Abrakadabra Blu-ray - Clara Kovacic

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

Directed by Luciano Onetti and Nicolás Onetti
Mexico | Argentina | New Zealand 2018

What the eye sees and the ear hears, the mind believes!

Thirty years after his father is tragically killed during a magic trick gone wrong, Lorenzo’s own magic act is suddenly derailed by a series of gruesome magic themed murders. Struggling to prove his innocence, he begins to unravel the mystery that leads him through an intricate, bloody trail all the way back to his father’s demise.

Filled with a pulsing Goblin-esque soundtrack, 70s atmosphere and all the earmarks of a classic Giallo, ABRAKADABRA at once pays homage to the bloody films of Dario Argento and Sergio Martino, while firmly taking its own place in the genre alongside its companion films in the Onetti Brothers’ Giallo Trilogy: FRANCESCA and SONNO PROFONDO.

***

The Great Dante, a prestigious magician, accidentally dies during a risky magic trick. Thirty-five years later, his son Lorenzo, also a magician, presents a show at one of the city's most important theaters. From this point on, a series of murders will begin to occur that someone tries to pin on him. Lorenzo will have to find out who it is and why this person wants to implicate him.

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Theatrical Release: November 3rd, 2018

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Review: Cauldron Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	Cauldron Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:09:47.641
Video	2.2:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 24,192,704,077 bytes Feature: 22,499,033,088 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.23 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate Blu-ray:
Audio	DTS-HD Master Audio Italian 2043 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 2043 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit) DTS-HD Master Audio Italian 2032 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2032 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) DTS-HD Master Audio English 2029 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2029 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitles	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Cauldron Films 2.2:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 24,192,704,077 bytes Feature: 22,499,033,088 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.23 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • CD soundtrack with music by Luciano Onetti • Behind the Scenes "Backstage Raw" (11:24) • Trailer (01:50) Blu-ray Release Date: December 15th, 2020 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters 15

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Cauldron Films Blu-ray (December 2020): Cauldron Films have released the modern Giallo, "Abrakadabra'' on an all-new single layer Blu-ray with the first limited copies also receiving a bonus soundtrack CD. The 2.2:1 HD 1080p image boasts a maxed out bitrate. This is a strong image, with any perceived weaknesses most likely being part of the intentional Giallo 'grindhouse' look. There is a medium to heavy grain throughout, with some close-up shots revealing heaps of information within the frame. The black levels look decent, except a few spots where shadows seem to be a strange uniform black, with some splotches. This could also be due to the desired look and texture of the film.

Cauldron's Blu-ray of "Abrakadabra" features a few audio options, with the first being a (16-bit) 5.1 DTS-HD Master audio. The other two options are Either Italian or English (24-bit) 2.0. There are optional English or Spanish subtitles on this Region 'A' Blu-ray from Cauldron. The 16-bit 5.1 track really stood out to me on my home system's surround. The Goblin-esque music is thanks to Co-director Luciano Onetti. The soundtrack is really the stand-out element of the film here. This is a Region 'A' Blu-ray from Cauldron.

The first limited copies of the film feature a CD soundtrack with music by Luciano Onetti, though we were only sent the feature disc for review. There is an 11-minute behind-the-scenes featurette, though it mainly just shows scenes from the film literally being shot (from a voyeuristic angle). The film's trailer is the only other extra here.

While not to everybody's tastes, "Abrakadabra" is a fun riff on the Giallo tropes and style. Fans of Giallo might want to also check out the Adam Brooks and Matthew Kennedy directed "The Editor" (2014) which adds a welcome level of absurdity and humor. Regardless, it is exciting to see this new Blu-ray label, Cauldron Films, and we look forward to reviewing more of their content in the future.