The Emilio Miraglia Killer Queen Box Set
Giallo, proclaims actress Erika Blanc, in an interview on disc one ofThe Emilio Miraglia Killer Queen Box Set, is back in style thanks to Quentin Tarantino. She must be right, considering the release of this stylish gift box containing not only two DVDs with Italian horror classicsThe Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave(1971) andThe Red Queen Kills Seven Times(1972), but copious extras and movie trailers, and a Red Queen action figure. Inappropriate for children, however, director Emilio Miraglia’s two films contain nude models and beautiful gore.The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave, Miraglia’s masterpiece, tells the story of Alan (Anthony Steffen), a man whose obsession with his disloyal dead wife, Evelyn, causes him to prey upon sexy redheads, including Erika Blanc, who in a classic striptease sequence, strips inside a coffin. When Alan finally overcomes his weakness and remarries to Gladys (Marina Malfatti), she tortures him in a particularly cruel way. InThe Red Queen, two sisters, Kitty (Barbara Bouchet) and Evelyn, are cursed by a family painting depicting a seven year-cycle in which a Red Queen is raised from the dead to kill seven times. After Evelyn seemingly perishes and multiple killings ensue, their niece Franziska (Marina Malfatti) and Kitty start to suspect that Evelyn may be the Red Queen. Both films are great Giallo, ripe with high-fashion crime scenes, salacious sets, and spooky scores by Bruno Nicolai. Interviews with both actors and crew educate viewers about the climate needed to create these excellent features.The Emilio Miraglia Killer Queen Box Setdeserves a place in the library beside Argento’sSuspiriaand Bava’sKill, Baby, Kill,though any fan of horror will appreciate its fun packaging.--Trinie Dalton