In a fun homage to campy classics such as House on Haunted Hill the second big-screen outing for Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, borrows the title font, but provides the hills in Elvira’s Haunted Hills – Available now on Blu-ray (Standard Edition) from 101 Films in the UK.
It’s 1851 and Elvira and her maidservant travel the Carpathian Mountains of Romania while en route to Paris for a cabaret performance, but ill fortune takes them to a mysterious castle where his lordship, Count Vladimere Hellsubus cannot help but notice Elvira’s uncanny resemblance his deceased wife.
Elvira’s Haunted Hills was budgeted at a very modest $1.5 million. Most of the funds came from actress Cassandra Peterson, and her then-husband, Mark Pierson, who mortgaged their properties while donations from relatives made up the difference. Despite the limited resources, authenticity takes precedence with the film being shot on location in Transylvania.
In what is a clear parody of the gothic tales by Roger Corman and Britain’s Hammer Horror, this very simple and silly production has an affectionate quality and does not mock its inspirations. It openly invites you to revisit them, especially The Pit and the Pendulum as Elvira manages to draw attention to the medieval torture device in more ways the one. Peterson hasn’t lost her touch as Elvira, nor I doubt she ever will. Her regular use of double entendre, puns, and raunchy quips rarely fall flat, while her contemporary personality, right out of the 80s, adds a playful contrast to the more genuine 19th-century characters.
At the standard horror run-time of 90 minutes, the film moves along at a steady pace and while the story and plot are not exactly engaging, I appreciate the light and non-offensive quality. It’s a movie made in good spirits and released at a time when 80s nostalgia was beginning to fester among horror fans.
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Introduction by Elvira, Mistress of the Dark
- Audio Commentary with actors Cassandra Peterson, Mary Scheer, Mary Jo Smith, Scott Atkinson, and director Sam Irwin
- Making-Of Featurette
- “Transylvania or Bust” Featurette
- Elvira in Romania Featurette
- Interview with actor Richard O’Brien
- Outtakes
- Photo Gallery
In what is mostly a port of Scream Factory’s 2021 release, the assortment of extras comes from the days of standard definition, a wonderful land of plenty when it came to bonus material. Elvira’s introduction for the film’s 20th anniversary is a nice modern addition while older content provides a broad making-of experience.
VIDEO AND AUDIO
Presented in the film’s original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 – viewers can rest assured that Elvira will not be cropped. Psychedelic colours that swirl during the opening credits have a naturally vibrant hue, while the rest of the film is bright with a vintage aesthetic like B-grade horror from the 1960s.
Optional DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 allows people with five ears or those with just two, to enjoy the crystal-clear sound which offers loud dialogue, that’s most amusing during scenes with the dubbed “foreign” stable hand.
Elvira’s Haunted Hills can be purchased online through Zavvi and Amazon, or in stores from your nearest HMV for UK buyers.
ELVIRA’S HAUNTED HILLS
(2001, director: Sam Irvin)
★★★½
direct blu-ray screen captures
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