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Synapse’s “TOMBS OF THE BLIND DEAD” Steelbook Blu-ray set now available

Monday, April 18, 2022 | Blu-ray/DVD, News

By MICHAEL GINGOLD

Following its debut at the Cinema Wasteland convention earlier this month, the hi-def disc release of the Spanish classic can now be seen by everyone.

Synapse Films has made its three-disc Steelbook Blu-ray edition of Amando de Ossorio’s 1971 shocker TOMBS OF THE BLIND DEAD available exclusively at its website ($49.95 with free USPS shipping); international orders are being handled by DiabolikDVD. The saga of a group of vacationers terrorized by the living-dead, sightless Knights Templar has been restored in 2K from the original uncut camera negative, and this limited edition (4,000 units) is packaged in Steelbook art by Wes Benscoter and a slipcover bearing the original theatrical poster, plus a booklet with liner notes by film historian/home video columnist Patrick McCabe. The complete specs are:

Disc 1

  • Original Spanish-language and English/Spanish hybrid soundtrack versions of the uncut film (101 minutes)
  • Lossless Spanish PCM 2.0 mono soundtrack
  • Lossless “hybrid” English/Spanish PCM 2.0 mono soundtrack
  • Optional English subtitles for the Spanish track and the Spanish sections of the hybrid soundtrack
  • Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the hybrid soundtrack
  • Audio commentary by horror film historian and author Troy Howarth
  • Audio commentary by star Lone Fleming
  • Audio commentary by Rod Barnett and Troy Guinn of the NaschyCast podcast
  • MARAUDERS FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN, a feature-length documentary exploring the history of the Spanish zombie film, featuring interviews with NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD writer/producer John Russo, Sitges Film Festival deputy director Mike Hostench, film critic John Martin, academic Calum Waddell, THE LIVING DEAD AT MANCHESTER MORGUE director Jorge Grau, TOMBS OF THE BLIND DEAD star Lone Fleming, actors Helga Liné, Manuel de Blas, Antonio Mayans and Jack Taylor, Paul Naschy’s son Sergio Molina, author/film critic Kim Newman and academic/writer Steve Jones
  • REVENGE OF PLANET APE: alternate U.S. opening sequence
  • Awakening of Spanish Horror Cinema featurette
  • Salem’s Pop “Templar’s Tears” music video
  • Original theatrical trailer
  • Still gallery

Disc 2

  • Re-edited U.S. theatrical cut of the film (83 minutes)
  • Lossless English PCM 2.0 mono soundtrack
  • Optional English subtitles

Disc 3: Exclusive TRIBUTE TO THE TEMPLARS CD

Audio CD created exclusively for this limited edition, containing music inspired by TOMBS OF THE BLIND DEAD. Featuring tunes from Zoltan, Cathedral, Hooded Menace, Machetazo and The Transylvania Hellhounds

See comments by Synapse’s Don May Jr. about how this set came together here.

Michael Gingold
Michael Gingold (RUE MORGUE's Head Writer) has been covering the world of horror cinema for over three decades, and in addition to his work for RUE MORGUE, he has been a longtime writer and editor for FANGORIA magazine and its website. He has also written for BIRTH.MOVIES.DEATH, SCREAM, IndieWire.com, TIME OUT, DELIRIUM, MOVIEMAKER and others. He is the author of the AD NAUSEAM books (1984 Publishing) and THE FRIGHTFEST GUIDE TO MONSTER MOVIES (FAB Press), and he has contributed documentaries, featurettes and liner notes to numerous Blu-rays, including the award-winning feature-length doc TWISTED TALE: THE UNMAKING OF "SPOOKIES" (Vinegar Syndrome).