Mark of the Devil: Part II - Turbine 4K UHD Mediabook Cover D

Sometimes the world collectively forgets that some sequels even exist. Part of that is because the first film is so good. Part of that is because the sequel is so innocuous that you don’t even remember it. In 1970, the diabolically entertaining Mark of the Devil from directors Michael Armstrong and Adrian Hoven and starring Herbert Lom and Udo Kier, entered the growing list of witchcraft horror flicks. One could argue that narrative structure wasn’t nearly as important as delivering shocks to the audience. The marketing was so salacious that they openly advertised the necessity of a vomit bag with the purchase of your ticket. Now, it’s not that sick and depraved. Watching it recently, Mark of the Devil might not measure up to a numberof Giallo entries, but it's a pretty gnarly film and was a hit in its day. You could argue the marketing worked. By 1973, Adrian Hoven had the sequel Mark of the Devil: Part II in theaters.

While Reggie Nalder’s puckered sneering visage returns, it operates as if nothing of the first film happened. We’re just jumping right into more witch hunting, false accusations, torture, mutilation, and rape. There’s a loose story about the Countess Salmenau (Erika Blanc) and her family being tried as witches and satanic collaborators. It’s the design of the despicable Balthasar von Ross (Anton Diffring) to charge those with wealth and title as witches so that he can take control of entire fortunes and estates as his own. A seductively tantalizing plot ripe for some bloody torture - if only the film weren’t so damned silly. 

Without the help of Michael Armstrong to keep a sense of pace and urgency, Adrian Hoven is left to manage alone. While Mark of the Devil: Part II aims to recapture the devilish magic of the first film, but instead it’s a bit of a snooze. Part of the issue is some seriously hammy over-acting. A lot of the side characters who are supposed to be menacing come off more as dopey mad minions. Then there’s the acts of torture. If you know the history, these implements were horrifying, but in this film, they look comfortable and relaxing! 

The first true torture sequence comes along, and between the silly performances and the look of the implements, I thought I could use these treatments for my back. Before long, I expected the Monty Python boys to jump in dressed in red robes, declare themselves the Spanish Inquisition, list their three, no, four, FIVE techniques of intimidation, and then offer the girl the comfy chair, and abuse her with the fluffy pillows! While the content is certainly geared for shocks, it’s handled in such a way that nothing is shocking. Depraved, maybe, but on the scale of films of this sort, it’s pretty tepid. Some dramatics give the ending a little flourish and pizzazz, but still, given the rest of the film, it doesn’t hold much weight. 

While Mark of the Devil: Part II is a shadow of the first film, I’ll give credit that it’s a lavish production. The locations are scenic and beautiful. The period-focused production design is excellent, and the costuming is equally impressive. It’s shot beautifully to boot. But instead of being an exercise in depraved horror, it feels more like a comedy with a twisted sense of humor. That could be why few know of or even remember this film. It’s missing the intensity of the first film and the gravitas of performers like Herbert Lom and Udo Kier. 

Vital Disc Stats: The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 
Mark of the Devil: Part Two, or the very succinct German translated title Witches Desecrated and Tortured to Death, is resurrected on home video thanks to Turbine with a three-disc 4K UHD + Blu-ray Mediabook. A Region Free BD60 serves up the film in 4K, a Region Free BD50 for the 1080p, and another Region Free BD50 for the bonus features disc. The discs are housed in a slick Mediabook package, with a 36-page essay booklet featuring photos from the film and production. The essay is in German, but with the Google Translate app, it’s a nice, easy, worthwhile read. The discs get their own trays so no stacking. Each disc loads to an animated main menu with standard navigation options.

Mark of the Devil: Part II might be an imitation of the original, but I’ll be damned to the rack if I didn’t say this wasn’t an incredible 2160p Dolby Vision transfer. For a film that is punching fifty years old, it looks like it was shot yesterday, it’s so crisp and clear! From the opening credits to the snow-covered opening sequence to the big dramatic inferno finale, the film looks stunning. Facial features are beautifully captured, especially Reggie Nalder’s sour puss face as he grins maniacally throughout the feature. The period costuming is ornate and you can see damn near every stitch. The production design is equally ornate and just as striking. Film grain is intact without any sign of manipulation or smoothing, but it’s never noisy or intrusive. The Dolby Vision grade gives the colors and black levels a lovely edge. Bright, bold, and colorful, this really is a beautiful film to look at with rich and striking primaries. Black levels are deep and inky, offering an impressive sense of depth to each frame. A genuinely excellent transfer, front to back.

On the audio side, we have German/English DTS-HD MA 2.0 tracks to choose from. Like the original film, it was produced in German and English, so both tracks are technically correct but they give a little different experience. Part of why I thought the film felt a bit silly was the English dubbing; some of the voice acting selections just amplify the already semi-campy nature of the acting. In German, with the actors’ natural voices, there’s a little more menace behind the words - but not enough to recover the film itself fully. Both options are clean and clear without issue. Sound effects are well-appointed, and the score is a nice accompaniment to the film. 

In addition to the excellent 36-page booklet essay by Andreas Ehrenreich, Turbine has stuffed this release of Mark of the Devil: Part II with some impressive extras. Heading the pack is a magnificent documentary about the location Mauterndorf and the filming of both films as well as the legacy of the region in the regal life witch hunts. In 93 minutes, a lot of interesting material is covered. The next segment is a program dedicated to the dark history of the region. It’s probably best described as an Austrian version of Ghost Hunters digging into the Moosham Castle and all of the horrors and secrets within. Very entertaining stuff and a nice accent piece to the film. Next we have an interview with Percy Hoven, who pulls out some fun memories of making the films as a child. 

4K UHD Disc

• Alternate Opening Credits English (UHD 2:34)
• Alternate Opening Credits German (UHD 1:58)

Blu-ray Disc 

• Alternate Opening Credits English (HD 2:34)
• Alternate Opening Credits German (HD 1:58)

Bonus Blu-ray

• Witch Hunt in Mauterndorf (HD 1:33:45)
• Mysterious Austria (HD 47:21)
• The Witches and the Boy (HD 25:20)
• Location Tour (HD 16:45)

Witch films are something of a bizarre horror offshoot. They tended to go only one of two directions: either there was a witch in the story and it was pure evil and needed to be killed in the most heinous way possible, or there wasn’t, and the witch hunters were the true evildoers. Historically speaking, the latter option was the more accurate representation. It’s a sad legacy in history, but it made for some pretty ghastly and intense films. Mark of the Devil is a highlight of the genre, often horrifying and still shocking to this day. Mark of the Devil: Part II - not so much. This sequel feels like a cash-in effort. The idea behind the incidents depicted is certainly horrifying, but the execution (no pun intended) left a lot to be desired. Perhaps it's the over-the-top performances, perhaps the camera work, perhaps the gore effects, but for depictions of torture and horrifying pain, it’s all too silly. Maybe it’s my hardened sensibilities from better, more horrifying films in this odd subgenre, but this sequel doesn’t elicit the same squirming squeamish response of the original. But it makes for one hell of a 4K UHD release! Thanks to Turbine, we can now enjoy a drop-dead gorgeous Dolby Vision transfer that is almost shockingly stunning to look at. Both German and English audio are available with subtitles, and this set comes with a heap of excellent in-depth documentaries and other fun extras. Not a film for everyone, it really caters to a niche audience, but those folks will want to add this to the collection - For Fans Only

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