Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		2.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Ingagi Blu-ray Movie Review

Pseudo-documentary monkey business.

Ingagi is a pseudo-documentary feature-film. A classic example of exploitation filmmaking in genre storytelling, the “documentary” combines footage produced for actual documentaries with pseudo-documentary footage which was staged and filmed in Los Angeles, California. Featuring voice narration by Louis Nizor, Ingagi explores the tribes of Africa and the creatures that inhabit the “unexplored” land. Executive produced by Nat H. Spitzer (Monsters of the Deep, Heir-Loons), Ingagi is available for the first time in over 50 years.

The documentary follows a group of determined explorers (Sir Hubert Winstead and Arthur Clayton) as they attempts to create a film about Africa and its strange host of creatures – including a Gorilla named Ingagi (performed by Charles Gemora). There is also an accompany photographer (Mel Koontz) who attempts to help document his strange findings in Africa. As the filmmaking unfolds, the people of Africa are showcased as being a strange cult-like tribe: a cult in which women are sacrificed to monkeys in exchange for peace.

The filmmaking seems ripe to be silly and over-the-top (in a mockumentary vein) but the opposite is true: Ingagi is more serious and actually attempts to play out like a real documentary film would. In some respects, it makes the filmmaking even more absurdist and comical. The film even manages to showcase the discovery of a fake new species know as the “tortadillo.”

Tryouts for The Lion King. "ROAR!"

The cinematography by L. Gillingham, Ed Joyce, and Fred Webster is certainly a compelling visual experience. There are a lot of interesting visuals at hand in the film. Granted, Ingagi utilizes so much footage spliced in from actual documentaries that it is hard to say which cinematographers contributed the efforts that worked so well.

The music score composed by Edward Gage seems exactly as silly as one would expect for this type of film. The score provides the undercurrent for the filmmaking and manages to help tell the story with a inquisitive style. While far from being a “classic” score, Ingagi plays out well as something absurdist – and that's what the score seems to understand.

The editing by Grace McKee (Angkor, Monsters of the Deep) is actually a strong effort that deserves major accolades. Considering the fact that McKee had to splice together footage from a variety of documentaries and footage produced in L.A., the results are impressive. The film will fool many audiences in to thinking it is a legitimate documentary. The editing is key to the effect.

Directed by William Campbell (Roaring Lions and Wedding Bells, Gypsy Joe), Ingagi is based on the script by Adam Shirk (The House of Mystery, Leave It to Gerry). Campbell directed the film just as professionally as one might find in an actual documentary production. This should be taken as both a compliment – and as an insult. One of the main attractions of the film is the “monkey-business” with actor Charles Gemora portraying Ingagi. Yet that element of Ingagi is barely a part of the movie and amounts to a few minutes of footage. Campbell should have taken the film less seriously... the film would have been more fun.

Ingagi Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, Ingagi is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in a aspect ratio of 1.33:1 full frame (which differs just ever-so-slightly from the 1.2:1 original aspect ratio). Preserved by the Library of Congress and presented in collaboration with Kino Lorber, Ingagi has received a brand new 4K restoration. The release is color tinted and that aspect certainly adds a nice touch to the presentation.

However, the 4K restoration is a bit inconsistent at times. The scan has some print wear and scratches (as well as telecine wobble). There are specks of dirt on the print. Some occasional out-of-focus shots are visible. There are even some scenes which seem to showcase a disappointing degree of fine detail. Nonetheless, other scenes are razor sharp and actually do benefit from the 4K restoration process and the high-definition presentation. While by-no-means an example of perfect 4K restoration work, the results are satisfactory for viewing.

Ingagi Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in uncompressed PCM mono. The audio track is thin sounding and lacks any greater sense of depth. Dialogue is easy to understand but sounds a bit muffled and unclear at times. The audio track presented is certainly not of a crisp new restoration. While serviceable enough for watching the film, the audio doesn't impress much.

Optional English SDH subtitles (for the deaf and hard of hearing).

Ingagi Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary by Kelly Robinson

Audio Commentary by Bret Wood

About the Restoration (HD, 4:26) showcases comparisons between the restored and un-restored footage while showcasing material from Print A and Print B. These kinds of restoration videos are fascinating and offer a unique glimpse in to film preservation efforts. There is a big difference in quality between the restored and un-restored versions.

The release also includes a selection of trailers promoting other Forbidden Fruit releases available from Kino Lorber: Marihuana (HD, 2:54), Mom and Dad (HD, 1:08), Narcotic (HD, 2:32), and Test Tube Babies (HD, 3:20).

Ingagi Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Available for the first time ever on home media, Ingagi is a well-made pseudo-documentary that manages to make one feel silly for ever thinking it was an actual documentary production. The filmmaking takes itself so seriously that it is actually an effective hoax. Impressive.

Yet the filmmaking could have greatly benefited from being comical and loose with the concepts more – including more monkey fun with Ingagi. Featuring a 4K restoration, Ingagi is certainly no long lost classic but it is still worth a watch. Recommended.