1981 | dir: Viktor Kubal | 77 min
Lady Elisabeth Báthory lives a charmed life in a resplendent Romanesque castle, surrounded by Disney-esque wildlife and a colorful cast of obliging servants. Taking ill one day while traveling through the forest, she’s nursed back to health by a handsome woodsman, and in gratitude gifts him with her own heart. But upon returning home, Lady Báthory’s sunny disposition quickly turns murderous and vampiric once she discovers the secret to heart-less eternal youth lies in draining the blood of all the young women and men in her castle.
Widely considered one of Slovak animation’s crown jewels, The Bloody Lady is an improbable and bewitching fusion of gothic horror and classic children’s animation, retelling of the infamous Čachtická castle and Báthory folk tale which is often cited as the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Recently treated to haunting live score by celebrated indie musician claire rousay, this underseen gem is a new cult classic in the making.
The Bloody Lady is the centerpiece of Viktor Kubal: Father of Slovak Animation, a retrospective of the landmark Eastern Bloc animator’s pioneering work in much-loved children’s shorts as well as subversive – though no less groundbreaking – feature films.
Special Features:
- Limited edition slipcase design
- Limited edition bonus item: character sticker sheet
- New restoration from the original 35mm camera negative
- New restoration of Jurko the Highwayman (1976)
- Including over 20 restored short films:
The Mysterious Old Man (1944), Earth (1966), Dita at the Post Office (1967), Promotion (1968), Dita in the Air (1970), Two Good Friends (1972), Tom Thumb (1972), Tom Thumb at a Magicians (1973), Chess (1974), Tom Thumb and the Germs (1974), The Present (1976), Cinema (1977), The Ladder (1978), Only Child (1979), The Microscope (1981), What Happened to Johnny on the Road (1981), The Selection (1982), The Weatherman (1983), The Marzipan Comedy (1987), High Noon (1988), The Idol (1989)
- U.S. Theatrical Trailer (2024)
- New essay "A Dot and a Line (Everything is Possible)" by Rastislav Steranka
- 12-page booklet
- Region free (A/B/C)
*Limited edition run of 1,000
"If there is a single jewel worthy of discovery in Slovak animation, then The Bloody Lady, a film by Viktor Kubal is certainly it."
- National Film Institute, Hungary
Please note this a pre-order item and will ship separately if bundled with other items. This blu-ray release is region free and will play in all regions.
