DON’T MOVE! DON’T BREATHE! DON’T MAKE A SOUND! THEY’RE COMING! Amando de Ossorio’s unique 1971 Spanish shocker Tombs of the Blind Dead was an international horror hit that spawned three sequels and countless imitations. The first of four official films in the series, it begins with a trio of friends getting together for a camping trip that quickly turns into bloodcurdling horror as a legion of long-dead Knights Templar rise from their graves in search of human flesh! When the Templars were originally executed for their cannibalistic rituals, they were hanged outside to die as crows pecked out their eyes. Now, armed with ancient swords and riding their skeletal undead horses into the night looking for prey, these mummified creatures cannot see… they hunt purely by sound alone. Synapse Films is proud to present Tombs of the Blind Dead in a new restoration from the uncut original camera negative!

For thoughts on Tombs of the Blind Dead, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

Video Quality

Tombs of the Blind Dead comes to Blu-Ray courtesy of Synapse Films in its original aspect ratio sourced from an excellent 2K restoration of the original uncut camera negative. This presentation is quite lovely and greatly improves upon the raggedy older masters replete with damage. The striking photography which captures both the beachside and countryside locations impresses in high definition with the perfect amount of natural grain intact. There are rarely any moments when things seem clumpy or swarming, instead presenting as nicely resolved.

Black levels are fairly deep with no egregious instances of black crush or compression artifacts, although some shots can verge on appearing a bit milky. The contrast is favorably defined with highlights not appearing overly bright, and there is virtually no print damage to be found outside of a few odd instances here and there where the source was not in ideal shape. The new transfer shows off a surprising amount of depth and enhanced detail. There are certain gross-out elements that look wonderfully grotesque in their clarity. This also applies to enhancements when it comes to other elements such as the textures on the clothing, the landscapes, and the production design. This transfer allows this movie to look like the best version of itself.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with an LPCM 2.0 mono track in the original Spanish and a hybrid of English and Spanish. Both tracks spotlight the film in a welcome way that honors the intention of the source. The score appears to be healthy in relation to the competing elements. Dialogue is pretty clear without sound effects or the score swallowing up important information outside a handful of indistinct lines. The film employs some creepy sound effects during unsettling moments that are given an effective presence within the mix.

The film has a good amount of dialogue, but a large part of the atmosphere is established through the absence of sound which is realized well within the mix as the environmental effects are dialed up. This presentation is a top-tier effort from Synapse Films. There are optional subtitles in the following configuration: English subtitles for the Spanish track, English subtitles for the Spanish sections of the hybrid soundtrack, and English SDH subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the hybrid soundtrack.

Special Features

Disc One (Uncut Version – 1:41:18) and Disc Two (U.S. Cut The Blind Dead – 1:23:16)

Audio Commentaries: A trio of commentary tracks is provided in which a mixture of film historians and cast members dive into the background and inspiration for the production, the background of the performers in the film, how it stands out in the zombie genre, the environment in which the feature was shot, the career of director Amando de Ossorio, the legacy of the film, and much more that makes them a valuable listen.

- Audio Commentary #1: Film scholar Troy Howarth
- Audio Commentary #2: Star Lone Fleming
- Audio Commentary #3: Rod Barnett & Troy Guinn of the NaschyCast Podcast

Revenge From Planet Ape – Alternate U.S. Opening Sequence: A three-and-a-half-minute bonkers attempt to shoehorn this feature into the Planet of the Apes franchise.
Awakening of Spanish Horror Cinema: A nearly 15-minute conversation with film historian Marcus Stiglegger in which he discusses the work of Amando de Ossorio, his impact on Spanish horror cinema, his work on the Blind Dead series, how his work was compromised by outside forces, and more.
Salem’s Pop “Templar’s Tears” Music Video: A three-and-a-half-minute music video is provided here.
Marauders From The Mediterranean: An excellent 89-minute documentary that explores the history of Spanish zombie films featuring insights from Night of the Living Dead writer/producer John Russo, Stiges Film Festival deputy director Mike Hostench, critic John Martin, writer Calum Waddell, director Jorge Grau, actress Lone Fleming, and more. This is nearly as vital as the feature film itself as you get to learn so much about the spreading of the genre into this part of the world, the evolution of how this work could be portrayed, the filmmakers who thrived the most under this genre, and much more.

Still Gallery: There is a nearly four-minute collection of images from the film provided here which shows off some great archival material.

Original Theatrical Trailer: The nearly three-minute trailer is provided here.

Final Thoughts

Tombs of the Blind Dead is a feature that deftly sets itself apart within the zombie subgenre. Director Amando de Ossorio weaves in elements that were not typically found in traditional zombie films, yet he still found a way to honor what had come before with his twisting of classic tropes. Some aspects are held up like the lack of self-preservation characters seem to have when they are mere feet from the undead, but outside of this, the thrills check out. The story is intriguing, and we are anxious to see how the sequels handle things from a storytelling perspective. Synapse Films has released a Blu-Ray featuring a wonderful A/V presentation and an array of special features that are as enticing as the feature film itself. If you are a fan of zombie films, this plays well within the genre. Recommended

Tombs of the Blind Dead will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray on October 24, 2023.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Synapse Films has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.