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This special limited edition spot gloss slipcover (designed by Lucas Peverill) is limited to 3,000 units and 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.
Reeling from the recent death of his wife and two children in a car crash in England for which he was partly responsible, American architect Paul Carver is traveling to Morocco utterly dejected. Plagued with nightmares in which he relives the accident, amid what appear to be ominous premonitions, Carver is befriended on his flight by German archaeologist Otto Gunther, who invites him to a party that evening. While perusing Gunther’s home, Carver encounters a striking but strangely ethereal Moroccan woman named Marisa, who leads him to a remote, opulent palace. When, driving to their archaeological site the next morning, Gunther and his young assistant Chantal find Carver unconscious in the desert, they reject the tale he recounts as being a figment of his alcohol-addled imagination, claiming not to know of any such woman. But Gunther, well-versed in the region's ancient folklore, begins to fear that the forces of darkness may have their sights set on his new friend and that his very soul is at stake.
A true outlier in the annals of 1960s British horror, THE HAND OF NIGHT (also released as Beast of Morocco) is a bewitching and highly singular take on the vampire mythos, trumping its Hammer peers by taking the -- for the period -- unusual step of filming largely on location in Morocco, lending the film a much greater sense of atmosphere and scope than many of its contemporaries. Featuring a host of notable American and British actors, including William Sylvester (Gorgo, Devil Doll), Diane Clare (The Haunting), and Edward Underdown (Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors), the celluloid archaeologists at Vinegar Syndrome Labs are delighted to dust off THE HAND OF NIGHT for its first-ever disc release, newly restored for Blu-ray and accompanied by a host of new bonus features.
directed by: Frederic Goode
starring: William Sylvester, Diane Clare, Edward Underdown
1968 / 90 min / 1.66:1 / English Mono
Additional info:
Overall rating: 4.64 / 5 from 25 reviews.
Review topics: [].
"As a huge fan of British horror, I was incredibly excited to see this announced, a rather rare 60s production that's been missing on disc until now. And while it isn't a lost classic, it's nonetheless a polished, atmospheric and engaging effort, with a rather unique setting and subject. It also looks fantastic in this new restoration, and there's some informative extras, too. I hope this does well, so we see more British rarities in the VSL line."
"Another fantastic VSL release in great packaging, highly recommended! Looks and sounds amazing."
"I had a bootleg of a 4:3 print and this immaculate VS restoration is night & day (no pun intended) compared to that -- like seeing it for the first time. As for the movie itself, if you're in the least bit a fan of '60s British horror movies and weren't already familiar with this one, it's a no-brainer. I'm really pleased with VS's recent efforts to seek out and restore rare pre-1980s horror & sci-fi titles. Reviver 2 was an exceedingly pleasant surprise -- I can't wait for VS to unearth more such rarities, whether from the Philippines or elsewhere."
"Gorgeous Moroccan locations and a dreamy, surreal atmosphere that makes the slow burn worthwhile. The story is thin and its grieving protagonist is hard to warm to, but the striking imagery and genuinely oddball mood give it a hypnotic charm."
"Rather obscure British horror film from 1966, THE HAND OF NIGHT is technically only the second (after DEVILS OF DARKNESS) UK vampire film set in modern times. Moody, dreamlike, atmospheric and kind of a slow burn, it's unusually written and unlike much of Hammer's and Amicus' 1960s output. I think this belongs on every classic horror collector's movie shelf -- this is the kind of VS release I personally find so welcomed. Great transfer and extras. I do hope that a release of DISCIPLE OF DEATH is right around the corner."
"The slipcover is awesome, as always with anything VS or their awesome partner Labels release! It is a cool movie that was a lot of fun to watch! I always love the unique VS service of allowing you to stack as many movies as you like in your cart during any release period and ship them for free! 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!"
"It’s quirky and has some fun things to it but I got bored. Beautiful transfer and absolutely amazing slip cover."
"Unique take in a vampire tale. Very rare and beautiful scenery."
"It is great to this unusual film in such a pristine copy. The color is stunning and the image crystal clear. Good work Vinegar Syndrome! Another winner!"
"While the dialogue is a bit rough, this is a great vampire movie. The film looks great."
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