Caltiki The Immortal Monster
Starring: John Merivale, Didi Sullivan, Giacomo Rossi Stuart
Directed: Riccardo Freda, Robert Hamton
Studio: Arrow Video
Format: Blu-Ray
Disc Release Date: April 25, 2017
About:
Arrow Video presents a collaboration between two giants of Italian cult cinema Riccardo Freda (The Vampires, The Horrible Dr Hichcock) and Mario Bava (5 Dolls for an August Moon, Blood and Black Lace)!
A team of archaeologists led by Dr John Fielding (John Merivale, Circus of Horrors) descends on the ruins of an ancient Mayan city to investigate the mysterious disappearance of its inhabitants. However, the luckless explorers get more than they bargained for when their investigation of a sacrificial pool awakens the monster that dwells beneath its waters the fearsome and malevolent god Caltiki.
Though Riccardo Freda received sole directing credit, a significant portion of the film was in fact the work of Mario Bava, who also served as its cinematographer and was responsible its striking special effects. Drawing on a diverse array of influences, from The Quatermass Experiment to the works of HP Lovecraft, Caltiki the Immortal Monster is a unique and unforgettable sci-fi chiller which showcases these two legendary filmmakers at their most inventive. Presented here for the first time in a newly restored high definition transfer, Caltiki shines and terrifies! like never before.
Review:
Caltiki The Immortal Monster is a Syfy Creature feature that has its feel of the Blob. This Blob Like Creature is as old as the earth and has been found in a remote location while a few guys were looking for treasure. One Guy gets his arm melted off by this Blob. The scientists in the group takes a portion of this Blob creature to study it but then it all hell breaks loose. Are guy who got his arm melted off starts going crazy and killing people and on the other side the Creature starts growing and splitting off to make even more creatures. The creature is so bib it takes over a house and the army is called to help.
The story is small and not much of a plot but that doesn’t hurt the film much. The film is just a Good fun watch if your into creature films that have good visual effects and some gore. Acting was good and the guy who goes crazy reminds me of Willem Dafoe. The film is low-budget but it still looks good even with its miniature set pieces and toy tanks. Now the film could use some work with Character building. The hero of the film is kind of weak as we have no build up.
Overall the film may not be perfect but it’s still a fun watch. Low budget, short run time and its cool looking effects along with its gore the film is willing to show. It has its value and its worthy of being watched. I Say give this a shot. On top of that the Blu-Ray from Arrow looks great like it’s the first time viewing with no distortions or film marks. Its Sharp
With that said I give this film a 3.5 out of 5. Some build up o of characters to help us feel emotional attachment would make the film better even with a small plot.
Extras:
- Brand new 2K restoration of the film from the original camera negative
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentations
- Original mono Italian and English soundtracks (lossless on the Blu-ray Disc)
- Newly translated English subtitles for the Italian soundtrack
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the English soundtrack
- New audio commentary by Tim Lucas, author of Mario Bava: All the Colors of the Dark
- New audio commentary by Troy Howarth, author of The Haunted World of Mario Bava and So Deadly, So Perverse: 50 Years of Italian Giallo Films
- From Quatermass to Caltiki, a new discussion with author and critic Kim Newman on the influence of classic monster movies on Caltiki
- Riccardo Freda, Forgotten Master, an archival interview with critic Stefano Della Casa
- The Genesis of Caltiki, an archival interview with filmmaker Luigi Cozzi
- Archival introduction to the film by Stefano Della Casa
- Alternate opening titles for the US version
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Graham Humphreys
FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector s booklet featuring new writing by Kat Ellinger and Roberto Curti