Caltiki, the Immortal Monster – Arrow Video (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1959
Directors: Riccardo Freda, Mario Bava
Writer: Filippo Sanjust
Cast: John Merivale, Didi Sullivan, Gérard Herter, Giacomo Rossi Stuart, Vittorio André, Daniele Vargas, Arturo Dominici, Nerio Bernardi

Release Date: April 10th, 2017 (UK), April 25th, 2017 (USA)
Approximate running time: 76 Minutes 25 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 15 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono Italian, LPCM Mono English
Subtitles: English, English SDH
Region Coding: Region A,B/Region 1,2 NTSC
Retail Price: £24.99 (UK)/$39.95 (USA)

"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." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "All restoration work was carried out at L'Immagine Ritrovata, Bologna. As the original camera negative for this film has been lost, an original 35mm combined dupe negative was deemed to be the best known element in existence. The material was scanned in 2K resolution on a pin-registered Arriscan with a wetgate and was graded on Digital Vision's Nucoda Film Master.

Thousands of instances of dirt, debris and scratches were removed through a combination of digital restoration tools. Overall image stability and instances of density fluctuation were also improved."

Caltiki, the Immortal Monster comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 45 GB

Feature: 22.4 GB (1.66:1 aspect ratio), 15.8 GB (1.33:1 aspect ratio)

Considering the limitations of the source used for this transfer, the result is a transfer that far exceeds expectations. That said, details look crisp and the contrast and black levels remain solid throughout.

Audio: 4/5 (LPCM Mono Italian), 3.5/5 (LPCM Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options, a LPCM mono mix in Italian with removable English subtitles and a LPCM mono mix in English with removable English SDH. There is a disclaimer that appears before the film when choosing the English audio option, and it details why an English language track had to be made from several sources due to the original English language master no longer existing. Fortunately, the English audio track created for this release has no issues with distortion or background. And the dialog comes through clearly; everything sounds balanced and robust when it needs to. The Italian audio mix is in great shape; the dialog is clear and everything sounds balanced and robust when it needs to.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an archival introduction by film critic Stefano Della Casa (21 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), U.S. theatrical trailer (2 minutes 2 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an alternate opening titles for the US version (2 minutes 24 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an archival interview with filmmaker Luigi Cozzi titled The Genesis of Caltiki (21 minutes 33 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with English subtitles), an archival interview with Stefano Della Casa titled Riccardo Freda, Forgotten Master (19 minutes 5 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with English subtitles), an interview with author and film critic Kim Newman titled From Quatermass to Caltiki (18 minutes 13 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio audio commentary with Tim Lucas, author of Mario Bava – All the Colors of the Dark and an audio commentary with Troy Howarth author of The Haunted World of Mario Bava.

Other extras include an alternate presentation for Caltiki, the Immortal Monster, that presents the film in its full aperture. How does this version differ from the other versions included as part of this release? This alternate, unmated version presents the film in the 1.33:1 aspect ratio. It should be noted that not all of the footage was shot in the 1.33:1 aspect ratio, and some of the shots are slightly hard-matted in a 1.66:1 aspect ratio.

Rounding out the extras is a reversible cover art, a vintage 54-page French Caltiki photocomic (BD-Rom/DVD-Rom content), and a 30-page booklet with cast and crew information, an essay titled Gothic Monstrosity, Radioactive Terror written by Kat Ellinger, an essay titled Deconstructing Caltiki written by Roberto Curti, an essay titled Caltiki, More or Less written by Tim Lucas, and information about the transfers round out the extras.

Included with this release is a DVD that has the same content as the Blu-ray included as part of this combo release.

Summary:

Italian cinema has had a long history of cannibalizing genres that were popular at the time and the premises of successful films from various countries around the world. And though just about every genre was exploited for all it was worth, for whatever reason, the sci-fi genre was the one genre that didn’t find that same level of success.

The premise of Caltiki, the immortal monster, clearly draws inspiration from The Quatermass Xperiment and The Blob. The premise is well executed, and pacing is never an issue as the narrative moves along quickly. Though there is a predictability to the story at hand, the main attraction is actually the blob-like entity that wreaks havoc. And nowhere is this more evident than when it comes to the superbly realized special effects.

The performances are best described as serviceable. With the most memorable performance being Gérard Herter's (The Big Gundown) in the role of Max Gunther, an archaeologist who becomes deranged after coming into contact with the mysterious blob-like entity. Other notable cast members include Giacomo Rossi Stuart (Kill Baby, Kill) and Daniela Rocca (Divorce Italian Style), in the role of Linda, the love interest of the deranged archeologist.

Visually, the film more resembles a Gothic horror film than a sci-fi film. And the visuals are filled with atmosphere, which does an excellent job of reinforcing the menacing tone of the film. Standout moments visually include the scene where the archaeologist goes looking for their missing college and they discover the blob-like entity. And the scene where the deranged archaeologist is devoured by the blob-like entity?

Caltiki, the Immortal Monster, gets an exceptional release from Arrow Video that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and an abundance of extra content, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Skinny Tiger and Fatty Dragon – Eureka Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1990
Director: Chia-Yung Liu (Lau Kar-wing)
Writer: Kwok Chi Tsang
Cast: Sammo Hung Kam-Bo, Karl Maka, Ming Yan Lung, Wanda Yung, Chia-Yung Liu, Fung Woo, Carrie Ng, Tai-Bo, Kuang Ni, Ching-Ching Ng

Release Date: February 21st, 2022
Approximate Running Time: 104 Minutes 48 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 18 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Cantonese, LPCM Mono English, DTS-HD 5.1 English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: £23.99 (UK)

"Sammo Hung invokes the spirit of Bruce Lee in this high-energy action-tribute, playing a cop obsessed with the physical legacy of “The Little Dragon”.

Teaming up with the infamous “Skinny Tiger” (Karl Maka – the Aces Go Places series), Sammo becomes the larger ‘half’ of a luck-starved, crime fighting duo forced to fight a running battle against a crime syndicate of triad gangsters." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Skinny Tiger and Fatty Dragon comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 42.7 GB

Feature: 32.7 GB

The source used for this transfer looks fantastic. Colors are nicely saturated, the image looks crisp, black levels are strong throughout and there are no issues with compression.

I Am the White Tiger comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 21.7 GB

Feature: 21.6 GB

Audio: 4.5/5 (LPCM Mono Cantonese, LPCM Mono English), 4.25/5 (DTS-HD 5.1 English)

This release comes with three audio options: a LPCM mono mix in Cantonese, a LPCM mono mix in English, and a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English. All three audio mixes are in great shape. The two mono mixes are comparable, and the 5.1 mix does a good job of expanding the mono source. Dialog always comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and fight sequences sound robust. Included with this release are removable English subtitles for the Cantonese language track and a second removable English subtitle tack for a song that’s in Cantonese on the English language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include International theatrical trailer (5 minutes 32 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), an extended version of the climactic fight sequence from the Taiwanese version of the film (8 minutes 24 seconds, LPCM mono Cantonese, no subtitles), an archival interview with actor, stuntman, and action choreographer Ridley Tsui (19 minutes 18 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with director Lau Kar-wing (25 minutes 47 seconds, LPCM stereo Chinese with non-removable English subtitles), an audio interview with stuntman and martial artist Mark Houghton (6 minutes 35 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) and martial artist/actor Robert “Bobby” Samuels, an audio commentary with action cinema experts Mike Leeder & Arne Venema, a limited-edition O-card slipcase (3000 copies) and a limited-edition booklet [3000 copies] with cast & crew information, an essay written by James Oliver and information about the transfer titled Notes on Viewing.

Included with this release is a limited edition (3000 copies) Blu-ray disc that contains the documentary I Am the White Tiger (79 minutes 47 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles).

Summary:

A buddy cop movie that pairs Sammo Hung Kam-Bo (The Magnificent Butcher) in the role of a detective named Fatty Dragon and Karl Maka (Aces Goes Places) in the role of a detective named Baldy (Skinny Tiger). These two characters often push the boundaries when it comes to following rules by roughing up suspects and fondling women who they think are men in disguise. Also, they often play the "good cop, bad cop" routine on suspects.

Though comedy played a large role in 1980s martial arts cinema, there are not many 1980’s martial arts films that find the perfect balance between comedy and action set pieces like Skinny Tiger and Fatty Dragon. Also, what makes the humor in Skinny Tiger and Fatty Dragon work so well is that it's not just funny one-liners. With the action sequences featuring most of Skinny Tiger and Fatty Dragon’s funniest moments, notably a scene where Fatty Dragon and Baldy steal a gangster's car, who then pursues them in another car, and during the chase they trash his car.

The two leads, Sammo Hung Kam-Bo and Karl Maka, are the main attractions. They steal every sequence, especially the ones they are in together. Also, their onscreen chemistry is off the charts. Other notable cast members include Carrie Ng (Naked Killer) in the role of a gangster’s girlfriend, and Chia-Yung Liu (Lau Kar-wing) makes an appearance as a villain.

From its opening moments, Skinny Tiger and Fatty Dragon establishes a fast-moving narrative that rarely gives you a moment to catch your breath. When characters are not saying silly things, the spectacular action sequences deliver and then some. Another highlight of the action sequences is Sammo Hung Kam-Bo’s impersonation of Bruce Lee. Ultimately, Skinny Tiger and Fatty Dragon is a highly entertaining martial arts film that fans of 1980’s martial arts comedies are sure to enjoy.

Skinny Tiger and Fatty Dragon gets an excellent release from Eureka Video that comes with a solid audio/video presentation, a bonus documentary, and a wealth of extras. Highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Damnation – Arbelos Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hungary, 1988
Director: Béla Tarr
Writers: László Krasznahorkai, Béla Tarr
Cast: Miklós B. Székely, Vali Kerekes, Gyula Pauer, György Cserhalmi, Hédi Temessy

Release Date: December 14th, 2021
Approximate Running Time: 121 Minutes 16 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Hungarian
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $39.99

"DAMNATION (Kárhozat) chronicles the doomed affair between Bar Titanik regular Karrer (SÁTÁNTANGÓ’s Miklós B. Székely) and the cabaret singer (Vali Kerekes) he pines for while scheming to displace her brutish husband (György Cserhalmi)." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "restored in 4K from the original 35mm camera negative by the Hungarian National Film Institute – Film Archive under the supervision of Béla Tarr."

Damnation comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 39.9 GB

Feature: 31 GB

The source used for this transfer looks flawless. Image clarity, contrast, and black levels are solid throughout, and grain remains intact.

Audio: 5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in Hungarian, and included with this release are removable English subtitles. The audio quality is excellent; the dialog comes through clearly, and the ambient sounds are well-represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include U.S. theatrical trailer (2 minutes 31 seconds, LPCM mono Hungarian with non-removable English subtitles and English titles), archival newsreels from the Oroszlány and Dorog coal mines, The Country is Asking for Coal External (2 minutes 16 seconds, DTS-HD mono Hungarian with removable English subtitles), and Coal Mining in Oroszlany (1 minute 59 seconds, DTS-HD mono Hungarian with removable English subtitles), an interview with composer Mihály Vig (13 minutes 49 seconds, DTS-HD stereo Hungarian with removable English subtitles), an interview with actor Miklós Székely jr. (11 minutes 47 seconds, DTS-HD stereo Hungarian with removable English subtitles), an interview with director Béla Tarr (10 minutes 27 seconds, DTS-HD stereo Hungarian with removable English subtitles) and a twelve-page booklet with an essay titled Disintegration & Revival: Béla Tarr’s Damnation written by Jay Kuehner and information about the restoration.

Summary:

Though Damnation’s narrative moves at a languid pace, it clocks in at just over two hours. The result is a riveting narrative that never feels overlong. That said, what makes Damnation so powerful is how it allows its characters to take center stage. And nowhere is this clearer than when it comes to intimate moments.

Performance-wise, the two leads deliver extraordinary performances; Miklós B. Székely in the role of a depressed man who’s obsessed with a nightclub singer and Vali Kerekes in the role of the woman he desires. The rest of the cast are very good in their respective roles.

Not to be overlooked when discussing Damnation are its visuals. black and white cinematography that looks striking and slow-moving camera movements, like a backward tracking shot that opens the film. Another strength is how much detail went into the sound design. And though there’s a score, it's sparse yet effective in reinforcing the mood.

Though it's easy to spot moments in any film that appear to be inspired by another film or how directors try to emulate other directors they admire. To do this with Damnation would be doing this film a great disservice since it's a unique cinema experience that is unlike any other film. Also, the way in which Béla Tarr directs Damnation feels free of any influences.

Damnation gets a definitive release from Arbelos Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a wealth of insightful extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Forgotten Gialli: Volume Four (The Sister of Ursula/The Killer is Still Among Us/Arabella Black Angel) – Vinegar Syndrome (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Dates: Italy, 1978 (The Sister of Ursula), Italy, 1986 (The Killer is Still Among Us), Italy, 1989 (Arabella Black Angel)
Directors: Enzo Milioni (The Sister of Ursula), Camillo Teti (The Killer is Still Among Us), Stelvio Massi (Arabella Black Angel)
Cast: Barbara Magnolfi, Stefania D'Amario, Anna Zinnemann, Vanni Materassi, Yvonne Harlow, Marc Porel (The Sister of Ursula), Mariangela D'Abbraccio, Giovanni Visentin, Riccardo Parisio Perrotti, Luigi Mezzanotte, Yvonne D'Abbraccio (The Killer is Still Among Us), Tinì Cansino, Francesco Casale, Valentina Visconti, Carlo Mucari, Renato D'Amore, Giose Davi, David D'Ingeo, Rena Niehaus, Evelyn Stewart (Arabella Black Angel)

Release Date: January 25th, 2022
Approximate Running Times: 95 Minutes 10 Seconds (The Sister of Ursula), 83 Minutes 18 Seconds (The Killer is Still Among Us), 89 Minutes 8 Seconds (Arabella Black Angel)
Aspect Ratios: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (The Killer is Still Among Us), 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (The Sister of Ursula), 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Arabella Black Angel)
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Italian, Dolby Digital Mono English (Arabella Black Angel), DTS-HD Mono Italian (The Sister of Ursula, The Killer is Still Among Us)
Subtitles: English (All Films)
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $79.98

The Sister of Ursula: "Timid and reserved, though mildly psychotic, Ursula and her lusty sister Dagmar, along with Dagmar’s drug dealing friend Filippo, have arrived at a beautiful, seaside hotel in order to locate their estranged mother, to complete their obligations in regards to an inheritance. But shortly after their arrival, they become embroiled in a web of terror as a black clad mystery assailant begins murdering other guests with a most unusual weapon…" - synopsis provided by the distributor

The Killer is Still Among Us: "Christiana is a college student who is studying criminology. After becoming intrigued by a vicious murder and mutilation of a young couple on a secluded lover’s lane, Christiana begins her own investigation into the slayings. As she gathers clues that she hopes might lead to the killer’s identity, she begins to find strange parallels between her unassuming boyfriend. And when the killer strikes again, Christiana becomes increasingly afraid that she is, in fact, living with a depraved sex killer…" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Arabella Black Angel: "Beautiful Arabella is an insatiable nymphomaniac with a crippled writer husband, Francesco, who is unable to pleasure her. Instead, Arabella searches for lovers in elicit dens of debauchery, bedding an endless array of men. However when her husband discovers her having sex with a stranger in their shed, Arabella panics and kills the man, only to discover that her sudden act of violence arouses creative inspiration in her Francesco. Covering up the crime, Francesco asks his wife to further explore her sexual fantasies and report back on her experiences. Unfortunately, Arabella’s lovers are subsequently visited by someone else…a vengeful murderer who violently castrates them…" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5 (The Sister of Ursula), 4.25/5 (The Killer is Still Among Us, Arabella Black Angel)

Here’s the information given about the The Sister of Ursula transfer, “Newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 35mm original camera negative.”

The Sister of Ursula comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 33.9 GB

Feature: 25.8 GB

The source used for this transfer looks very good, and any print debris, which crops up throughout, is minimal. Colors are nicely saturated, image clarity and black levels are strong throughout, and the grain looks organic. That said, when compared to the Severin Films DVD release, this new transfer is a noticeable improvement.

Here’s the information given about the The Killer is Still Among Us transfer, “Newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 35mm original camera negative.”

The Killer is Still Among Us comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 23.1 GB

Feature: 22.4 GB

The source used for this transfer is in great shape. Color saturation, image clarity, and black levels are strong throughout, and the grain looks organic.

Here’s the information given about the Arabella Black Angel transfer, “Newly scanned & restored in 2K from its 35mm original camera negative.”

Arabella Black Angel comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 22.8 GB

Feature: 21.8 GB

Outside a few very minor instances of print debris, the source used for this transfer looks excellent. Colors and flesh tones look correct, the image looks crisp, the black levels are solid, and the grain looks organic.

Audio: 4/5 (DTS-HD Mono Italian tracks), 3.25/5 (Dolby Digital Mono English)

Both The Sisters of Ursula and The Killer is Still Among Us each come with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in Italian, and both films come with removable English subtitles. Both the audio mixes are in very good shape; the dialog comes through clearly and everything sounds balanced. Range-wise, though both audio mixes sound limited at times, the ambient sounds and the scores for each film sound appropriately robust. 

Arabella Black Angel comes with two audio options: a DTS-HD mono mix in Italian and a Dolby Digital mono mix in English. Both audio mixes sound clean, clear, and balanced. The Italian language track sounds noticeably fuller than the English language track. Included with this film are removable English subtitles for the Italian language track and removable English SDH subtitles for the English language track.

Extras:

Extras for The Sister of Ursula include a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 44 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Italian with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with director Enzo Milioni titled  Father of Ursula (30 minutes 43 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles) and an audio commentary with author and film critic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas.

Extras for The Killer is Still Among Us include a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 40 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Italian with removable English subtitles) and an audio commentary with author and film critic Rachael Nisbet.

Extras for Arabella Black Angel include alternate English opening and closing titles (3 minutes 44 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles) and an audio essay by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas (18 minutes 24 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles).

It should be noted that, unlike the other Forgotten Gialli releases, this latest collection does not come with reversible cover art.

Summary:

The Sister of Ursula: By the late 1970’s when The Sister of Ursula was released, the Giallo genre had become a shell of its former self with its many transformations. Giallo films from the 1960s, such as Mario Bava's Blood and Black Lace or Dario Argento's Animal Trilogy from the early 1970s, had more depth and texture than the majority of Giallo films that followed. The genre upped the ante when it came to sex and violence with each film, almost to the point that latter-day Giallo's like The Sister of Ursula get a bad rap for straying far away from the genre's origins. This is not to say that some Giallo's, like Giallo a Venezia, made in the latter part of the 1970’s and beyond, aren’t turkeys.

The Sister of Ursula is the brainchild of writer/director Enzo Milioni, who worked as an assistant director on the Sergio Grieco film Beast with a Gun before making his directorial debut with this film. The Sisters of Ursula is a colorful film that makes strong use of its location, and it also doesn’t hurt that it features one of the genre's most unusual weapons. The story is nothing new and pretty much by the numbers as the victims pile up to an unbelievable ending that trumps everything that comes before it. The film does start to lag about half way through before finishing up strong. One of the film's strongest assets is its throbbing score, which was composed by Mimi Uva.

Outside of actor Marc Porel, the rest of the cast is merely adequate. He gives a solid performance that eerily resembles some demons that he battled in his personal life up until his tragic death. All the actresses are very attractive, and then there is Stefania D'Amario, who looks absolutely stunning. The various murder scenes are not that violent, with more implied and the end result shown later when the police have arrived. The choice of using a large phallus as the killers’ murder weapon is a very clever and inspired decision. Ultimately, The Sister of Ursula is a far cry from classic Dario Argento Giallo, but for those who don't take these films seriously, The Sister of Ursula, despite its flaws, is a delightfully trashy take on the Giallo genre.

The Killer is Still Among Us: When discussing the Giallo genre, one thing you can always count on are stylish murder set pieces. And The Killer is Still Among Us delivers in spades when it comes to its murder set pieces. With its opening sequence, The murder set piece does a superb job of setting the tone. 

Though Giallo killers have used a variety of weapons, most notably knives or other deadly objects, The killer in The Killer is Still Among Us uses a gun as his weapon of choice, which he uses to kill lovers making out in their cars. And after he’s killed them, he then mutilates the female victims' genitals.

One thing about the Giallo genre is that most of its plots are filled with moments that require a leap of faith due to their impossibility. And in the case of The Killer is Still Among Us, it has an all-too-convenient relationship between the protagonist and a forensic pathologist who works at the morgue. Though their initial interaction is a chance encounter due to her inquiring about the murder victims, The evolution of their relationship is not convincing.

The performances range from adequate to good. The strongest performance was Mariangela D'Abbraccio’s portrayal of Christiana Marelli, who’s writing a thesis that’s tied to the recent killings.

The premise is well-executed and the narrative does a good job of balancing exposition and murder set pieces with a very clever open-ended finale. Also, the score at times is reminiscent of Pino Donaggio’s scores from the 1980’s. Ultimately, The Killer is Still Among Us is a very effective Giallo that takes full advantage of its resources.

Arabella Black Angel: By the mid-1980's, the Giallo genre morphed into something that barely resembled the type of Giallo that were inspired by the Giallo directed by Dario Argento in the 1970’s. And though the core elements remain, most notably an unseen killer who often wears black gloves and/or a hat, Tone-wise, it's like night and day when comparing 1970’s Giallo with 1980’s Giallo.

A film like Arabella Black Angel, whose content at times is reminiscent of softcore erotica like The Red Shoes Diaries, is a case in point. From its opening moments, Arabella Black Angel makes it clear that erotica is going to play a significant role in the story at hand. It opens with a wild sequence where the protagonist goes to a sex club at an isolated location where everyone is in various stages of undress or wearing fetish clothing. And this sequence culminates with a police officer who has his way with the protagonist before he lets her evade any charges related to prostitution.

Arabella Black Angel was directed by Stelvio Massi, a filmmaker who’s most known for his contributions to Poliziotteschi cinema. Besides directing, he also worked as a cinematographer. And Arabella Black Angel is a beautifully photographed film that has all the visual flare that's synonymous with the Giallo genre.

The performances are best described as serviceable. with the most memorable being Tin Cansino (Nightmare in Venice) in the role of the protagonist. Psychically, she more than fulfills the role of an object of desire. The most notable cast member is Evelyn Stewart (The Bloodstained Butterfly), in the role of the protagonist's mother-in-law. 

From a production standpoint, there’s not an area where Arabella Black Angel comes up short. The narrative does a great job of building momentum to a very satisfying twist ending. The well-executed murder set pieces have all the elements that one would expect from a Giallo. Ultimately, Arabella Black Angel is a satisfying mix of sleaze and carnage that fans of the Giallo genre should thoroughly enjoy.

Vinegar Syndrome add another exemplary release to their Forgotten Gialli series, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Trauma – Vinegar Syndrome (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy/USA, 1993
Director: Dario Argento
Writers: Franco Ferrini, Gianni Romoli, Dario Argento, T.E.D. Klein, Ruth Jessup, Alister Berry
Cast: Christopher Rydell, Asia Argento, Piper Laurie, Frederic Forrest, Laura Johnson, Dominique Serrand, James Russo, Ira Belgrade, Brad Dourif

Release Date: November 26th, 2021
Approximate Running Time: 109 Minutes 37 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Stereo English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $39.98

"Aura is a young Romanian who, while on the run from her parents, is rescued by journalist and recovering drug addict, David Parsons. After being returned to her home, Aura’s parents are murdered by a vicious serial killer known as The Headhunter, sending Aura back on the run, to David. With no one to turn to for help, the unlikely pair launch their own investigation into the killings, discovering shocking and long hidden revelations that connect the continuing murders ever closer to Aura and a terrifying secret from her past…" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Newly scanned & restored in 4k from its 35mm interpositive."

Trauma comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 46.2 GB

Feature: 30.4 GB

The bulk of the source used for this transfer looks excellent. It should be noted that there are some brief moments that were sourced from an older HD master. That said, this new transfer from Vinegar Syndrome is vastly superior to Anchor Bay’s DVD release. Colors, image clarity, shadow detail, and black levels are solid throughout, and grain looks organic.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD stereo mix in English, and included with this release are removable English subtitles. The audio sounds excellent, the dialog comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include reversible cover art, English language trailer #1 (2 minutes 4 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), English language trailer #2 (1 minute 41 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), Italian language trailer (1 minute 42 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian, no subtitles), video workprint version of Trauma featuring several extended scenes (112 minutes 48 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival electronic press kit (8 minutes 25 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival behind the scenes featurette titled On Set with Tom Savini (8 minutes 2 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), an interview with actress Sharon Barr (5 minutes 53 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), an interview with actor/casting director Ira Belgrade (6 minutes 30 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), an interview with actor James Russo (3 minutes 49 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), an interview with actress Piper Laurie (5 minutes 7 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), an interview with first assistant director Rod Smith (8 minutes 46 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), an interview with cinematographer Raffaele Mertes titled When the Lightning Strikes (34 minutes 23 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with composer Pino Donaggio titled Ruby Rain (14 minutes 54 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with writer Franco Ferrini titled Female Hamlet (17 minutes 11 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with special effects artist Tom Savini titled Heads Above the Rest (18 minutes 2 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), an interview with director Dario Argento titled Beheaded (23 minutes 41 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with The Hysteria Continues!, an audio commentary with film historian and author Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and an embossed slipcover limited to 10,000 units.

Summary:

By the 1990's, the Italian film industry was a former shelf of what it once was, with most filmmakers making the shift to television. During this time, Dario Argento remained active not only as a director, but also as a producer. Three years before Trauma, he co-directed Two Evil Eyes with George A. Romero, his first film in America.

Trauma’s location is what sets it apart from everything that Dario Argento has ever directed. Where virtually everything he directed was set somewhere in Italy, setting Trauma in America, more specifically in a place like Minneapolis, Minnesota, is an inspired choice that greatly enhances the story at hand.

But there are many Giallo elements in Trauma. The result is something that is closer to a psychological thriller, with the premise revolving around a traumatic event. Also, most of Dario Argento’s post-Animal Trilogy films are known for their style over substance. Trauma’s narrative is one of Dario Argento’s strongest.

When one thinks about a Dario Argento film, his virtuosity with the camera is what immediately springs to mind. And in this regard, Trauma does not disappoint. With the murder set pieces having the visual flair that’s synonymous with Dario Argento,

Another thing that is synonymous with Dario Argento’s films is his casting. And with Trauma is a virtual cast of who’s who that includes Piper Laurie (Carrie), Frederic Forrest (Apocalypse Now) and Brad Dourif (Color of Night). The strongest performance is Asia Argento’s (The Stendhal Syndrome) nuanced portrayal of a troubled teenager named Aura Petrescu.

From a production standpoint, Dario Argento takes full advantage of his resources. His direction is rock solid, and he gets great performances from the cast. Another area where Trauma gets high marks is Tom Savini’s (Dawn of the Dead) special effects.

Criticism of Dario Argento’s post-opera films is mostly justified due to their inconsistency. That said, an argument can be made for Trauma, a film that is arguably Dario Argento’s most unfairly maligned film.

Trauma makes its way to Blu-ray via a definitive release from Vinegar Syndrome, and it comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a wealth of insightful extra content. Highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer