One of the most underrated and neglected genre filmmakers of his generation, Spanish-born director José Ramón Larraz (Symptoms) finally receives his due with this collection of his work bringing together a fascinating cross-section of films from the first half of his lengthy cinematic career. 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.
- 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
- Image Gallery
- Original US Theatrical Trailer
- VAMPYRES (1974)
- Full Uncut Version
- 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
- Image Gallery
- Trailers
- 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
- Image Gallery
- Original Spanish Trailer
