Hammer Horror Collection: Vampire Circus

UPC: 654930312292

Studio: Synapse

MPAA Rating: NR   Contains:[Violence, Adult Situations, Not For Children]

Summary: Though not as widely known as Hammer's popular Dracula and Frankenstein series, this is one of the studio's more stylish and intelligent projects. The tale is set in 17th century Serbia in the tiny burg of Stettel, whose residents live in fear of an encroaching plague. The frightened villagers welcome the arrival of a colorful traveling troupe dubbed "Circus of Nights," unaware that the visiting entertainers pose a far more deadly threat: the entire company is composed of shape-shifting vampires capable of transforming themselves into animals to stalk their prey. The group's leader, the most powerful monster of the bunch, has returned to the village to exact revenge on those who murdered his cousin one hundred years earlier. Less a standard Hammer monster melodrama than a surreal journey through dark fantasy (reminiscent of Jean Rollin's erotic vampire series), with an unexpected (but not entirely inappropriate) surplus of nudity and bloodletting. The film's creepy highlights include the chilling extended prologue and scenes of vampire trapeze performers transforming into bats in mid-leap. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

Category: Horror

Features: The bloodiest show on earth: making Vampire Circus documentary
Gallery of grotesqueries: A Brief history of Circus Horrors featurette
Visiting the house of hammer: Britain's legendary horror magazine featurette
Vampire Circus: Motion comic book
Still and poster gallery
Theatrical trailer

Hammer Horror Collection: Vampire Circus

Format: Blu-ray

Release Date: 12/14/2010

Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Vistavision

Audio: DDM2.0 Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono, DHMA null

Runtime: 87 Minutes

Sides: 2

Number of Discs: 2

Chapters: Disc #1 -- The Hammer Horror Collection: Vampire Circus
1. Doomed Child [12:58]
2. Opening Titles [9:25]
3. The Circus [11:03]
4. They Must Die [11:34]
5. Dora's Discovery [5:35]
6. Mirror of Life [6:10]
7. Striking Back [7:59]
8. Two Plagues [3:27]
9. Trapped! [8:57]
10. Destruction [4:28]
11. Resurrection [4:39]
12. End Titles [:57]

Cast and Crew: Sibylla Kay  Actor 
John Bown  Actor 
Sean Hewitt  Actor 
Thorley Walters  Actor 
Lynne Frederick  Actor 
Serena  Actor 
Christina Paul  Actor 
Lalla Ward  Actor 
Domini Blythe  Actor 
Laurence Payne  Actor 
Jane Darby  Actor 
Anthony Corlan  Actor 
Robin Sachs  Actor 
Adrienne Corri  Actor 
Elizabeth Seal  Actor 
Arnold Locke  Actor 
John Moulder-Brown  Actor 
David Prowse  Actor 
Robin Hunter  Actor 
Jason James  Actor 
Skip Martin  Actor 
Richard Owens  Actor 
Mary Wimbush  Actor 
Dorothy Frere  Actor 
Barnaby Shaw  Actor 
Robert Tayman  Actor 
Jud Kinberg  Screenwriter 
Wilbur Stark  Producer 
Robert Young  Director 
David Whitaker  Composer (Music Score) 

Country: UK