Sunday, January 15, 2017

CALTIKI, THE IMMORTAL MONSTER (1959) Coming to Blu-Ray!


For years I have longed for a good video release of this little gem and now it appears that my begging and crying has finally paid off! 

NEW UK/US TITLE: Caltiki the Immortal Monster (Dual Format Blu-ray & DVD)
A unique and unforgettable sci-fi chiller which showcases these two legendary filmmakers at their most inventive

North American pre-orders links should be live soon!
Release Dates: 10/11 April
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.
SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS:
• 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



3 comments:

Unknown said...

I know! I showed my wife all of the Arrow releases she will watching with me once I buy them. Caltiki, Django Prepare a Coffin, Red Queen Kills Seven Times,and City of the Dead.

Amazon Prime has been putting on some new releases. I watched Microwave Massacre( pretty lame), The Mutilator( amateurish on every level), Malatesa's Carnival of Blood( 70's acid horror film, really not my thing), The Premonition( I like Richard Lynch and the idea was interesting, but it didn't work for me), and The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave( kinky fun giallo). Have you seen any of those and your thoughts?

Rod Barnett said...

I've never seen Microwave Massacre or The Mutilator but agree with you about Malatesa's Carnival of Blood, The Premonition, and The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave. I've seen a lot of people praise The Premonition online but other than Lynch it's pretty dull.

Unknown said...

In Microwave Massacre you get to watch Frosty the Snowman kill people, make bad puns, and eat body parts with his co workers. The opening is fine because of... yeah watch the opening. I've heard good things about the Mutilato. People claimed it to be a lost classic. The acting was pathetic. I actually enjoyed the lead as a werewolf in Deadtime Stories. The Gore effects were okay, but were spaced waay out. The directing was bland. It's mostly boring, I fell asleep. I don't even think there were boobs in the damn thing.