From the twisted mind of Spanish director/screenwriter Amando de Ossorio comes the Blind Dead series. The first two films in the series were originally available on DVD (now long out of print) during the formats' infancy courtesy of Anchor Bay. While these discs were flawed, their imperfect appearance on DVD was easily forgivable at the time, it was just nice to have them...period. Enter Blue Underground. A company that has proven time and time again that they have their finger directly on the pulse of the cult and horror market with their latest offering, The Blind Dead Collection. A massive set that includes all four Blind Dead films (complete with alternate edits), a bonus disc on director de Ossorio and a booklet reprint of Midnight Media's Knights of Terror, written by Nigel J. Burrell. All of which come packaged in an attractive and (unexpectedly) durable coffin shaped box. While I'm certainly a fan of the series, I'd be far less inclined to refer to these films' as the 'classics' that they're sometimes made out to be. Nonetheless, this is an exceptionally fun series that holds a very special place in horror's pantheon and believe me, with this box set on your home shelf, they always will.

What better place to begin, than at the beginning? We open with the film that started it all, Tombs of the Blind Dead (La Noche del Terror Ciego). Virginia White (Elena Arpón) and her 'friend' Roger Whelan (César Burner) unexpectedly bump into Virginia's old chum Betty (Lone Fleming) while at some sort of vacation resort. They chat it up while Virginia and Betty eye up each other's even skimpier bikini. Things progress very quickly as Roger eagerly invites Betty to tag along for the rest of the trip (much to the expected chagrin of Virginia). The now threesome hop on a train the next day and sparks immediately begin to fly as Virginia and Betty reminisce of their 'experimental' youth and Roger and Betty appear to snuggle closer. Virginia, obviously displeased jumps off of the moving train(!) and spends the night in an abandoned village.

What Virginia doesn't know is that this is the village where the Templar Knights were once buried, and they're coming back tonight for an annual visit. The legend tells us that the Knights were hung and burned by angry villagers as crows pecked out the Knights' eyeballs. When the Knights return as the Blind Dead (on blind horses no less) they have only their sense of hearing to rely on, and they're hungry for blood. As expected, the Knights do indeed get their skeletal hands on Virginia that evening. Betty and Roger travel to the abandoned village the next day in search of their travel companion only to discover Virginia's disastrous fate and of an ongoing police investigation into her disappearance.

The Blind Dead haven't rested yet.

While I find the set up and much of the events to follow in this film highly improbably, the effect that the film has isn't lessened by these outrageous coincidences in the least. While I don't buy the fact that Roger and Virginia just 'happen' to bump into Betty and I certainly don't buy the fact that these two young ladies are old school chums who experimented in lesbianism. One minute they're hugging, the next minute they're giving one another the evil eye, it's kinda silly and an obvious set up. Then there's the fact that Virginia jumps off of the moving train, literally out in the middle of nowhere and how Roger and Betty insist on not only returning to the abandoned site where there 'friend' went missing but also spending the night there! Don't even get me started on the fact that Virginia somehow comes back to life herself as a bloodthirsty zombie. The only character in any of the films to behave in such a way. Weird. These characters motivations are far too extreme (all across the board) and their actiona are very difficult to swallow.

That being said, despite the aforementioned flaws in the story (which in my opinion do indeed hold the film back from reaching any sort of 'classic' status) Tombs of the Blind Dead is extremely atmospheric, features some fantastic set pieces, exceptionally cool villains (with an interesting history) and plenty of style to spare. It's a fun film, and despite its sometimes languid pace, is extremely entertaining from nearly beginning to end. While the film may fall short in the writing, it more than makes up for this in it's execution and creepy appearance. Add to this a fantastic orchestral score (haunting and minimal) and you've got the makings for a great, late night horror film.

Blue Underground presents two alternate cuts of Tombs of the Blind Dead on this DVD, including the original uncut Spanish version and the dubbed truncated US release. In addition to missing most of the gore and sexuality from the Spanish version, the US cut shifts some of the action around as well, placing a flashback sequence found mid way through the Spanish cut, right at the beginning of the English cut as a prologue. Admittedly, there's not a whole lot of excessive gore or sexuality (save for a disturbing rape and the aforementioned gruesome flashback scene of torture) to begin with, but these moments are still pretty important to the film and quite shocking. It's nice to have both cuts of the film for archival purposes, but I'm certain you'll want to stick with the original Spanish language edition with this one. Both films are presented widescreen at about 1.66:1 with anamorphic enhancement. While both transfers are quite good, the clear cut winner here is the Spanish edition. It's easily the best this film has ever looked to my eyes. Really no evidence of print damage, nice clarity and colors. A real treat for the senses.

There are no extras listed when you choose to watch the Spanish cut, however, choose the English cut and you'll be treated to a Spanish language trailer, still gallery and alternate opening for a drive-in version of the film entitled Revenge of the Planet Ape (an attempted cash in on the Plant of the Apes films!).

Return of the Evil Dead (not to be confused with Raimi's films) has the Blind Dead returning to a local celebration...in their honor. As the film opens, a bit of the Blind Dead mythos is skewed as it's explained in flashback that the Knights swore their revenge on the villagers after they had their eyes purposely burned out by them. A bit of a different story than the one explained in the first film. Moving on to present time and fireworks specialist Jack Marlowe (Tony Kendall) has arrived in Berzano to prep for the evening's celebration. Once there, Jack bumps into an old love, Vivienne (Esperanza Roy) who is now engaged to the town's Mayor (Fernando Sancho). Vivienne still holds some feelings for Jack and it's alluded to that she even fudged with the paperwork used to get Jack there to begin with.

As is to be expected, the Knights rise once again (blame this one on the local idiot Murdo (José Canalejas), who sacrifices a young girl to bring them back) and they cause one hell of a ruckus at the town's celebration. A few of the survivors board themselves up in a church (a la Night of the Living Dead) in an attempt to thwart the plans of the bloodthirsty Blind Dead.

While Return of the Evil Dead feels a bit more mainstream than the first film, it's equally as fun, if not more so. The story is almost as bland, but the structure actually seems a bit tighter and more believable. There's still a bit of cheese present, most notable is a scene in which fireworks are used to attack propped dummies meant to stand in for the Blind Dead. The massive attack on the local celebration is handled pretty poorly as well, as the camera swirls to a dizzying degree and appears to repeat the same slashing actions over and over again - not much is accomplished.

It's evident that the producers upped the ante on this one however, as the film features a lot more gore and sexuality. It's still not overflowing mind you, but there's more offered here than in the first film. In the end, Return winds up the goriest of the bunch. Add to this a disturbing attempted rape (what is it with these films and rape?) and a truly sickening scene in which the mayor uses a young girl as a decoy - and you have a worthy sequel to the first. What a double feature these two films make, outstanding!

As with the original Blind Dead film, Blue Underground offers up two versions of Return of the Evil Dead in the original uncut Spanish language and trimmed down English export. Much like the original, the English cut features less gore and sexuality and a transposed scene. While there's more gore than the original, it's still not too excessive, however, the onscreen carnage is quite gruesome. Once again, both versions are presented in 1.66:1 with anamorphic enhancement. Both films are pretty close in quality this time around although I'd have to give the upper hand to the English edition. There are some slight ghosting effects and color issues with the Spanish cut. Nothing to be too concerned about, the film still looks quite good and both editions compliment each other quite well. But I'd have to say that the Spanish language transfer of Return of the Evil Dead is probably the least favorable of the set. Extras for the Spanish cut include a Spanish language trailer. Extras for the English edition include and English trailer and still gallery (which features quite a few choice nudes not featured in either version of the final film).

With the third film in the series, we cross over into more ridiculous, but still equally fun waters (literally) with The Ghost Galleon. When a couple of swimsuit models(?) wind up stranded on a haunted ship(?) a few more swimsuit models(?) and a sporting goods promoter(?) begin a search, winding up on the very same haunted ship(?) In the mean time, the Templar Knights are residing on the lower level of the ship in wooden crates! Wow, crazy but true. Do I need to go on? Probably not.

Easily the nuttiest of the four films in every manner possible (story, acting, execution...you name it) The Ghost Galleon isn't any less effective in it's own right. With limited resources at his disposal de Ossorio makes do the best he can with what he's been given. Not much happens in this film as characters seem to wander aimlessly around the ship, waiting for something to happen to them (sometimes, they even stop for a bit to rest, or to listen to a handheld radio). Added to the fact that this is easily the least graphic out of all four of the films (which isn't saying much because these films are not all that graphic as a whole to begin with). But it's still a creepy, fun and atmospheric film that fits in quite well with the series. You may actually find yourself revisiting this one a bit more often than you might suspect.

I guess it goes without saying that the subplot with the swimsuit models is absolutely ridiculous. Being on a ship, of course there are no horses for The Blind Dead to ride on (although it would have been insanely cool if they'd have at least tried to fit them in) but the creepy fog shrouded ship set and sometimes cheapo effects are still very charming and mostly effective (for what it's worth). The Ghost Galleon is not a great film, it's without doubt the worst film of the series, but even at that, it's a fun flick that really doesn't overstay its welcome.

Released in the US as Horror of the Zombies, Blue Underground presents Ghost Galleon uncut in a new anamorphic transfer at about 1.85:1. The transfer is really nice, with the interesting (and creepy) color scheme highlighted quite well. Many of the low lit scenes shrouded in darkness and fog come across looking fantastic. Nothing to complain about with this transfer. But then again, what would you expect from the one title from the collection that has almost always been readily available in the US? Audio options include English dubbed or Spanish with optional English subtitles. Extras include a slew of trailers, radio spots and a still gallery.

With the Templar Knights off of the ship and back to terrorizing a small village, we come to the final installment of the series, Night of the Seagulls. Beginning with a flashback sequence involving a young man and busty young woman, the Knights are obviously up to their old tricks again. Modern times and Dr. Henry Stein (Victor Petit) and his wife (Maria Kosti) are in the process of relocating to small seaside community. They're not welcomed, shunned by the locals and the doctor's wife is driven mad by the sound of screams and seagulls at night.

What's actually happening here? Well, in order to keep the Templar Knights satisfied, members of the tight knit community have been sacrificing young lovelies.Makes sense...they dress the young girls in white, see through nighties and tie them to a rock on the beach so the Knights may do as they please.

The final film in the series definitely caps things off on a high note. Night of the Seagulls is just original enough to stand on it's own. The film offers some spectacular use of landscapes as much of the action takes place seaside or amongst the dilapedated structures of the village. Interestingly enough, the Knights seem to appear during the day most of the time (or I guess at what's supposed to be dusk) riding their horses across the beach in search of their sacrifice.

As with Ghost Galleon, Night of the Seagulls is presented in either English or Spanish (with subs) at about 1.85:1 in a pretty solid transfer. Oddly enough, it's the soft focus outdoor scenes that seem to suffer a bit, with most of the interior shots coming across quite solid. Extras include a trailer and a still gallery.

One complaint I have across the board is the fact that I could not remove the English subtitles. You are given the option to choose either the English or Spanish version of the film and there are no subtitle options. I tried to disable the subs while watching the films on a few players and I was unable to do so.

The fifth and final disc of the set, Amando de Ossorio: Director comes packaged in a slimline case and it features The Last Templar, a Spanish documentary about director Ossorio (25 min) and an 11 min interview with the director (shot just before his death). Also included is an article written by Mike Hodges accessible by DVD Rom. And then there's the addition of the booklet I mentioned earlier. A revised re print of Midnight Media's Knights of Terror, written by Nigel J. Burrell. The booklet features a ton of tidbits and photographs and is a nice compliment to the entire package. What a way to round things off.

Blue Underground has truly put the much needed love and affection into this set. As with their Mondo Collection (now out of print) Blue Underground has managed to continually raise the bar for genre special edition sets. Minor complaints aside, I can't recommend the Blind Dead Collection enough...Just to say you should really pick up this set before it's too late. Or you will be sorry.