This special limited edition Blu-ray set comes with a hard slipcase + slipcover combo (designed by Luke Insect), includes a 40-page perfect bound book and is limited to 5,000 units. It is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
British cinema has long cemented its legacy of producing creative thrillers, often infusing macabre twists with a wry sense of cynical humor. By the early 1970s, the British film industry had become more daring in subject matter while still relying on the consummate technical professionalism that helped establish it as a leading force in the medium. Presented here are a trio of rarely-seen murder thrillers and mysteries that showcase the types of independent and transgressive work coming out of Britain in the first half of the decade, all of which have been newly restored by Vinegar Syndrome for this release.
Showcasing the beautiful yet under-filmed region of Cornwall, the Giallo-esque CRUCIBLE OF TERROR (1971) by director Ted Hooker finds a group of hippyish youths staying at the seaside home of a reclusive and mysterious sculptor. Their holiday fun is short-lived as they begin falling prey to a vicious mystery killer who’s determined to protect a deadly secret hidden deep in the cliffside caverns. Taking visual cues from Italian horror and displaying a surprising amount of horrible bloodshed, this long-overlooked whodunit is a precursor to the soon-to-be budding slasher genre.
When a young woman is slain by a trench coat-wearing and razor-wielding killer, there’s no shortage of suspects, including her twin sister, boyfriend, and plentiful shady acquaintances. As the mystery unfolds and more people vanish or are murdered, a detective begins to suspect that the crimes might be connected to a prized stamp. A slow-burn hybrid of murder mystery and crime caper directed by acclaimed cinematographer Jack Cardiff, PENNY GOLD (1973) offers twist after twist, leading to a murder-fueled final act, sure to leave one guessing who the real killer is until the end titles.
By day, Neal Mottram operates an unassuming antique shop, while at night, he is the high priest of a small cult worshipping the idol Chuku. After accidentally killing one of his fellow worshipers, Neal offers Chuku her body as a sacrifice, shortly after which he finds himself bestowed with good fortune. Believing that the idol is responsible for his luck, Neal finds more sacrificial victims. Anchored by a memorably unhinged starring performance by Jack Palace, director Freddie Francis’ blending of occult horror and police thriller CRAZE (1974) remains an overlooked gem in the oeuvre of famed producer Herman Cohen.
directed by: Ted Hooker, Jack Cardiff, Freddie Francis starring: Mike Raven, James Bolam, Mary Maude, James Booth, Francesca Annis, Jack Palance, Diana Dors, Julie Ege 1971-1974 / 276 min (combined) / 1.85:1 / English Mono
Additional info:
2-disc Region Free Blu-ray Set
PENNY GOLD and CRAZE scanned and restored in 4K from their 35mm original camera negatives
CRUCIBLE OF TERROR scanned and restored in 2K from a 35mm vault positive
Commentary track with writers/film critics Kim Newman and Stephen Jones for CRUCIBLE OF TERROR
Commentary track with writers/film critics Kim Newman and Barry Forshaw for PENNY GOLD
Commentary track with writers/film critics Kim Newman and Stephen Jones for CRAZE
Commentary track with filmmaker David DeCoteau and historian David Del Valle for CRAZE
Happy Gatherings (10 min) - an interview with Judy Matheson, actress in CRUCIBLE OF TERROR
In for a Pound (11 min) - an interview with Richard Heffer, actor in PENNY GOLD
Archival career-spanning interview with Michael Jayston, actor in CRAZE (50 min)
Inside sleeve artwork
English SDH subtitles
Overall rating: 4.760479 / 5 from 167 reviews.
AI Generated Review Summary
This limited edition Blu-ray set of British thrillers offers a collection of rarely-seen films, each with excellent transfers and high-quality packaging. Customers appreciate the unique selection of films, the great artwork, and the overall quality of the release. The set includes a hard slipcase, slipcover, a 40-page book, and is limited to 5,000 units.
"Triple feature with great craziness, thrills, kills and performances!" — Martin S.
"The hard box is great and the transfers of all three films look great." — Dennis B.
"One of my favorite Blu-ray releases of 2024 and needless to say the usual beautiful VS transfers and terrific extras." — George R.
Reviews
Craze-d for Crucible
"So far have watched two of the three in this collection and have loved both. Craze and Crucible of Terror are both 70’s era occultist, supernatural themed thrillers. They feel like they could be TV movies except for some killing/blood and random boob here and there. Both have top notch creep-o leads that carry both films. Jack Palance in Craze and Mike Raven in Crucible. Something about this era and vibe just draws me in. The locations are fantastic as well, especially in Crucible. Great collection!!"
— chris c. (5/5)
Awesome thrillers from the UK
"This is exactly the kind of obscure film I love discovering with VS. Especially for whodunit fans, this one has some excellent surprises in store, not to mention the gorgeous transfer!"
— Steven E. (5/5)
Nice collection
"If none of the individual titles are really outstanding, the three together in this attractive package make a nice set. All three have their moments. I thought Francesca Annis was good in "Penny Gold", but overall the best movie was "Craze" with Jack Palance hamming it up. Diana Dors and Suzy Kendall were good in their roles as well. I always like the inclusion of a booklet, but the essays here were pretty dry reading, being mostly just IMDB101 listing everyone's other credits. The commentary tracks are lively, though Kim Newman as usual finishes about half of the sentences he starts. These British films just don't have the style of the Italian ones of the time, which I prefer, but it's good to branch out now and again."
— Adam C. (4/5)
Grotty 70s joy
"God, Britain looks bloody horrible in the 70s. Good job that we aren't hell bent on heading back there, eh kids?! Grotty, brown Bri-Nylon shirts, everything looks stained by cigarette smoke. Never-ending the films, soak in the malaise! Craze and Crucible of Terror are good ways to soend 90 minutes, and Penny Gold has it's moment. A very enjoyable set."
— Matthew O. (4/5)
Great 3 For 1 Collection!
"I always love it when VS gives us these awesome multiple movie combos at one great price! These definitely fit the bill and are all very engaging films! The performances are really fun to watch throughout! The peerless VS restoration process was on full display with stellar sound and picture! Thank you, VS, for continuing to lovingly restore and release so many wonderful films from every conceivable genre! You are keeping physical media alive in this streaming world we now live in! Highly recommended!"
— Paul K. (5/5)
2 out of 3 ain’t bad
"I’ll leave it to you to find out for yourself, but 2 movies in this set are excellent, and 1 is an absolute chore"
— chris c. (5/5)
Cruel Britannia! Cruel the waves!
"Great collection of early 70s UK proto-slashers. The slip and case are beautiful as always with VS releases, and the restoration, both picture and audio, is impressive. All three movies were entertaining, and I'd be open for another set of similar titles but I suspect this was not a big seller and would be surprised if more follow. Nonetheless, a very nice set and I'll be returning to these movies for sure."
— Jason M. (4/5)
Value Meal
"3 British horror films for a great price. Some decent performances and semi interesting movies. Awesome packaging."
— Viral T. (4/5)
One of My Favorite 2024 Releases!
"I was thrilled when this was announced, and even more thrilled when it arrived. I was especially happy about Crucible of Terror, but also Craze which I hadn't seen in years and was better than I remembered. Also nice to have Penny Gold here, a murder mystery which was pretty obscure to me until now. One of my favorite Blu-ray releases of 2024 and needless to say the usual beautiful VS transfers and terrific extras. Love the 70s British horror and thrillers to death, so please do more like Disciple of Death and Scream and Die! THANK YOU!"
— Kevin L. (5/5)
Excellent box set
"Love this little box set of UK flicks. Definitely some under seen films in this collection."
— Jamie M. (5/5)
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