Curt Loves Oldies: Caltiki, the Immortal Monster - Movie Review by Curt Solash
“Mexico City is threatened by Caltiki devouring everything in its path.”
Caltiki, the Immortal Monster
* 1960 Allied Artists
* Director: Riccardo Freda
* Starring: John Merivale, Didi Sullivan,Gerard Herter, Daniela Rocca
Despite a monster that resembles a combination of Silly Putty and panty hose, Caltiki is a fun Italian-horror movie with plenty of atmosphere and shock sequences. It is yet another neighborhood matinee feature you grew up with in your 1960’s movie theaters. We are talking about an Italian movie,dubbed into English, taking place supposedly in Mexico.
“Mexico City is threatened by Caltiki devouring everything in its path.”
Caltiki, the Immortal Monster
* 1960 Allied Artists
* Director: Riccardo Freda
* Starring: John Merivale, Didi Sullivan,Gerard Herter, Daniela Rocca
Despite a monster that resembles a combination of Silly Putty and panty hose, Caltiki is a fun Italian-horror movie with plenty of atmosphere and shock sequences. It is yet another neighborhood matinee feature you grew up with in your 1960’s movie theaters. We are talking about an Italian movie,dubbed into English, taking place supposedly in Mexico.
An archaeological expedition deep in the Mexican jungle is seeking to discover what led to the disappearance of the Maya civilization which mysteriously vanished centuries before without a trace. A previous expedition had only one raving mad survivor. Part of the group are John, with a purely scientific interest, his wife, Ellen, Max, a German adventurer who only wants Mayan gold, and Linda, a native girl in love with Max, who covets only Ellen.
Another explorer, Bob, eavesdrops on a native dance dedicated to Caltiki, Mayan Goddess of Death. When he is discovered, it will lead to dire consequences.
In a very atmospheric scene, Bob and the others are next viewed exploring a dark Mayan cave with a subterranean lake. The lighting and shadows are typical of the style of talented cameraman Mario Bava who is responsible for the look of some of the best Italian horror films of the 1960’s ( Black Sunday, Planet of the Vampires, etc.) Bob dives looking for treasure and sees plenty of valuable trinkets, but suddenly sounds the alarm signal. John and Max pull him up, but only find a skeleton in his diving suit. Suddenly, a mass of protoplasm comes out of the lake and moves inland, advancing on the group. Bullets have no effect. Max notices the golden trinkets in the monster’s path, goes to retrieve them and gets his arm entangled in the mass. John cuts it off with an ax and Max is rushed to the hospital in Mexico City.
Emergency surgery is performed and though he has some scarring, the main damage is to his arm, basically just skeletal remains. Most of the substance is sent for lab tests where radioactive time exams cause it to grow and prove it to be older than any other life form on Earth, a freakish outgrowth of a one-called amoeba-like structure.
John learns from a doctor that a poison from the ooze has entered Max’s bloodstream and there is no remedy. The poison reaches his brain and turns him into a homicidal maniac.He kills a nurse, but despite their searching, the police are unable to find him.
Meanwhile, a much worse situation develops when a radioactive meteor passes near Earth and the remaining pieces of Caltiki are reanimated, expanding and continuing to grow uncontrollably. The lab is left empty and the monsters create havoc. The mystery of the Mayan disappearance has been solved. Caltiki lives again and will prey on mankind as it did centuries earlier, the last time the meteor passed.
Max is being hidden by Linda and when he attempts to kidnap Ellen, Linda tries to protect her and Max kills Linda. He does not know that part of the ooze is in the adjoining room. He thinks John is there and points his revolver, but Caltiki devours him. John arrives in the nick of time to rescue his wife and daughter, while Mexico City is in danger of being devoured. John informs the army that only fire will stop it and tanks with flame throwers reduce Caltiki to a bubbling mass of blackened, dead tissue. John shares a tender moment with his family as some semblance of sanity is finally regained.
Despite less than stellar performances and special effects, Caltiki provides plenty of spooky atmosphere (thanks to cameraman Bava) and chills to satisfy any Saturday matinee population.
You can watch CALTIKI for FREE on TUBI at https://tubitv.com/movies/489586/caltiki-the-immortal-monster
CONTACT Curt at capybara119@yahoo.com
Another explorer, Bob, eavesdrops on a native dance dedicated to Caltiki, Mayan Goddess of Death. When he is discovered, it will lead to dire consequences.
In a very atmospheric scene, Bob and the others are next viewed exploring a dark Mayan cave with a subterranean lake. The lighting and shadows are typical of the style of talented cameraman Mario Bava who is responsible for the look of some of the best Italian horror films of the 1960’s ( Black Sunday, Planet of the Vampires, etc.) Bob dives looking for treasure and sees plenty of valuable trinkets, but suddenly sounds the alarm signal. John and Max pull him up, but only find a skeleton in his diving suit. Suddenly, a mass of protoplasm comes out of the lake and moves inland, advancing on the group. Bullets have no effect. Max notices the golden trinkets in the monster’s path, goes to retrieve them and gets his arm entangled in the mass. John cuts it off with an ax and Max is rushed to the hospital in Mexico City.
Emergency surgery is performed and though he has some scarring, the main damage is to his arm, basically just skeletal remains. Most of the substance is sent for lab tests where radioactive time exams cause it to grow and prove it to be older than any other life form on Earth, a freakish outgrowth of a one-called amoeba-like structure.
John learns from a doctor that a poison from the ooze has entered Max’s bloodstream and there is no remedy. The poison reaches his brain and turns him into a homicidal maniac.He kills a nurse, but despite their searching, the police are unable to find him.
Meanwhile, a much worse situation develops when a radioactive meteor passes near Earth and the remaining pieces of Caltiki are reanimated, expanding and continuing to grow uncontrollably. The lab is left empty and the monsters create havoc. The mystery of the Mayan disappearance has been solved. Caltiki lives again and will prey on mankind as it did centuries earlier, the last time the meteor passed.
Max is being hidden by Linda and when he attempts to kidnap Ellen, Linda tries to protect her and Max kills Linda. He does not know that part of the ooze is in the adjoining room. He thinks John is there and points his revolver, but Caltiki devours him. John arrives in the nick of time to rescue his wife and daughter, while Mexico City is in danger of being devoured. John informs the army that only fire will stop it and tanks with flame throwers reduce Caltiki to a bubbling mass of blackened, dead tissue. John shares a tender moment with his family as some semblance of sanity is finally regained.
Despite less than stellar performances and special effects, Caltiki provides plenty of spooky atmosphere (thanks to cameraman Bava) and chills to satisfy any Saturday matinee population.
You can watch CALTIKI for FREE on TUBI at https://tubitv.com/movies/489586/caltiki-the-immortal-monster
CONTACT Curt at capybara119@yahoo.com