The captures almost speak for themselves. The BCI DVD is derived from a new high-definition master (HD or BluRay version forthcoming) and is a revelation in terms of color and composition (a tribute to the stunning cinematography of Allejandro Ulloa who also photographed Naschy's CARNIVAL OF THE BEASTS with much of the same cast). When the Tripictures disc came out last year, it was a definate improvement over the dark, murky Vestron cassette (under the US release title THE CRAVING) but it was derived from an older master (see cap 7 as part of a several second sequence that is virtually monochrome on the Tripictures disc) and the BCI disc shows how much improvement there was to be made. The original Spanish mono and English mono tracks are included along with optional English subtitles which reveal dialogue differences between the English and Spanish tracks. An optional 5.1 English track is included and is nicely enveloping without being overly gimmicky. (The musical score is a compilation of CAM library music by Ennio Morricone, Marcello Giombini, Stelvio Cipriani, Armando Travajoli, Carlo Rustichelli, and perhaps some others).

Note that the English language credit sequence only credits 4 of the main actors (on one card), the title, the production company, editor, production manager, and writer/director (Naschy under his real name Jacinto Molina). The more complete Spanish language opening and end credits are included as an extra.

A deleted scene is included with some extended dialogue missing from the export version. Like the Spanish titles, it is presented at 1.66:1 and anamorphic.

I was under the impression that 1.66:1 was the original aspect ratio (as per the Tripictures disc) but the framing of the BCI disc reveals more picture information on the right (a sliver on the left) and slight squeezing in the Tripictures version. The BCI disc is letterboxed at 1.78:1 and was probably further matted to 1.85:1 for theatrical exhibition.

 - Eric Cotenas