VAMPYR RISES FROM ITS GRAVE

Criterion Collection announced this week that it will release a new special edition two disc set of Dreyer's 1932 classic VAMPYR. Though sometimes hard to follow the film Carl Theodor Dreyer created is one no true fan of the horror classics should miss. The plot focuses on a student of the occult who finds himself involved in the supernatural mysteries surrounding an inn outside Paris. The narrative and imagery is truly like a dream, not always making sense but interesting to watch. The available prints so far have been low quality so I look forward to seeing this hi-def transfer of the restored film. The special features include a new English-text version, audio commentary by scholar Tony Rayns, a documentary by Jörgen Roos chronicling Dreyer's career, visual essay by scholar Casper Tybjerg on Dreyer's influences in creating Vampyr, the 1958 radio broadcast of Dreyer reading an essay about filmmaking, a new and improved English subtitle translation and a booklet featuring new essays by Mark Le Fanu and Kim Newman, Martin Koerber on the restoration, and an archival interview with producer and star Nicolas de Gunzburg, as well as a book featuring Dreyer and Christen Jul's original screenplay and Sheridan Le Fanu 1871 story "Carmilla," a source for the film. Stay tuned for the release date.