Bloody Pit of Rod

Sunday, July 19, 2026

Upcoming Release - THE SINFUL NUNS OF SAINT VALENTINE - 4K UHD LE

I'm pretty bad about letting blog readers know when I'm part of a new physical media release. Sorry about that! With this one Adrian Smith and I join forces again to inform and entertain (?) on another commentary track although neither of us are Catholic. It will be available both in 4K and Blu-Ray formats so make your plans now.

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(Sergio Grieco, 1974, 94 mins)

Release date: 19 October 2026

Limited Edition 4K UHD (World premiere)

Italian genre stalwart Sergio Grieco (Mad Dog Killer) directs Françoise Prévost (Paris Belongs to Us), Jenny Tamburi (The Suspicious Death of a Minor), and Paolo Malco (The New York Ripper) in the ‘nunsploitation’ classic The Sinful Nuns of Saint Valentine (Le scomunicate di S. Valentino).

In sixteenth-century Spain, Lucita (Tamburi) is forced into a convent by her family to separate her from her lover, Estaban (Malco). Infiltrating the convent, Esteban uncovers the depraved regime of the abbess (Prévost), placing his beloved Lucita in the hands of the Inquisitor (Corrado Gaipa, The Godfather).

Freely adapted from the writings of Victor Hugo, The Sinful Nuns of Saint Valentine blends eroticism and horror with a scathing critique of religious hypocrisy.

INDICATOR LIMITED EDITION 4K UHD SPECIAL FEATURES

Brand-new 4K HDR restoration by Powerhouse Films

4K (2160p) UHD presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)

Original Italian mono soundtrack

Audio commentary with critics Rod Barnett and Adrian Smith (2026).

The Genetics of Celluloid (2026, 25 mins): David Grieco, the son of The Sinful Nuns of Saint Valentine director Sergio Grieco, speaks about his father’s time in the Italian film industry, as well as his own work as a director.

Nuns Upon a Time... in Italy (2026, 49 mins): far-reaching documentary exploring the ‘nunsploitation’ subgenre with contributions from Killer Nun director Giulio Berruti, The Other Hell director Claudio Fragasso, actors Renato Rossini, Martine Brochard, Eleonora Giorgi, and Zora Kerowa, and film historians Corrado Columbo and Eugenio Ercolani.

New and improved English translation subtitles

Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Miranda Corcoran, an archival article on the ‘nunsploitation’ subgenre, archival interviews with actor Jennifer Tamburi, and film credits.

World premiere on 4K UHD

Limited edition of 6,000 numbered units (4,000 UHDs and 2,000 Blu-rays) for the UK and US

All features subject to change.

#PHILE426U

BBFC cert: 18

REGION FREE

EAN: 5060697923070

Wednesday, July 15, 2026

The Bloody Pit #234 - ZARDOZ (1974)

We finally get to 1974 science fiction film written, produced, and directed by John Boorman – ZARDOZ! I’ve been putting off podcasting about this one for years because I wanted to take the time to do it right. When it was released the general reception of the film was overwhelmingly negative with critics claiming it to be deeply confusing and silly. But in the ensuing decades it has undergone a major reappraisal to become a beloved cult classic. Critics and audiences have always been sharply divided between viewing it as a profound, avant-garde masterpiece or an incredibly pretentious, muddled mess. What do we think of this ambitious work? Oh, there are so many thoughts!

Randy Fox joins me to dig deeply into the layers of subtle and very unsubtly meanings floating around in ZARDOZ. Some areas of conversation prove to be shallow (Sean Connery’s costume) but others show that the film is capable of creating discussions that pose serious questions about the human condition and the societies we build. Certainly, Boorman saw the divide between rich and poor with clear eyes although his solutions seem fairly murky. As you might expect the film is shot-through with ideas and situations that seem possible only in the 1970’s with the hippie overhang of the 60’s being slowly crushed by the inevitable conservative snap-back. But time has shown that the universal concepts the film plays with linger long after the film ends. Packed with images no one had ever conceived before or since, the film must be experienced at least once to determine if it will resonate with your mind. And I need to stop searching for my own private Vortex – with or without Charlotte Rampling! Although I could use a giant floating head for my work commute.

We would love to hear your Second Level thoughts on ZARDOZ or any other film we’ve covered on the show. The address to write is thebloodypit@gmail.com and we’re open 24/7/365. Join us in the mirror maze!