Terror in the Fog: The Wallace Krimi at CCC (Germany, 1963-1964, Eureka! The Masters of Cinema Series, 4 Blu-rays, NR, 546 min.). In the 1960s, a cycle of crime films – or Krimis in German – became hugely popular with West German audiences. Adapted from works by the British crime writer Edgar Wallace and his son Bryan Edgar Wallace, or at least attributed in the case of Bryan when based on original screenplays by others, the black-and-white films combined the traditional murder mystery with horror as they depicted enigmatic killers stalking their victims through foggy English landscapes – from the streets of London to isolated rural mansions.

The Edgar Wallace-based crime films produced by West Germany’s Rialto Films between 1959 and 1972 formed their own subgenre, as Krimis, an abbreviation for the German term Krimiinalfilm. The films in this limited-edition of 2,000 copies set were made in a similar style by West Germans Artur Brauner and Kurt Ulrich at CCC Filmkunst. There were 39 West German movies based on works by Edgar Wallace from 1959 to 1972. The CCC stories were re-written as they were adapted into movies, but were still promoted as Bryan Edgar Wallace movies in the hope that his name would attract a large audience. There were eight of these in all, while CCC’s first Krimi was based on an Edgar Wallace book.

That first film was “The Curse of the Yellow Snake” (1963, 97 min., 2.25 stars). During the opening credits, two robbers kill a Chinese man after stealing a snake artifact. However, their escape is interrupted by Cliff Lynn (Joachim Fuchsberger of “The Face of Fu Manchu,” “The Zombie Walks”), who recovers the snake. The snake had been in the possession of Joe Bray (Fritz Tillmann of “The Plot to Assassinate Hitler”). Lynn has been raised as a son by Bray, who also has a real son in Fing-su, a half-breed who also is known as Graham St. Clay (played by Pinkas Braun).

The film mainly deals with Fing-su’s efforts to obtain the snake for a ceremony that supposedly will unleash power, as he is part of an underground movement to increase China’s power and world standing. Living in London, he is running the secret group from his vast underground lair and is gathering guns to smuggle to Hong Kong for an insurrection.

Caught between the two half-brothers is Stephan Narth’s (Werner Peters of “Battle of the Bulge,” “The 1,000 Eyes of Dr. Mabuse”) foundling niece Joan Bray (Brigitte Grothum). Cliff initially was supposed to marry Narth’s daughter Mabel, but she said no. Narth is in debt and knows a marriage to Cliff would mean inheriting part of Bray’s estate. Fing-su buys up Narth’s debts to force his own marriage to Joan.

The film, the first Krimi directed by Franz Joseph Gottlieb, is more confusing than exciting. It comes with audio commentary by Kim Newman and Barry Forshaw. As with all the films, there is an introduction by Video Watchdog founder Tim Lucas (12:26).

Also on disc one is “The Strangler of Blackmoor Castle” (1963, 87 min., 3 stars). In this film, which also features an electronic score by Oskar Sala as did “Yellow Snake,” Lucius Clark (Rudolf Fernau of “The Invisible Dr. Mabuse,” this set’s “The Mad Executioners”) announces he is to be knighted by the British Queen. He rents Blackmoor Castle, which soon is the location of a series of murders in which the victims are strangled and then have an “M” marked on their foreheads, before they are usually decapitated.

The groundskeeper Tom is the first victim, four more follow. The killer is notable for only having nine fingers, as evidenced by the markings on the victims’ necks. Meanwhile, Clark is accused of killing Charles Manning and stealing many diamonds. Cleverly, the diamonds are hidden in a vault, whose access is by walking through the castle’s basement furnace in an asbestos suit. The castle also has lots of underground passages – which inevitably collapse – including a former torture chamber.

Blackmoor Castle is actually owner by Lord Blackmoor (Hans Nielsen, with a very weird mustache and wearing a kilt), who rents out the main house and lives in the tower. Claridge Dorsett (Karin Dor of “You Only Live Twice,” “Topaz”) is Clark’s niece and a reporter. The two investigating policemen are Mitchell (Peter Nestler) and Watson (Gerhard Hartig). Other key roles are Anthony the butler (Dieter Eppler) and Philip, aka “Phips” (Stephan Schwartz), the young boy who is always digging for the underground tunnels.

The characters could have been stronger, but there is some decent action and mystery in the film, directed by Harald Reini. Extras are Lucas’ introduction (10:05) and audio commentary by Kevin Lyons and Jonathan Rigby.

Disc two starts with “The Mad Executioners,” aka “The Executioner of London” (1963, 93 min., 3.25 stars). The film, directed by Edwin Zbonek, tells two parallel stories. In the one that fills most of the film, a group of five hooded and robed men capture murderers who have escaped justice, try them and then hang them after sentencing. Assigned to solve that case is Inspector John Hillier (Hansjörg Felmy of “Torn Curtain,” “The Buddenbrooks”), who would rather solve the case of a serial rapist/killer, as his sister was one of the young female victims.

An example of one of the men sentenced to death by the executioners is a shoddy contractor, whose homes built in Italy collapsed, killing 18. Another shot his brother and then sold him as a fake Egyptian mummy (!), while claiming he died in a skiing accident. Additionally, the rope they use for hanging is one repeatedly stolen from the police museum and even, one time, from a safe in the chief’s office.

Towards the end, Hillier’s girlfriend Ann Barry (Maria Perschy of “Man’s Favorite Sport”) volunteers to be a target for the killer.

The film has a large amount of cleverness in its details. The extras are Lucas’ introduction (11:12) and audio commentary by Lyons and Rigby.

The second film on disc two is a bonus film, “The Phantom of Soho” (1964, 96 min., 3 stars, standard definition). The film, directed by Gottlieb, opens with a man walking down a street past several hookers, before he is stabbed to death. The film also has a sexy title song. We then meet Clarinda Smith (Barbara Rutting of “Operation Crossbow”), who is writing a new crime book. She often gets police procedure details from her guest, Sir Philip (Hans Shönker of “Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace”), chief of Scotland Yard.

Since a knife was involved, Jussuf (Kurt Jaggberg), the knife thrower at the Zanzibar Club, becomes a suspect … until he is murdered during his act, an act that is quite dizzying as the girl on the board is twirled around quite fast and then the camera turns on the thrower, still spinning quickly. The killer wears gold gloves.

Also involved in the central mystery is Capt. Muggins (Hans W. Hamacher), who supposedly had drowned along with most of the passengers of a private yacht that sank in the Mediterranean. He is now seeking money from other survivors.

Extras include Lucas’ introduction (8:45); audio commentary by Newman and Forshaw; and an interview with producer Brauner’s daughter, Alice Brauner (9:58).

Disc three contains “The Monster of London City” (1964, 90 min., 3 stars), which is again set in Soho, including the Zanzibar Club. The film has a jazzy score and a killer who preys on hookers, making it a modern take on Jack the Ripper. While the killer is operating in the streets, actor Richard Sand (Hansjörg Felmy of “Torn Curtain,” “The Buddenbrooks”) is playing Jack the Ripper nightly in a stage play, making him a suspect to the police.

Sand is dating Ann Morlay (Marianne Koch of “A Fistful of Dollars”), whose uncle, Sir George Edwards (Fritz Tillmann of “King in Shadow”), is trying to have Parliament vote to censor theaters and thus close the Ripper play down. There are six Ripper kills in the film, which was directed by Edwin Zbonek.

Extras include Lucas’ introduction (7:44); audio commentary by Newman and Stephen Jones; and a video essay by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas on how the Krimis predated slasher films (18:24).

Disc four completes the set with “The Racetrack Murders,” aka “The 7th Victim” (1964, 93 min., 2.75 stars), whose plot is reminiscent of an Agatha Christie mystery. Amusingly, the favored racehorse is named Satan. Early on, a snake is thrown near the horse, causing it to bolt and throw the jockey, who dies. The next victim, strangely, is a young horn player at the party at the estate of Lord John Mant (Walter Rilla of “The Face of Fu Manchu,” “The Scarlet Pimpernel”), Satan’s owner.

Looking for money, club owner Eduardo Ranova (Wolfgang Lukschy of “A Fistful of Dollars,” “The Zurich Engagement”) bribes veterinarian Howard Trent (Harry Riebauer of “The Great Escape,” this set’s “The Strangler of Blackmoor Castle”) to drug Satan, as he will lose money if the horse wins. Trent is hoping to marry Avril Mant (Ann Smyrner of “Holiday in St. Tropez”).

New arrivals at the Mant estate are artist Peter Brooks (Hansjörg Felmy of this set’s “The Monster of London City”) and his diet nurse Molly Dobson (Trude Herr of TV’s “Frankenstein’s Mother-in-Law”). Brooks actually is an insurance investigator. Gottlieb again directs.

Extras include Lucas’ introduction (7:47); audio commentary by Lyons and Rigby; and a feature-length conversation between Lucas and Stephen Jones on the whole set as the film plays (93 min.). Additionally, the set comes with a 60-page book with an introduction by film writer Howard Hughes, a new essay on the Wallaces by crime fiction expert Barry Forshaw and new notes of each film by Holger. Four of the films have optional English dubs. Grade: extras 4 stars

Rating guide: 5 stars = classic; 4 stars = excellent; 3 stars = good; 2 stars = fair; dog = skip it

Lady of the Law, aka Nu bu kuai (Hong Kong, 1975, 88 Films, Blu-ray, NR, 90 min.). This Shaw Brothers film stars Shih Szu (“The Criminals,” “The Black Tavern,” “Marco Polo”) as swordswoman Leng Rushuang, known as the Lady of the Law.

The film starts 10 years in the past, as Chief Jiao Tianhao (Tung Lam) of a secure delivery service is attacked and killed so that the business could be taken over by Wancheng Escort Service. Jiao’s young son Yaner would have been killed too, but is saved by Madam White Brows (Ou-Yang Sha-Fei), who is raising the young Rushuang.

In the present, Chief Chen’s son (Dean Shek of “Drunken Master”) is a serial rapist and killer, but he and his father blame the deeds on grown-up Yaner (Lo Lieh of “Dragons Forever”), as they place the body of the latest victim in Yaner’s room. Chief Chen had agreed to raise Yaner, but only treated him as a servant. Yaner had been secretly learning martial arts from a handbook on the Flaming Daggers technique given to him by his dying father and by watching Chief Chen’s men being trained.

As his jailers try to kill him, Yaner escapes, although he is then captured by a tribe of women in Blossoms Valley who kill men. It is there that Leng catches up to Yaner, whom she had been tracking after his escape. However, the deeper she digs, the more she realizes the truth is far from clean-cut. There is a push and pull between Leng and Yaner that is a compelling dynamic. This comes to a head during a showdown that is an eye-catching sequence, physically and emotionally as Leng has to battle 100 women warriors in the Blossoms Valley. Yaner is ultimately cleared by a blind witness who can identify the killer’s voice.

The film uses a lot of wire work, with people often jumping up onto roofs or the top of walls. Leng even has a sword battle, including jumps, while on a high rope between two buildings during the mass fight that concludes the film.

This is the film’s Blu-ray premiere. Extras include audio commentary by David West; a stills gallery (3:41); and a double-sided foldout poster. Grade: film 3.5 stars; extras 2.5 stars

Macbeth (United Kingdon, 2018, Darkside Releasing, Blu-ray, NR, 121 min.). This adventuresome reworking of William Shakespeare’s classic play about Scottish regicide and a royal’s descent into madness is notable for its production design, with the sets stacked as if positioned on a multi-level parking garage or a concrete dollhouse, with the forward walls cut away. There also is minimal use of lighting.

Mark Rowley (TV’s “The Last Kingdom”) is not the most commanding Macbeth, but Akiya Henry (TV’s “Captain Mack”) is a chilling and bold Lady Macbeth, clearly the star of the film. The whole film feels as if it is set in limbo between dark fantasy and a modern aesthetic of medieval times.

In the familiar play, a battle between two Scottish factions results in victory for King Duncan. Macbeth and Banquo (Al Weaver) are good friends who fight for the monarch, survive the slaughter and witness a witch’s prophecy that Macbeth will become king and Thane of Cawdor, while Banquo’s offspring will be kings. Returning to Court, Macbeth – already Thane of Glamis – is indeed made Thane of Cawdor, the original Thane still being alive but about to be executed for treason.

Macbeth’s wife encourages him to kill King Duncan (“look like an innocent flower but be the serpent under it,” she wheedles), but soon the toll is rising, including friends and foes.

Regretfully, there are no subtitles, as some of the accents are a bit too thick. There is nudity in one sex scene and Rowley also has a couple of shirtless scenes. Grade: film 2.5 stars

Happy Valley (United Kingdom, 2014, BBC, 2 DVDs, NR, 352 min.). This is the first of three seasons, the others airing in 2016 and 2023. Sarah Lancashire (TV’s “Coronation Street”) stars in this six-episode compelling crime thriller as a Police Sgt. Catherine Cawood in a small Yorkshire town where drunkards, drug addicts and teenage pregnancies are a way of life.

Cawood’s world is shaken when the man she thinks is responsible for her daughter's death -- Tommy Lee Royce (James Norton of TV’s “Grantchester”) -- is released from prison. Meanwhile, accountant Kevin Weatherill (Steve Pemberton), desperate to send his daughters to private school, asks his boss for a pay rise. When he refuses, a plan to hold his daughter for ransom quickly spirals out of control when Tommy Lee gets involved. Grade: season 3.75 stars

Lioness: Season Two (Paramount, 2 DVDs, NR, 301 min.). In the eight-episode second season, the CIA’s fight against terror moves closer to home. Joe (Zoe Saldana of “Avatar,” “Guardians of the Galaxy”), Kaitlyn Meade (Nicole Kidman of “Dogville,” “Moulin Rouge!”) and Byron Westfield (Michael Kelly of “Dawn of the Dead,” “Man of Steel”) enlist a new Lioness operative to infiltrate a previously unknown threat. As pressure mounts on all sides, Joe is forced to confront the personal sacrifices she has made as leader of the Lioness program.

Episodes involve a high-ranking government official being kidnapped by a cartel; a trip to Iraq to pick up the new Lioness agent, Capt. Josie Carrillo (Genesis Rodriguez of TV’s “The Umbrella Academy”); and Operation Sky Hawk is launched. Grade: season 3.75 stars