The Diabolical Dr Z (Limited Edition) [Blu-ray] [UK]

Release Date: 20/10/2025

A Spanish-French co-production directed by the inimitable Jesús "Jess" Franco (Count Dracula) from a screenplay by Jean-Claude Carrière (The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie), The Diabolical Dr Z – also known by its original Spanish title Miss Meurte – was released at the height of the gothic horror boom that swept Europe during the 1960s and followed Franco's earlier gothic chillers The Awful Dr Orloff, The Sadistic Baron von Klaus and Dr Orloff's Monster.

Before his untimely death, mad scientist Dr Zimmer (Antonio Jiménez Escribano) created a device that would allow him to control human minds. In the aftermath of his passing, his daughter Irma Zimmer (Mabel Karr) takes it upon herself to continue his work – and seek revenge on his behalf. To punish those who discredited and disgraced the late Dr Zimmer, she uses his invention to possess nightclub performer Miss Meurte (Estella Blain), who lures her victims to their deaths at the hands of her razor-sharp, poisoned nails…

An early film by a titan of cult cinema who would continue making films until his death in 2013, The Diabolical Dr Z is both an atmospheric and accomplished contribution to the European gothic horror cycle of the 1960s and a forerunner to the more outrageous exploitation films that would later catapult Franco to infamy. Available for the first time ever in the UK, Eureka Classics is proud to present the film on Blu-ray in the UK.

Special Features and Technical Specs:

• NEW 2K RESTORATION OF THE FILM BY GAUMONT
• Optional English subtitles, newly revised for this release
• Audio commentary by genre film expert and Video Watchdog founder Tim Lucas
• Death on the Continent – a new discussion of European gothic horror in the 1960s with Xavier Aldana Reyes, author of Spanish Gothic
• Awful, Diabolical, Sadistic – new video essay by film historian Samm Deighan on mad science in gothic horror from Mary Shelley to Jess Franco
• Archival interview with screenwriter Jean-Claude Carrière
• Archival interview with film historian Lucas Balbo
• Archival interview with Stéphane du Mesnildot, journalist and author of Jess Franco: Énergies du Fantasme
• Original theatrical trailer
• Limited edition O-card slipcase featuring new artwork by Poochamin
• Limited edition booklet featuring new writing on The Diabolical Dr Z and its director by Antonio Lázaro-Reboll, co-editor of The Films of Jess Franco