DVD release?

So far the only legit release comes on the form of a region free Itallian import DVD, it is PAL formatted but is about $20 from sites like DiabolikDVD and Xploited Cinema (assuming everybody is in the US?) It is widescreen, but not by much, at about 1.55:1 or so and the english track is in mono, the Itallian tracks are listed as dolby digital and DTS but the sound seems to merely be spread across the channels. The transfer is just a little bit better than I remember the video transfer being back when it was released on Republic Video under the title The Devil's Daughter (it's always seemed to look terrible on video, though I don't know if it was shot on 16mm or 35). I have seen region free NTSC versions for sale on ebay, but I'm sure that those are just DVD-r ported-over transfers of the import disc, so buyer beware.

I'll have to watch it again, but the only song reference that I remember is Thomas Arana's character quoting one line of Sympathy for the Devil in the opening hippy commune scene, and that would hardly seem to cause a rights issue. I don't recall any Neil Young songs or even references in the film (they may have been removed from the soundtrack for the import release). I'm not sure if the Republic Pictures release had any songs on the soundtrack or not as I haven't seen that since it was relased back in the early ninties and I sadly don't own either the tape or Laserdisc version to compare. I guess we just have to barrage Anchor Bay or Blue Underground with requests to reissue it.

Also, does anyone know if the original version of the script is available anywhere? Apparently The Sect startrd out life as a script written by Soavi called The Well and it was set in Ireland with much more emphasis on Celtic myths (though there is still much in the way of Celtic symbolism in the film). I would love to read that version and it would make a good future DVD extra.

Sounds like a good night, alright! Yes, there's a PAL version out there, I assume the quality is pretty good. It wouldn't surprise me if Blue Underground got their hands on this one eventually, the Stones song could make it expensive, but there is a good demand for the movie to be available. A song by America--'Horse With No Name'--probably wouldn't be that expensive, I assume there are only excerpts throughout the movie of both songs. Blame Argento on that count, it was his idea to have the songs in the movie, but the mad-dash to squeeze folks for royalties for the tiniest use hadn't fully kicked-in during 1991, it was just beginning. See how it stunts culture?