‘A classic tale of horror!’
Web of the Spider is a 1971 supernatural Gothic horror film in which a journalist makes a bet that he can spend one night at the haunted Blackwood Castle.
The movie was directed by Antonio Margheriti (The Virgin of Nuremberg; Killer Fish; Cannibal Apocalypse), using the pseudonym Anthony M. Dawson, from a screenplay by Bruno Corbucci. The film’s score is by Riz Ortolani.
The film is a colour remake of the 1964 black and white Castle of Blood, also directed by Margheriti. He would later comment that it was “stupid to remake it” and that “the colour cinematography destroyed everything: the atmosphere, the tension.”
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Two of Klaus Kinski’s are available in one creepy package, scanned in 4K from original 35mm archival elements, available October 22, 2024, in a special two-disc collector’s edition on Blu-ray and DVD from Film Masters.
Creature With the Blue Hand (1967) and its re-release ’80s version The Bloody Dead are paired up with a remastered version of Web of the Spider.
New 4K transfer of The Bloody Dead, the alternate version of Creature with the Blue Hand; Ballyhoo Motion Pictures presents two new documentaries, A Man Of Mystery: Inside the World of Edgar Wallace and Kinski Krimis: Inside the Rialto Film Adaptations; authors and film historians Stephen Jones and Kim Newman join forces for full commentary tracks for Creature With the Blue Hand (liner notes by Nick Clark) and Web of the Spider (liner notes by Christopher Stewardson); Samuel M. Sherman provides an archival commentary track for The Bloody Dead; Creature with the Blue Hand original 35mm film trailer and recut trailer using restored film elements; and a new 2024 trailer for Web of the Spider, as well as the original English theatrical trailer for Castle of Blood.
Creature With the Blue Hand and The Bloody Dead are presented with an aspect ratio of 1.66:1, and Web of the Spider is presented with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1. Discs are region-locked to North America and include English SDH. Audio is DTS-HD/Dolby AC3s.
Previously, on October 24, 2017, Garagehouse Pictures released Web of the Spider on Blu-ray, restored from an uncut theatrical negative. The new artwork was designed by Eibon Press’ Stephen Romano (Lucio Fulci’s Zombie and Maniac comics).
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Audio commentary by George Reis and Keith Crocker
Audio commentary by Stephen Romano
Two German Super 8 movie digests
Deleted scenes
Uncut Italian version (standard def)
Art gallery
Antonio Margheriti trailer reel
Garagehouse Pictures trailers
The movie stars Anthony Franciosa (Curse of the Black Widow; Tenebrae; Death House), Michèle Mercier (Black Sabbath), Klaus Kinski (Death Smiles at Murder; Schizoid; Nosferatu the Vampyre), Peter Carsten, Silvano Tranquilli.
A troubled Edgar Allan Poe (Klaus Kinski) attempts to confirm a supernatural story by examining the ghosts’ tombs. Later, an American journalist named Alan Foster (Anthony Franciosa) visits Poe in an English inn to challenge the horror writer on the authenticity of his stories.
This leads to Foster’s accepting a bet from Lord Blackwood to spend the night in his purportedly haunted castle on All Soul’s Eve. Foster is surprised by female apparitions who appear to be half-humans. Ghosts of the murdered inhabitants continue to appear to him throughout the night, re-enacting the events that led to their respective deaths and driving Foster towards madness…
Reviews:
“Anthony Franciosa as Alan Foster doesn’t quite blend with the period for me. His haircut screams 70’s and reminds me of James Caan. Oh well. The biggest addition is Klaus Kinski as Poe. Though not in the film much, he is a commanding presence which is a blessing and a curse since he plays Poe as a crazed and sinister drunk. Interesting.” Sinful Celluloid
“Ortolani’s score is as intrusive as in the original version and the presence of Kinski doesn’t compensate for the absence of Steele, but the camerawork is pleasant, and helps make the film one of Italy’s last classic gothic movies…” The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Horror
“Stylish Italian supernatural thriller holds one’s attention…” John Stanley, Creature Features
“It’s atmospheric, wistful, occasionally philosophical and very slow.” David Elroy Goldweber, Claws & Saucers
Original titles:
The film is also known as Nella stretta morsa del ragno (“In the Tight Grip of the Spider”), E venne l’alba… ma tinto di rosse (“And Comes the Dawn… But Coloured Red)”, Dracula im Schloß des Schreckens (“Dracula in the Castle of Terror“), Edgar Poe chez les morts vivants (“Edgar Allan Poe Among the Living Dead“).
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