Tombs of the Blind Dead (aka Noche del Terror Ciego)

Amando de Ossorio, 1971.

Virginia argues with her boyfriend and best-friend whilst on holiday in the Portuguese countryside and angrily storms off to an ancient, deserted monastery. Unbeknownst to her this is the burial site of 13th century Templar knights, who engaged in blood sacrifice. The knights were executed and their eyes pecked out by crows, and Virginia’s presence awakens the blind dead with a thirst for fresh victims. Though certainly a B-movie the scenes of the undead raising from the grave and galloping in the night are excellent and creepily filmed in slow-motion. The Anchor-Bay dvd also carries a hilarious extra showing how promoters tenuously attempted to cash-in on recent success of “Plant of the Apes” with a hastily prepared opening spiel.