Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Maya Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 21, 2024

After scoring a small success with 1987’s “Specters,” co-writer/director Marcello Avallone returns to horror with 1989’s “Maya,” which also seeks to blend elements of history with a weird haunting. There’s a defined idea in play with the project, which inspects the ruination of a Mexican village after a man elects to mess with the border between the living and the dead. It’s a set-up for a slasher, but “Maya” doesn’t jump off the screen with elements of suspense. It’s not as much of a drag as “Specters,” but the picture aims to stay strange, which doesn’t always translate to a riveting feature, though some gory events certainly help to set a more threatening mood.

Saloman (William Berger) has found his way to the heart of evil in Mexico, toying with the power of King Xibalba while looking to visit lands of the living and the dead. Saloman is desperate to contact his friend, Francisco, but evil blocks any reunion, killing the older man. Peter (Peter Phelps) is a local who owes a lot of people money, maintaining a relationship with gas station attendant Jahira (Mariangelica Ayala). New in town is Lisa (Marielle Valentini), who’s Saloman’s daughter, and she’s hunting for answers concerning her father’s murder. Connecting with Peter, Lisa launches her own investigation into the unknown, getting close to the horrors of Xibalba while looking to solve the strange mystery of Francisco.

The place between places is the ultimate trip in “Maya,” with Saloman finding out the hard way that one shouldn’t mess with forces from beyond. His mistake is found in the opening of the movie, encountering the puzzling presence of a little kid happy to lure victims to their doom on top of a temple. Violence comes quickly in “Maya,” but slightly more horrifying is Peter’s living experience, touring the man’s filthy apartment as he wakes from a night of sex with Jahira to discover there’s nothing to eat or drink. Peter is one of the leading characters in the film, and his presence in the story is a bit odd, never positioned as a hero or of much help to anyone.

Avallone is more interested in the saga of Lisa, who looks to become a detective of sorts as she hunts to find out more about Saloman and his correspondence with Francisco, which forms a small mystery in “Maya.” Not an effective one, mind you, but it’s something, and it’s far more appealing than weird dips into attempted sexual assaults Avallone seems to enjoy staging, trying to make a mess of most female characters. It’s a bit of nastiness in a feature that does okay when playing into genre expectations, as one character is destroyed while taking a bath, and another has a date with fish hooks.

Maya Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is listed as "newly restored in 2K" from the original 35mm camera negative. "Maya" offers stable colors, with local decorative choices and period style retaining sharp primaries. Red blood is distinct, and skin tones are natural. Detail captures skin particulars on the cast, explore ranges in age, and makeup effects are nicely textured. Exteriors preserve depth, including tours of the temple set. Interiors are dimensional with filthy living spaces and bar activity. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is nicely resolved. Source encounters some brief, light scratches.

Maya Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Vinegar Syndrome includes information concerning the original English stereo soundtrack for "Maya," which was found in a damaged state, resulting in "extreme and intermittent ringing and hiss." While restoration efforts were attempted, clarity and comfort couldn't be achieved. What's here is a 1.0 DTS-HD MA track for English, and it secure dialogue exchanges, which preserve their urgency. Scoring maintains a decent synth sound, which swells with moments of suspense. Sound effects are appreciable.

Maya Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historians Eugenio Ercolani, Nathaniel Thompson, and Troy Howarth.

• "Scream Queen Memories" (27:15, HD) is an interview with actress Mirella D'Angelo, who began her modeling career as a young woman, quickly understanding her position as an object, soon looking for a more rewarding life in acting. Getting her start in 1974's "Terminal," D'Angelo found a creative outlet worth pursuing, attending acting classes in New York City to develop her skills. The interviewee explores the highlights of her career, including a small role in 1979's "Caligula," recalling the chaotic production and its 2023 resurrection in a new edit. D'Angelo also recalls her time with directors Federico Fellini and Dario Argento, inadvertently becoming the face of "Tenebrae." She closes with some thoughts on "Maya."

• "The Mexican Connection" (20:10, HD) is an interview with co-writer/director Marcello Avallone, who started "Maya" a few years after the success of "Specters," somewhat reluctant to return to B-moviemaking. Heading to Venezuela to make the feature, the production required the construction of a temple set and worked through some challenges with local crime, establishing a tense mood for the shoot. The interviewee celebrates the cast and their approachable personalities, also sharing an anecdote about John Savage (star of 1997's "Last Cut") as an example of a difficult actor making trouble for the crew. Technical challenges are analyzed, with intensive special effects required for certain scenes.

• "Mystical Mayan Melodies" (21:04, HD) is an interview with compose Gabriele Ducros, who followed his father into the world of music, spending the 1970s on schooling and album releases, getting started on a career. Ducros paid his dues, even providing music for adult cinema, also delivering work for commercials to pay the bills, sharing an anecdote about the strangeness of the industry. Collaborating with director Marcello Avallone on nature documentaries, the interviewee discusses their relationship on "Maya," which was sometimes combative, but added to the electronic soundscape of the 1980s. Some talk of "Panama Sugar" and "Red American" are offered, with Ducros identifying different creative challenges for tonally opposite movies.

• "Second Time Around" (20:41, HD) is an interview with producer/co-writer Maurizio Tedesco, who was interested in Latin American history, eager to explore the topic in a horror movie. The interviewee examines the Venezuelan shoot, marveling over the Mayan temple set built for the picture. He celebrates casting as well, and highlights a few technical achievements in the feature. Tedesco provides some appreciation for director Marcello Avallone, noting the decline of their careers due to changes in the Italian film industry. Additional professional highlights are also discussed.

• Alternate Italian Titles and Credits (4:50, HD) are offered.

• A Trailer has not been included on this release.

Maya Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Maya" has more to do than "Specters," loading up on supporting characters and threatening situations. As with the previous picture, Avallone isn't the king of suspense, often mistaking stillness for screen tension. "Maya" is a slightly better film, showing more confidence with technical achievements and a greater sense of danger for the characters. Perhaps forgiving horror fans will respond to sections of the endeavor that focus on vicious visits from a malevolent force. These scenes tend to stand out in the effort, which still struggles to master mood and build a compelling fright factor.