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This special limited edition 2-Disc Blu-ray set comes with a spot gloss hard slipcase + slipcover combo (designed by Robert Sammelin), includes a 40-page perfect bound book, and is limited to 4,000 units. It is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
Welcome Vinegar Syndrome Labs (VSL) to the VS Sub-Label family! As with each of our sub-labels we are hoping to expand and defy expectations with the diversity of films we restore and release. As the name implies, VSL will serve as a kind of testing area for releasing genres and eras of film that one might not immediately expect to come from VS. The ultimate objective of VSL will be to see if these types of films will find an audience, and if so, pursue and release more of them…and even if not, still serve as a means of restoring more of the weird, rare, and unusual movies you might not expect from Vinegar Syndrome.
The world of French cinema is vast and multi-layered, as likely to veer into genre film as it is to pursue more arty, even absurdist notions. In terms of embracing dark moods and themes, be it in the form of murderous urges, aberrant sexual leanings, self-destructive machinations, or outright neuroses, the Gallic lens is perfectly adept. Here we present four varied approaches to the thriller à la française.
LES COUSINES (THE COUSINS)
Lucile, paralyzed and mute from a childhood trauma, lives with her sister Josine and their cousin Elisa. While the mother of Lucile and Josine frets over increasing costs and the complications of Lucile reaching legal age, Josine and Elisa live reckless lives of sexual abandon while mentally and physically torturing Lucile, their powerless victim. Playing their cruel games, getting high, and seducing men aren't enough for these two; they're in search of darker sadistic kicks. Also released as From Ear to Ear, this shocker of modernity and liberated morals was directed by veteran cinematographer Louis Soulanes (La Pointe Courte) and features Solange Pradel (World on a Wire), Alain Doutey (The Big Red One), and Katia Tchenko (The Bishop's Bedroom).
directed by: Louis Soulanes
starring: Solange Pradel, Alain Doutey, Katia Tchenko
1970 / 98 min / 1.66:1 / French Mono
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QUI? (WHO?)
An arguing couple gets into a car on the Brittany coast where, driving erratically, it suddenly launches off a cliff and crashes into the waters below. The man Claude disappears into the sea, while the woman Marina manages to escape, and soon comes under questioning by the police as well as Claude's brother Serge. Serge soon falls in love with Marina, despite her hazy, suspicious recollection of the accident. Returning to Paris, the two begin to retrace the crash and realize how inscrutable Claude was, amid coping with Marina's fractured memory and heightened nerves. Claude's body never turns up, and it becomes trickier to find out what, and moreover who is to blame for the accident. A giallo-esque thriller from Léonard Keigel (A Woman One Day) awash in a gorgeous score from jazz legend Claude Bolling (Flic Story), it stars Romy Schneider (The Swimming Pool), Maurice Ronet (Bloodline), and Gabriele Tinti (Mystère).
directed by: Léonard Keigel
starring: Romy Schneider, Maurice Ronet, Gabriele Tinti
1970 / 78 min / 1.66:1 / French Mono
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LE SECRET (THE SECRET)
Author Thomas and his wife Julia enjoy a quiet life isolated in the French countryside until one day when David, on the run and anxious, wanders onto their land. Sensing a man in need as well as a potential adventure, Thomas commits to help him, but Julia has her suspicions. As pressure mounts and a manhunt ensues, the trio hit the road, while David's story of escape and persecution sounds increasingly neurotic, even unlikely. What is the secret behind David's incarceration and escape, the burden he carries but refuses to share? How far will the couple go to help a man who may be mentally unstable evade capture? This taut conspiracy thriller was directed by Robert Enrico (The Old Gun) and stars Jean-Louis Trintignant (The Great Silence), Marlène Jobert (Rider on the Rain) and Philippe Noiret (Cinema Paradiso).
directed by: Robert Enrico
starring: Jean-Louis Trintignant, Marlène Jobert, Philippe Noiret
1974 / 102 min / 1.66:1 / French & English Mono
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NUIT D'OR (GOLDEN NIGHT)
Michel Fournier is back, seemingly from the dead, and vows to exact revenge on all who wronged him, particularly his family. Menacingly issuing each of them a voodoo doll, his threats and intentions get increasingly obtuse as the world around him proves nightmarish and warped. From encountering a death cult to conducting a kidnapping, to trashing an underground casino, Fournier's anxious, infernal rage is at the center of this quixotic and noir-infused exercise. Pairing lush yet unnerving visuals with a score by Chabrol regular Pierre Jansen (The Butcher), the film features the singular Klaus Kinski (Paganini) as Fournier, along with Marie Dubois (Jules and Jim), Maurice Ronet (The Champagne Murders), and Anny Duperey (Two or Three Things I Know About Her), under direction by the multi-talented writer/director/journalist Serge Moati (writer of The Nude Vampire).
directed by: Serge Moati
starring: Klaus Kinski, Marie Dubois, Maurice Ronet, Anny Duperey
1977 / 83 min / 1.66:1 / French Mono
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Additional info:
Overall rating: 4.826087 / 5 from 46 reviews.
This limited edition 2-Disc Blu-ray set features a curated collection of French thrillers, praised for their quality and variety. Customers appreciate the beautifully restored films, exceptional packaging, and the inclusion of reversible sleeve artwork and newly translated English subtitles. The release has been met with positive feedback, particularly for the restored Robert Enrico film.
Review topics: ["looks","corners","packaging","set","film","release","collection","artwork","restoration","movie","french","thriller","booklet","discovery","highlight","presentation","night","interviews","bag"].
"Couldn’t have been happier with this order. Tenebres Françaises is a fantastic collection. Four moody, atmospheric crime films presented (as always) in a beautifully curated package that really highlights their strengths. Was especially excited for any release including Robert Enrico. Must‑own for anyone exploring the darker corners of French cinema."
"Ténèbres Françaises is exactly the kind of strange, atmospheric deep-cut set that boutique Blu-ray fans live for. The films have this cold, paranoid late-night energy that makes the whole collection feel like discovering forgotten crime nightmares from another era, and the restorations look fantastic considering how obscure some of these titles are. Not every film in the set fully lands, but the overall vibe, presentation, and commitment to preserving these oddball French thrillers makes it a really rewarding watch for cult cinema fans. "
"Surprisingly entertaining and not nearly as chin-strokey as you’d think. All films hit hard and in such a good way."
"A great collection of films. Unfortunately, only one of the four has an English dub. Other than that, this is a great collection. The Secret and Who? both have the feel and construction of an Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode. Golden Night has Klaus Kinski at peak creepiness. The Cousins is the only one to really lean into exploitation content with its lesbian sex scenes and nudity. It seems pretty unmotivated but holds interest throughout. Not a lot for extras. Surprised to see no commentaries. But otherwise an excellent collection of films. Recommended."
"Exactly the kind of collection that makes boutique labels so much fun."
"Four wonderfully unique French discoveries that would have never been on my radar without VS."
"Ténèbres Françaises is exactly the sort of set that reminds collectors why curated box sets matter. Rather than focusing on the obvious classics, it digs into the darker, stranger corners of French genre cinema, uncovering films that are often overlooked, difficult to see, or simply forgotten. The collection is united by mood more than genre, offering a fascinating mix of psychological unease, crime, horror, and bleak human drama. What emerges is a portrait of French filmmaking that feels far rougher and more dangerous than the polished image many associate with the country’s cinema. Vinegar Syndrome has assembled a set that rewards curiosity and exploration, making Ténèbres Françaises one of those rare releases where the joy comes not just from revisiting old favorites, but from discovering entirely new ones."
"French thriller must have. . great collector boxset"
"A superb collection of movies I knew nothing about. They all rock, and the packaging is stellar!"
"Ténèbres Françaises is a fascinating Collection of bleak, stylish, and psychologically charged French thrillers from the 1970s. The set balances arthouse sensibilities with noir, giallo, and exploitation influences, creating a unique mood across all four films. As a Release, Vinegar Syndrome gives it premium treatment with strong restorations, extensive archival interviews, reversible artwork, and a substantial booklet that adds historical context to these obscure films."
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