The Film:

Excerpt from Jonathan Rosenbaum located HERE

Image :    NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

This is the another Arrow Blu-ray release that is being simultaneously released in both region 'A' (US) and 'B' (UK). It is the exact same package on both sides of the pond to the best of our knowledge.

NOTE: As Michael Brooke informed us on Facebook in regards to Day of Anger: 'As the producer of Arrow's release, I can confirm first hand that the UK and US discs are absolutely identical: we only paid for one master, so there's no doubt about this at all! Which means that no matter which package you buy, the discs will play in any Region A or B setup (or Region 1 or 2 for DVD - and in the latter case the video standard is NTSC, to maximise compatibility). The booklets are also identical, but there are minor cosmetic differences on the disc labels and sleeve to do with differing copyright info and barcodes, and the US release doesn't have BBFC logos.' Caltiki is the same situation.

Caltiki gets an impressive transfer to Blu-ray from Arrow.  It is dual-layered with a max'ed out bitrate for the 1 1/4 hour feature. Contrast is at a very high level establishing some pleasing detail and occasional depth in the 1.66:1 aspect ratio frame.  It's very clean with a few light surface scratches but the overall visuals are surprising in their strength and tightness. This Blu-ray also includes the 'full aperture' version (described in the extras below) in a less robust, but still watchable, 1080P transfer. In the film, the creature is, conveniently, hidden, or obscured, from many scenes and the higher resolution doesn't expose the limitations of the effects budget, in my opinion.

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

1) Original - TOP 2) 'Full Aperture' Title - BOTTOM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audio is transferred via faithful linear PCM mono tracks at 1152 kbps in, both, the original Italian and an English DUB option. The original audio elements for the English version of Caltiki are lost. As a result, the English track used for this package was assembled from numerous sources of varying quality. It is recommended that you watch the film in Italian for the optimal viewing experience. It's significantly better than the poor DUB and awkwardness of the piecemeal English option. There are plenty of aggressive effects - from screams to gunfire, tanks and more. The score by Roberto Nicolosi (Black Sabbath, Black Sunday, The Girl Who Knew Too Much) and Roman Vlad (Beauty of the Devil, The Horrible Dr Hichcock, Jules Dassin's The Law) supports the film reasonably well in the uncompressed. There are optional English subtitles for both Italian and English audio versions. My Oppo has identified the Blu-ray as being a region 'A' + 'B' (essentially FREE.)

Extras :

Caltiki the Immortal Monster was designed to be exhibited in an aspect ratio of 1.66:1 and is presented in this form on the default viewing on this Arrow Blu-ray. Arrow tell us that an after an examination of the elements, revealed that, while a significant of film had been shot with an in-camera hard matte, much of it - including most of the effects shots created by the film's uncredited second director, Mario Bava - was, in fact, shot with no in-camera matte present. An open matte presentation therefore exposes more of Bava's remarkable effects work. After consulting with Tim Lucas, Arrow made the decision to also provide this alternative, full aperture viewing option, which presents the film as directly captured from the 35mm dupe negative and provides both an expanded view of the film's effects and a fascinating insight into its 'mixed parentage'. Arrow add some incredible value to this package with two audio commentaries. The first is by Tim Lucas, author of Mario Bava: All the Colors of the Dark and he's in top form exporting educational comments about related aspects of the film. There is also another 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 and he, too, adds keen data on the production. From Quatermass to Caltiki, is a new 18-minute discussion with author and critic Kim Newman on the influence of classic monster movies on Caltiki. Riccardo Freda, Forgotten Master, is a 20-minute archival interview with critic Stefano Della Casa, The Genesis of Caltiki, is a 21-minute archival interview with filmmaker Luigi Cozzi plus there is an older introduction to the film by Della Casa. We also get the alternate opening title for the US version and a US trailer . The package has a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Graham Humphreys, a second disc DVD and there is a 'Caltiki Photocomic' - as PDF in root of the Blu-ray disc.

 

BOTTOM LINE:
I loved Caltiki! An amorphous blob of a creature that resembles a large slug. The Arrow Blu-ray provides an excellent a/v presentation with fabulous extras including two great commentaries! I suggest this is one of the 'lost' 50's creature-features that will satisfy devout Bava-aficionados. I can't wait to watch this a fourth time - our highest recommendation!