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The Return of Count Yorga
[Blu-ray]
Blu-ray A - America - Shout! Factory Review written by and copyright: Anthony Arrigo (31st October 2015). |
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The Film
 After making a suave debut in the unfortunately bland, by-the-numbers “Count Yorga, Vampire” (1970), actor Robert Quarry is back in “The Return of Count Yorga” (1971). Far more energetic and stylish than its predecessor, it would be perfectly fine for those uninitiated with Yorga to start with this film and skip the first. This entry has more memorable characters, better vampire action, a crazier plot, and a method of revival for Yorga (and his man servant) that, as a Southern California local, amuses and excites me to no end. When the regenerative powers of the supernatural Santa Ana winds (!) revive both Count Yorga (Robert Quarry) and his devoted deformed assistant, Brudah (Edward Walsh), the two decide to buy some local property near an orphanage – not to help out unfortunate youth but to prey on them. Yorga has a stable of vampire brides in a nearby cemetery, and he needs a steady supply of blood to keep them (and himself) sated. Yorga attends a costume party at the orphanage under the guise of getting to know the locals, but while he’s there he meets Cynthia (Mariette Hartley) and instantly falls in love. He hatches a plan to claim Cynthia as his own; a plan which mostly involves killing everyone close to her and making her sister, Ellen (Karen Ericson), an undead bride. Yorga also has the assistance of Tommy (Philip Frame), a youth at the orphanage who has fallen under the Count’s spell and does his bidding. The only people who stand in Yorga’s way are a priest and a couple of cops, all of whom have a hard time convincing anyone vampires are a real threat. Yorga, meanwhile, wipes out anyone in his way, leaving a sizeable stack of bodies in his quest to drain all of Los Angeles dry. Despite being relatively tame and fairly unimaginative, “Count Yorga, Vampire” was a big hit for American International Pictures, making a sequel was inevitable. Thankfully, along with another picture came an increase in production value and a better story. There are some very strong sequences here, particularly the attack on Cynthia’s family in the first act. The horror is swift and brutal, with Yorga and his brides absolutely annihilating everyone in the room. This was only two years removed from the Manson Family murders and the allegory here is clear. Also, kids kill, too! Yorga’s diminutive servant, Tommy, knocks off a couple of curious characters when they get too close to his trail. Nothing explicit is shown, though it adds an extra unsettling touch to the film. Robert Quarry is almost too good at playing a member of the undead. His stiff delivery and near-total lack of on-screen charisma are a real detriment to a movie that revolves around his character. Yorga is meant to be a romantic, classic vampire, full of charm and wisdom; Quarry doesn’t do a terribly convincing job of conveying those emotions. His best moments – also his most unintentionally funny moments – come when he attacks his victims. It seems his thing is to run at a would-be meal arms outstretched, fangs bared, at top speed. You don’t see that too often. Thanks to some improvements all around, “The Return of Count Yorga” finds itself a much more enjoyable film than its predecessor. The deaths are clever & bloody, there’s a greater sense of then-current style, Craig T. Nelson makes his film debut, someone dies in a pool of quicksand, a vampire-hunting priest provides the film’s best levity, and Yorga’s right-hand man Brudah continues to be silently creepy. It almost doesn’t matter than Quarry is a mannequin with a sound chip. If you’re wondering why this isn’t a double feature with the first film, that would be because Twilight Time acquired those rights. Having watched MGM’s 14-year-old Midnight Movies DVD recently, it was very clear “Count Yorga, Vampire” needed an HD upgrade; however, I would have a very hard time forking over Twilight Time prices for a C-level vampire picture. Buyer, be aware.
Video
Presented with a 1.85:1 1080p 24/fps AVC MPEG-4 encoded image, the film looks about as strong as a $100,000 (at best) production from 1971 can be expected to look. Colors are well-saturated and accurate, detail is average and film grain looks natural. Softness can be seen in many medium and wide shots, and there is some minor dirt seen on the print. Still, it looks as good as it needs to and that should be good enough for any viewer.
Audio
A no frills English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono track capably delivers the film’s clean, defect-free soundtrack. Dialogue is clear and well-balanced. Composer Bill Marx’s score includes some eerie cues that set a moody tone. Subtitles are available in English.
Extras
Included here are an audio commentary and some promotional materials. Film historian Steve Haberman is joined by actor Rudy De Luca for a very informative audio commentary track. Haberman discusses how the 1970's cultural climate worked its way into the script. The film’s theatrical trailer (1080i) runs for 1 minute and 38 seconds. A TV spot (1080i) runs for 22 seconds. A couple of radio spots run for 1 minute and 36 seconds. Finally, there is a photo gallery (1080i) that runs for 3 minutes and 24 seconds.
Packaging
The single disc comes housed in a standard Blu-ray keep case. The cover art is reversible.
Overall
Better than the last go-round, “The Return of Count Yorga” is an entertainingly dated vampire picture with a story that manages to maintain interest over its runtime.
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