This special limited edition spot gloss slipcover (designed by Adam Maida) 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.
Seeking a respite from her deteriorating marriage, Anna is vacationing on the English Channel Island of Jersey when, whilst walking along the shoreline one wintry afternoon, she encounters a mysterious and brooding younger man, Hugh. The pair quickly form an intense bond and embark upon a passionate and all-consuming love affair, but their romance is cut short when Hugh suddenly and unexpectedly drops dead whilst on a getaway to Scotland, leaving Anna utterly devastated. However, that very night, a shadowy figure appears at the door of their holiday cottage - Hugh has miraculously returned to the land of the living, or so it at first seems…
Adapted for the screen by Gordon Honeycombe from his own 1969 novel (which itself takes its cue from the classic horror short story “The Monkey’s Paw”), Fred Burnley’s NEITHER THE SEA NOR THE SAND is a haunting slice of British Gothic boasting standout performances from three-time Emmy Award-winner Susan Hampshire (Malpertuis) and Frank Finlay (Lifeforce), alongside a memorably chilling turn from then-newcomer Michael Petrovitch (Turkey Shoot). Released in the US under the alternate title of The Exorcism of Hugh, NEITHER THE SEA NOR THE SAND is brought back to startling life by Vinegar Syndrome for its world Blu-ray debut, newly restored in 2K from 35mm vault elements and supplemented by an array of brand new bonus features.
directed by: Fred Burnley
starring: Susan Hampshire, Frank Finlay, Michael Petrovitch, Jack Lambert, Michael Craze, Anthony Booth, Betty Duncan, David Garth
1972 / 96 min / 1.85:1 / English DTS-HD Master Audio Mono
Additional info:
Overall rating: 4.4113474 / 5 from 141 reviews.
This limited edition Blu-ray of 'Neither the Sea Nor the Sand' offers a dreamy, atmospheric experience with a creepy essence of the British Channel Islands. The film's transfer and atmosphere are highly praised, while the story and release are well-received. However, some find the story sad and odd.
Review topics: [colors, quality, looks, set, packaging, upgrade, sound, film, movie, burn, slipcover, release, story, romance, transfer, artwork, atmosphere, buy, gem, restoration, picture, thriller, watch, extras, vibe, vsl, art, presentation, acting, horror].
"While its a very particular film, Neither the Sea Nor the Sand is haunting, hypnotic, and fully exploits its best feature: all-encompassing, immersive atmosphere. It's a good-looking transfer, and I'm especially fond of the slip cover on this one!"
"Beautiful transfer that is a big improvement from the DVD. Interesting art on the slipcover. The cinematography is stunningly gorgeous. This is definitely one of the better VSLs and worth a watch. Recommended!"
"This is a viewing after a 20-year-plus gap, and whereas when I was in my twenties I revelled in the Gothic romance and the lilting music bathing the charm Jersey locations, these days I view this more as a zombie horror with a misplaced romantic subplot. Picture quality is fantastic."
"A wonderfully melancholy blend of Gothic romance and zombie movie, made even stranger by its refusal to choose between them. Jersey’s bleak coastline does half the acting, and the transfer captures the misty, haunted atmosphere beautifully. An odd little gem."
"Very fine release by VS! This one is definitly a hidden gem from the britisch gothic unknown films. Vissually very stunning, storywise everything great! I would highly recommend this one"
"Absolute classic of Tigon and another double dip just for the beautiful artwork!! Love this film and great to see it get this presentation with beautiful art!! Stone cold folk horror classic!"
"It's a unique and moody film. Beautifully shot, very lush, extremely British. I'm surprised it hasn't received a modern remake, given the strength of the premise."
"deeply haunting and melancholic slice of 1970s British Gothic cinema that expertly blurs the lines between supernatural romance and psychological horror."
"Very enjoyable film. Has some nice atmosphere and charm. Beautiful transfer as well."
"The transfer of this film does a lot of the scenery a service as it's beautifully shot. Outside of that this is one of the few misses I've had with a VS title in a while. NtSntS is a slow burn that just doesn't do anything for me. The horror aspects of this film are mostly non-existent as this is focused on the trauma of letting go after death but the pace and acting just did nothing for me. Even a second viewing left me zoning out after a while as outside of the first 10 minutes and finale, I just couldn't care less here."
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