From the birth of cinema to the enduring influence of macabre horror, Severin Films presents its most monumental collection to date: Spanning 12 discs with 80+ hours of combined content, MORBID PLEASURES brings together more than 60 films dating from 1895 to 2025 – many on home video for the first time ever – including rare and rediscovered silent films with new music by Steven Severin (Siouxsie and the Banshees), David J (Bauhaus, Love And Rockets) & Tim Newman, Stephen Thrower (Coil) and renowned accompanists Michael D. Mortilla and Neil Brand, plus dozens of hours of new & archival Special Features that explore virtually every historic aspect of gruesome entertainment.
At its heart is David Gregory’s award-winning feature documentary THEATRE OF HORRORS: THE SORDID STORY OF PARIS’ GRAND GUIGNOL which examines the infamous Parisian theater and its still-graphic impact on popular culture. The collection also shines a long overdue spotlight on ‘The Most Assassinated Woman In The World’ Paula Maxa as well as filmmakers that include Fred Paul, Maurice Tourneur, Robert Hossein and Vernon Sewell, and traces the theater’s gore-fueled influence on modern cinema, the true crime phenomenon and even live heavy metal, featuring new interviews with Alice Cooper, GWAR and the W.A.S.P. ‘Rack Girls’.
Also included is the new 350-page full-color book Blood, Sweat & Sperm: The Visceral Horrors of The Grand Guignol featuring writings by André Breton, Richard J. Hand, Aleister Crowley, André de Lorde, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Alfred Binet, Maxa and more.
Note: Disc 12 is a strictly Limited Edition Bonus Disc featuring Herschell Gordon Lewis’ landmark 1970 film THE WIZARD OF GORE as well as the long-out-of-print 2007 remake starring Brad Dourif, Bijou Phillips and Crispin Glover, directed by Jeremy Kasten.
The most ambitious performance in physical media history is about to begin, exclusively at www.SeverinFilms.com
Disc 1: THEATRE OF HORRORS: THE SORDID STORY OF PARIS’ GRAND GUIGNOL
The Award-Winning Documentary Directed by David Gregory, Narrated by Barbara Steele
THEATRE OF HORRORS: THE SORDID STORY OF PARIS’ GRAND GUIGNOL (USA, 2025, David Gregory): 89 mins / 1.78:1 / English & French Stereo / English SDH Subtitles
Bonus Film: THE LIGHTHOUSE KEEPERS (France, 1929, Jean Grémillon) One And Only Film From Grand Guignol Productions. Music By Stephen Thrower: 61 mins / 1.37:1 / Stereo / English Subtitles
Special Features:
Audio Commentary THEATRE OF HORRORS With Producer / Director / Editor David Gregory And Writer / Researcher Madeleine Ledespencer
Barbara Steele à Paris – A Visit To The September 2025 World Premiere Of THEATRE OF HORRORS At L’Etrange Festival And The Former Grand Guignol Theatre
Animators In The Madhouse – Interviews With THEATRE OF HORRORS VFX Artist Kyle Broom And Animators Mike Etoll, Leslie Supnet And Ashley Thorpe
Collecting Grand Guignol: The Ledespencer Archive – A Look At Madeleine Ledespencer’s Collection Of Grand Guignol Ephemera
Filmmaker / Artist Alejandro Jodorowsky Speaks Of Grand Guignol
Guignol De Lyon – Puppeteer Daniel Streble On The History Of The Puppet Which Inspired The Theatre Name
THEATRE OF HORRORS Trailer
‘Behind The Scenes Of Fear’ – 1959 French TV Special On The Grand Guignol
Audio Commentary For THE LIGHTHOUSE KEEPERS With Dr. Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Author Of Masks In Horror Cinema: Eyes Without Faces
Columbia Workshop: ‘The Lighthouse Keepers’ – Radio Adaptation Of Paul Autier And Paul Cloquemin’s Play (1938)
Disc Specs:
Runtime: 150 mins
Audio: English & French Stereo, Stereo
Subtitles: English SDH, English
Region A/B/C
Aspect Ratio: 1.78 :1 / 1.37:1
Disc 2: THE ORIGINS OF HORROR & THE GRAND GUIGNOLESQUE
Rare Shockers From The Dawn of Cinema
Films:
THE EXECUTION OF MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS (USA, 1895, Alfred Clark) Music By Neil Brand
THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL (France, 1896, Georges Méliès) Music By Steven Severin
THE CUTTER OF HEADS (France, 1898, Pathé Frères) Music By David J & Tim Newman / Michael D. Mortilla
A DESPERATE CRIME (France, 1906, Georges Méliès) Music By Steven Severin
THE DOLL’S REVENGE (UK, 1907, Cecil M. Hepworth) Music By David J & Tim Newman
BALAOO, THE DEMON BABOON (France, 1913, Victorin-Hippolyte Jasset) Based On The Novel By Gaston Leroux. Music By David J & Tim Newman
ALSACE (France, 1916, Henri Pouctal) Based On The Play By Gaston Leroux. Music By Neil Brand
THE HAND (France, 1920, Édouard-Émile Violet) Based On The Short Story By Guy De Maupassant. Music By Neil Brand
WHISPERING SHADOWS (USA, 1921, Emile Chautard) Music By Neil Brand
THOSE WHO WORRY (France, 1930, Germaine Dulac)
Special Features:
Introduction To THE EXECUTION OF MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS By Dr. Gary D. Rhodes, Author Of The Birth Of The American Horror Film
Introduction To THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL By Dr. Gary D. Rhodes
Introduction To THE CUTTER OF HEADS By Madeleine Ledespencer, Writer Of THEATRE OF HORRORS: THE SORDID STORY OF PARIS’ GRAND GUIGNOL
Audio Commentary For THE DOLL’S REVENGE With Kim Newman, Author Of Nightmare Movies And The BFI’s Curator Of Silent Film Bryony Dixon
Gaston Leroux Unmasked – Documentary With Isabelle-Rachel Casta, Author Of Literature In The Shadows: The Dark Works Of Gaston Leroux
The Dawn Of Cinéma In France – Interview With Film Historian & Preservationist Eric Le Roy
The Pioneers Of France’s Ciné-Macabre – Interview With Eric Le Roy
Birth Of The American Horror Film – Interview With Dr. Gary D. Rhodes
Family Theater: ‘Mademoiselle Fifi’ – Radio Play Based On Guy De Maupassant’s Short Story (1949)
Mystery In The Air: ‘The Horla’ – Radio Play Based On Guy De Maupassant’s Short Story Starring Peter Lorre (1947)
Escape: ‘Three Skeleton Key’ – Radio Play Based On Gustave Toudouze’s Short Story Starring Vincent Price (1950)
Disc Specs:
Runtime: 163 mins
Audio: Stereo
Subtitles: English
Region: A/B/C
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Disc 3: SUPERSTARS OF FEAR & BLOOD
The Grand Guignol’s Most Influential Talents
Films:
TERRIBLE ANGUISH (France, 1906, Lucien Nonguet) Based On André de Lorde’s Play “Au Téléphone”. Music By Neil Brand
THE LONELY VILLA (USA, 1909, D.W. Griffith) Based On André de Lorde’s Play “Au Téléphone”. Music By Michael D. Mortilla
THE PHYSICIAN OF THE CASTLE (France, 1908, Pathé Frères) Based On André de Lorde’s Play “Au Téléphone”. Music By Neil Brand
THE PENAL COLONY DOCTOR (France, 1911, George Andre-Lacroix) Screenplay By André de Lorde. Music By Neil Brand
IN THE CELLAR (France, 1912, Victorin-Hippolyte Jasset) Screenplay By André de Lorde. Music By Michael D. Mortilla
FATALITY (France, 1912, Victorin-Hippolyte Jasset) Screenplay By André de Lorde. Music By Michael D. Mortilla
THE MYSTERY OF THE GLASS COFFIN (Incomplete) (France, 1912, Victorin-Hippolyte Jasset) Screenplay By André de Lorde. Music By Michael D. Mortilla
SUSPENSE (USA, 1913, Lois Weber / Phillips Smalley) Based On André de Lorde’s Play “Au Téléphone”. Music By David J & Tim Newman / Neil Brand
LI-HANG THE CRUEL (France, 1920, Édouard-Émile Violet) Based On André de Lorde & Henri Bouche’s Play. Music By Michael D. Mortilla
THE CHERISHED IMAGES (France, 1920, André Hugon) Starring Maxa. Music By Neil Brand
Special Features:
The Many Deaths & Life Of Maxa – Documentary With Grand Guignol Scholar Erwan Le Gac, Maxa’s Great Grand Niece Mireille Chabrier, Great Nephew Michel Fourneaux And The Only Known Interview Recording Of Maxa
André de Lorde: The Prince Of Terror – Video Essay By Madeleine Ledespencer
Paul Ratineau: Gore For The Gourmet – Video Essay By Erwan Le Gac. Narrated By Tom Savini
Preface To Cruelty – LI-HANG THE CRUEL Video Essay By Video Watchdog’s Tim Lucas
“La Nuit Rouge” By André De Lorde – Audio Recording Of Original Grand Guignol Cast Performance
The Fear Of Being Afraid: Adapting André De Lorde’s “Au Téléphone” – Video Essay By Dr. Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Author Of Rape-Revenge Films: A Critical Study
L’IBIS BLEU (France, 1919, Camille de Morlhon) – Digest Version Of Feature Film Starring Maxa
LA DOUBLE EXISTENCE DU DOCTEUR MORART (France, 1920, Jacques Grétillat) – Digest Version Of Feature Film Written By André De Lorde
“J’Attends Le Train Du Rêve” – Song Performed By Maxa
“Il Revenait De Chine” – Song Performed By Maxa
“Au Téléphone” (1933) – Abridged Performance Of The Play By Grand Guignol Star Paulais Plus B-Side “La Peur Qui Tue”
Disc Specs:
Runtime: 185 mins
Audio: Stereo
Subtitles: English
Region: A/B/C
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Disc 4: MAURICE TOURNEUR’S CRIMES & PUNISHMENTS
4 Defining Thrillers Directed by MAURICE TOURNEUR
Films:
FIGURES OF WAX (France, 1912, Maurice Tourneur) Based On The Play By André de Lorde & Georges Montignac, Music By David J & Tim Newman
THE SHEPHERDESS OF IVRY (France, 1913, Maurice Tourneur) Music By David J & Tim Newman
ACCUSED, STAND UP! (France, 1930, Maurice Tourneur)
OBSESSION (France, 1933, Maurice Tourneur) Screenplay By André de Lorde
Special Features:
Maurice Tourneur: Lost Films, Found Shadows – Documentary With Christine Leteux, Author Of Maurice Tourneur: Director Without Frontiers
Maurice Tourneur At The Grand Guignol – Video Essay By Madeleine Ledespencer
Disc Specs:
Runtime: 182 mins
Audio: Stereo, French Mono
Subtitles: English
Region: A
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Disc 5: THE BRITISH TRADITION
13 Long-Lost Grand Guignol Films Directed by FRED PAUL
Discovered at THE BRITISH FILM INSTITUTE & Restored by SEVERIN FILMS
Grand Guignol Series 1
THE OATH (UK, 1921, Fred Paul) Music By Michael D. Mortilla
THE FLAT (UK, 1921, Fred Paul) Music By David J & Tim Newman / Michael D. Mortilla
THE LAST APPEAL (UK, 1921, Fred Paul) Music By Michael D. Mortilla
THE WOMAN UPSTAIRS (UK, 1921, Fred Paul) Music By Michael D. Mortilla
THE GENTLE DOCTOR (UK, 1921, Fred Paul) Music By Michael D. Mortilla
Grand Guignol Series 2
DELILAH (UK, 1921, Fred Paul) Music By David J & Tim Newman
A VOICE FROM THE DEAD (UK, 1921, Fred Paul) Music By Michael D. Mortilla
THE RETURN (UK, 1921, Fred Paul) Music By David J & Tim Newman / Neil Brand
THE NURSE (UK, 1921, Fred Paul) Music By Michael D. Mortilla
Grand Guignol Series 3
THE JEST (UK, 1921, Fred Paul) Music By David J & Tim Newman / Michael D. Mortilla
THAT LOVE MIGHT LAST (UK, 1921, Fred Paul) Music By Neil Brand
Grand Guignol Series 4
A GAME FOR TWO (UK, 1921, Fred Paul) Music By Michael D. Mortilla
Grand Guignol Series 5
A WOMAN MISUNDERSTOOD (UK, 1921, Fred Paul) Music By Michael D. Mortilla
THE ANTIDOTE (UK, 1927, Thomas Bentley)
SWEENEY TODD (UK, 1928, Walter West) Music By Steven Severin
Special Features:
Audio Commentary For THE LAST APPEAL With Kim Newman, Author Of Nightmare Movies And The BFI’s Curator Of Silent Film Bryony Dixon
Audio Commentary For THE GENTLE DOCTOR With Kim Newman And Bryony Dixon
Audio Commentary For THE JEST With Kim Newman And Bryony Dixon
Audio Commentary For SWEENEY TODD With Kim Newman And Bryony Dixon
Audio Commentary For SWEENEY TODD With Jonathan Rigby, Author Of English Gothic: Classic Horror Cinema, 1897–2015 And British Horror Historian Kevin Lyons
Shivers Among The Shadows: Music Hall Stars, Cinema Innovations & Grand Guignol Films Of South London – Documentary On The Transition From Music Hall To Cinema In London And The Production And Re-Discovery Of Fred Paul’s Grand Guignol Film Series With Bryony Dixon, Film Historian Michael Eaton, Lambeth Historian Tracey Gregory, Severin Films’ David Gregory And Fred Paul Descendant Chris Luard
Grand Guignol Series 3: HER ROMANCE (UK, 1921, Fred Paul) – Partial, Low Quality Presentation From Only Surviving Source
Disc Specs:
Runtime: 207 mins
Audio: Stereo, English Mono
Subtitles: English SDH
Region: A/B/C
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Disc 6: POE & EERIE GERMANY
2 Milestone Horror Anthologies
Directed by RICHARD OSWALD
Based on Tales by EDGAR ALLAN POE
EERIE TALES (Germany, 1919, Richard Oswald) Anthology Based On Poe & Other Tales. Music By Steven Severin: 109 mins / 1.37:1 / Stereo / English Subtitles
THE LIVING DEAD (Germany, 1932, Richard Oswald) Anthology Based On Poe Tales: 88 mins / 1.33:1 / German Mono / English Subtitles
Special Features:
Audio Commentary For EERIE TALES With Dr. Marcus Stiglegger, Professor Of Film Studies At Film Academy Ludwigsburg And Dr. Lioba Schlösser, Film Scholar At Düsseldorf University
Audio Commentary For THE LIVING DEAD With Dr. Marcus Stiglegger And Dr. Lioba Schlösser
The House Of Usher On L’Impasse Chaptal: Edgar Allan Poe At The Grand Guignol – Video Essay By Madeleine Ledespencer
THE SEALED ROOM (USA, 1909, D. W. Griffith) Early Poe Adaptation. Music By David J & Tim Newman
THE LIVING DEAD Trailer
Disc Specs:
Runtime: 197 mins
Audio: Stereo, German Mono
Subtitles: English
Region: A/B/C
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1 / 1.33:1
Disc 7: ROBERT HOSSEIN NOIR & MAURICE LEVEL MYSTERY
Two of the Most Important Figures in French Genre History
THE MENACE (France, 1961, Gérard Oury) Screenplay By Frédéric Dard, Starring Robert Hossein: 85 mins / 1.66:1 / French Mono / English Subtitles
THE VAMPIRE OF DÜSSELDORF (France, 1965, Robert Hossein): 90 mins / 2.35:1 / French Mono, English With Partial French Mono / English Subtitles
The Unexpected: ‘Split Second’ (USA, 1952, Eddie Davis) Teleplay By Maurice Level: 27 mins / 1.33:1 / English Mono
Special Features:
Audio Commentary For THE MENACE With Tim Lucas
Audio Commentary For THE VAMPIRE OF DÜSSELDORF With Video Watchdog’s Tim Lucas
THE MENACE Video Essay By Tim Lucas
Robert Hossein: The Untamed Soul Of French Cinema – Interview With Henri-Jean Servat, Author Of Robert Hossein, A Good Man
Bande À Part: THE MENACE – Interview With Doctor Of Cinema Studies, Jean Montarnal
THE MENACE Restoration Featurette
The Maurice Level Mystery – Interview With Maurice Level Expert & Friend Jean-Luc Buard
Columbia Workshop Radio Play: ‘Double Exposure’ (1940) – Based On The Play “Under The Red Lamp” By Maurice Level
THE MENACE Trailer
THE VAMPIRE OF DÜSSELDORF Trailer
Disc Specs:
Runtime: 202 mins
Audio: French Mono, English Mono
Subtitles: English
Region: A
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 / 2.35:1 / 1.33:1
Disc 8: VERNON SEWELL & “THE ANGUISH”
3 Pivotal Films by the Prolific Yet Criminally Underrated British B-Movie Writer/Director
LATIN QUARTER (aka FRENZY) (UK, 1945, Vernon Sewell): 80 mins / 1.33:1 / English Mono / English SDH Subtitles
GHOST SHIP (UK, 1952, Vernon Sewell): 75 mins / 1.33:1 / English Mono / English SDH Subtitles
HOUSE OF MYSTERY (UK, 1961, Vernon Sewell): 55 mins / 1.66:1 / English Mono / English SDH Subtitles
Special Features:
Audio Commentary For LATIN QUARTER With Jonathan Rigby, Author Of English Gothic: Classic Horror Cinema, 1897–2015 And British Horror Historian Kevin Lyons
Audio Commentary For LATIN QUARTER With Dr. Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Author Of Masks In Horror Cinema: Eyes Without Faces
Audio Commentary For GHOST SHIP With Jonathan Rigby And Kevin Lyons
Audio Commentary For HOUSE OF MYSTERY With Jonathan Rigby And Kevin Lyons
Spirit Guide: Vernon Sewell in the Afterlife – Documentary By Marcus Hearn, Author Of The Hammer Story
British Entertainment History Project Career Audio Interview With Vernon Sewell: Part 1
British Entertainment History Project Career Audio Interview With Vernon Sewell: Part 2
Disc Specs:
Runtime: 210 mins
Audio: English Mono
Subtitles: English SDH
Region: A
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 / 1.66:1
Disc 9: MORGUES, MASKS & MURDER
3 Twisted UK Shockers
THEATRE OF DEATH (UK, 1967, Samuel Gallu): 90 mins / 2.35:1 / English Mono / English SDH Subtitles
THE CURSE OF THE WRAYDONS (aka STRANGLER’S MORGUE) (UK, 1946, Victor M. Gover) Starring Tod Slaughter: 96 mins / 1.33:1 / English Mono / English SDH Subtitles
THE MASK (UK, 1952, Don Chaffey) Based On The Play By H.M. Harwood & F. Tennyson Jesse: 29 mins / 1.33:1 / English Mono / English SDH Subtitles
Special Features:
Audio Commentary For THEATRE OF DEATH With Jonathan Rigby, Author Of English Gothic: Classic Horror Cinema, 1897–2015 And British Horror Historian Kevin Lyons
Audio Commentary For THE CURSE OF THE WRAYDONS With Kim Newman, Author Of Nightmare Movies And Barry Forshaw, Author Of Brit Noir: The Pocket Essential Guide To British Crime Fiction, Film & TV
Audio Commentary For THE MASK With Jonathan Rigby And Kevin Lyons
Sinister Theatrics – Archival Interview With Christopher Lee On THEATRE OF DEATH
Theatre To Theatre – Interview With André Loiselle, Author Of Theatricality In The Horror Film: A Brief Study On The Dark Pleasures Of Screen Artifice
Capital Of Cadavers – Interview With Paris Morgue Historian Dr. Catriona Byers
La Belle Époque Of Crime – Interview With Sylvain Venayre, Author Of The Crime Criers – The Golden Age Of True Crime
THEATRE OF DEATH Original Trailer
THEATRE OF DEATH U.S. Trailer
Disc Specs:
Runtime: 214 mins
Audio: English Mono
Subtitles: English SDH
Region: A
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 / 1.33:1
Disc 10: RE-ANIMATION & RE-CREATION
The Revival of Grand Guignol In Television, Theater, Radio, Rock & Beyond
Le Grand Guignol Series (France, 1997, Pierre Reinhard / Laurent Prèyale):
Under The Red Light
Towards The Beyond
The Last Kiss
The Monster Maker
Kiss Of Blood
The Widow
