The Black Cat" is directed by Dario Argento (The Stendhal Syndrome, Trauma).
"The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar". The story is about a conniving wife (Adrienne Barbeau) and her lover (Ramy Zada) use a hypnotic trance to embezzle a fortune from her dying husband (Bingo O'Malley). His wife and her lover are receiving surprises messages from the behind the grave, when her husband died unexpectedly.
"The Black Cat". The story is about a talented but unfocused photographer (Harvey Keitel) is driven into madness, when his girlfriend's (Madeleine Potter) new pet. This man is driven to brutal acts of crimes and murder.
Romero's take on "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar" is a mix of high camp, heavy handed and some real silliness but what it makes it watchable is the good performances by the three leads:Barbeau, Zada and O'Malley. E.G. Marshall has a small role. Romero's wife:Christine Forrest and Tom Atkins appears in Cameos.
Argento's take on "The Black Cat" is near perfect. Harvey Keitel gives a powerful performance and this one hour film is a study of obsession. The only fault is the shortcoming conclusion. This story has a good cast like Sally Kirkland, Martin Balsam, John Amos and Kim Hunter. This is One of Argento's best works as a director. Written by the director and Franco Ferrini (Demons).
Blue Underground did an excellent job of doing an newly transferred from an original vault negative on this two-disc set. Also the sound is been remastered to Dolby Digital 5.1 EX Surround Sound (Also in DTS 6.1 ES Surround Sound). The DVD has the original theatrical trailer, poster & still gallery and talent bios. The film features grisly terrific make-up effects by Tom Savini and great music score by Pino Donaggio (Carrie, Dressed to Kill, The Howling). Disc two has an entertaining featurette with interviews by Romero, Argento, Savini and vintage interview with an young 14 year-old Asia Argento. Second Disc also has 12 minute featurette with Savini about the F/X work, other Savini featurette showing parts of his house back in the late 1980's and an outtake from "Document of the Dead" with interview with actress Barbeau.
This independent production was briefly released into theaters in the U.S but become a wild horror hit in Europe. This is a Cult Film. I would really love to see Dario Argento's take on "The Black Cat" as a full length two hour film. Imagine what would Argento could have done with that. George A. Romero's "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar" rates (*** ½/*****). and Dario Argento's "The Black Cat" rates (**** ½/*****). Both films rates together (****/*****). Do not miss this forgotten horror stories done by Two Talented Directors.
"The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar". The story is about a conniving wife (Adrienne Barbeau) and her lover (Ramy Zada) use a hypnotic trance to embezzle a fortune from her dying husband (Bingo O'Malley). His wife and her lover are receiving surprises messages from the behind the grave, when her husband died unexpectedly.
"The Black Cat". The story is about a talented but unfocused photographer (Harvey Keitel) is driven into madness, when his girlfriend's (Madeleine Potter) new pet. This man is driven to brutal acts of crimes and murder.
Romero's take on "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar" is a mix of high camp, heavy handed and some real silliness but what it makes it watchable is the good performances by the three leads:Barbeau, Zada and O'Malley. E.G. Marshall has a small role. Romero's wife:Christine Forrest and Tom Atkins appears in Cameos.
Argento's take on "The Black Cat" is near perfect. Harvey Keitel gives a powerful performance and this one hour film is a study of obsession. The only fault is the shortcoming conclusion. This story has a good cast like Sally Kirkland, Martin Balsam, John Amos and Kim Hunter. This is One of Argento's best works as a director. Written by the director and Franco Ferrini (Demons).
Blue Underground did an excellent job of doing an newly transferred from an original vault negative on this two-disc set. Also the sound is been remastered to Dolby Digital 5.1 EX Surround Sound (Also in DTS 6.1 ES Surround Sound). The DVD has the original theatrical trailer, poster & still gallery and talent bios. The film features grisly terrific make-up effects by Tom Savini and great music score by Pino Donaggio (Carrie, Dressed to Kill, The Howling). Disc two has an entertaining featurette with interviews by Romero, Argento, Savini and vintage interview with an young 14 year-old Asia Argento. Second Disc also has 12 minute featurette with Savini about the F/X work, other Savini featurette showing parts of his house back in the late 1980's and an outtake from "Document of the Dead" with interview with actress Barbeau.
This independent production was briefly released into theaters in the U.S but become a wild horror hit in Europe. This is a Cult Film. I would really love to see Dario Argento's take on "The Black Cat" as a full length two hour film. Imagine what would Argento could have done with that. George A. Romero's "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar" rates (*** ½/*****). and Dario Argento's "The Black Cat" rates (**** ½/*****). Both films rates together (****/*****). Do not miss this forgotten horror stories done by Two Talented Directors.