4 Star

Scientists, High-Born’s, and Murder.

Eureka Classics brings us another triple bill of Boris Karloff classic horror Sci-fi films where scientists go mad and revenge is always prevalent. From prolific directors Lambert Hillyer (The War Horse, Chain Lightning), Arthur Lubin (Phantom of the Opera, Yellowstone), and Joseph Pevney (Star Trek (TV Series), Torpedo Run).

Be prepared to be shocked and horrified in this spooky release.

The Invisible Ray

The Universe is very large, and there are some secrets we are not meant to probe.

Dr. Janos Rukh, (Boris Karloff, Boris Karloff: The Man Behind The Monster, Karloff at Columbia, The Old Dark House) has been looking out into the cosmos and has discovered that he can see the past, but due to his continued talks about seeing into the past he is lambasted by his peers. That is until he shows two of his most ardent opposition, Dr. Felix Benet (Bela Lugosi, Dracula, The Ape Man), and Sir Francis Stevens (Walter Kingsford, The Man in the Iron Mask, Dr. Kildare Goes Home) the events of a billion years ago as a huge meteorite smashed into Africa.

An expedition is created for him to find proof of this destructive event. This is where he gets his proof and where all things go awry, as he discovers a new element, Radium-X.

Black Friday

Dr. Ernest Sovac (Boris Karloff) is about to be executed, but before he goes to the chair, he gives his notes to a reporter. This is his story. Bookish college professor, George Kingsley (Stanley Ridges, Sergeant York, To Be or Not to Be) is run down while crossing a street. To save his friend’s life, he transplants part of his brain from a man headed for the electric chair, a well known gangster. What could possibly go wrong?

The Strange Door

This time Karloff takes a supporting role as Sire Alain de Maletroit (Charles Laughton, Mutiny on the Bounty, Les Misérables) takes centre stage. This high-born man takes revenge on his brother Edmond (Paul Cavanagh, Tarzan and His Mate, Captains of the Clouds) who stole his childhood sweetheart who died giving birth to Edmond’s daughter Blanche (Sally Forrest, While the City Sleeps, Ride the High Iron). Alain is a twisted man and wants to make Blanche’s life a misery. This is their story.

Another great release by Eureka Classics, be prepared to be scared.

MANIACAL MAYHEM is available on Blu-ray

 

SPECIAL EDITION TWO-DISC BLU-RAY FEATURES

Limited Edition O-Card Slipcase | 1080p presentation of all three films across two Blu-ray discs | All films presented from 2K scans of the original film elements | Optional English SDH | Brand-new audio commentary tracks on The Invisible Ray and The Strange Door with author Stephen Jones and author / critic Kim Newman | Brand-new audio commentary track on Black Friday with Kevin Lyons and Jonathan Rigby | “The Sire de Maletroit’s Door” radio adaptations | Stills Galleries | Trailers | PLUS: A Limited Edition Collector’s Booklet featuring new writing on all three films by film writers Andrew Graves, Rich Johnson, and Craig Ian Mann | *All extras subject to change