Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

Reptilicus 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 16, 2024

Kaiju fever reaches Denmark in 1961’s “Reptilicus,” with producer/co-director/co-writer Sidney Pink trying to participate in a moviemaking trend while giving the feature its own distinct location for mass destruction. It’s science vs. military in the effort, with a creature caught in the ways of evolution revived by the curious, allowing it to rampage once again. And this citywide violence is fairly strange, combining puppetry, animation, and human chaos in a mostly conversational endeavor that’s not attentive to a gripping pace. However, there’s an enjoyable roughness to the picture, with the production working to deliver big monster mayhem on a small budget, pulling together all the resources it can find to sell large-scale disaster.

Miners drilling for copper make an incredible discovery when they find a large tail buried deep in the ground. They manage to salvage the remains, putting it on ice for Professor Martens (Asbjorn Andersen) and Peter (Povl Woldike), where they can analyze it at Denmark’s Aquarium. When Peter allows the tail to thaw, the regenerative actions of the discovery, known as Reptilicus, are explored, with the creature able to grow once again, developing into a massive threat. Peter and Martens are joined by advisor Connie (Marla Behrens) and General Grayson (Carl Ottosen), who heads up a military operation meant to destroy Reptilicus as the monster finds its way into the ocean before targeting Copenhagen. Concerns interrupt such preparations, with the team afraid to blow the threat apart, which would create many creatures, requiring a special plan of attack as Reptilicus marches into the city, causing massive panic as citizens race for safety.

Reptilicus doesn’t arrive until 40 minutes into the movie, leaving a good chunk of the picture to character introductions and scientific study. The discovery of the creature is interesting, with miners drilling down into blood and guts, soon taking their mangled find to Martens for study, with the older scientist also dealing with his two daughters, Karen (Mimi Heinrich) and Lise (Ann Smyrner). And the aquarium also offers time with Peterson (Dirch Passer), a bumbling caretaker who’s meant to provide some comedic relief to “Reptilicus,” though the appeal of this character is certainly open for debate.

A mistake involving an open freezer allows Reptilicus to grow, but monster activity isn’t prioritized by the production, which works to add more characters to the movie. There’s also a straight-up travelogue sequence intended to show off the pleasures of Copenhagen, leading into a stage performance at Tivoli Gardens. It’s some cocktail hour activity in the middle of a creature feature, and such oddness as its charms, but impatience with Pink’s storytelling inertia begins to set in, allowing the arrival of Reptilicus to register as somewhat anticlimactic. However, “Reptilicus” finally arrives at more physical confrontations, watching the military (and plenty of stock footage) try to destroy the invader, who’s quick to gobble up humans and spew green slime, though what this acidic spray actually does isn’t identified. Mass destruction joins the picture in the final act, and while one can see the strings moving Reptilicus, the entertainment factor of the moment isn’t completely lost.

Two versions of “Reptilicus” are included on this release: the English Version (81:33) and the Danish Version (95:41).

Reptilicus 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"Reptilicus" rises again, with Vinegar Syndrome offering a UHD release of the monster movie, "newly restored from its 35mm original camera negative." Detail is strong throughout the viewing experience, exploring sweaty appearances of the male characters and the more glamourous ways of the female performers. Skin particulars are compelling, along with the rubbery ways of Reptilicus, also offering a more defined understanding of its puppetry. Town tours are textured and dimensional, and interiors are open for inspection. Color is alive, capturing natural skin tones and hair color. Monster appearences are intact, with bursts of bright green "slime." Copenhagen hues are distinct, exploring the cooler sights of the city. Fashion choices deliver brighter blues and pinks. Blacks are deep. Highlights are tasteful. Grain is film-like. Source has some mild wear and tear.

Reptilicus 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix offers clarity throughout the listening event, with dubbed dialogue exchanges crisply defined. Scoring is sharp, with clear instrumentation and strong dramatic support. A musical performance is also crisp, with distinct vocals. Sound effects are blunt but appreciable.

Reptilicus 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historian Nicolas Barbano and film critic Kim Newman.

• "Invincible…Indestructible" (28:55, HD) is an interview with fan Stephen R. Bissette. It's an appreciation piece from the author, who initially tracks the slow release for "Reptilicus," with the Vermont native forced to wait quite a while for the offering after reading about it in genre media. The interviewee shares information about his 2006 trip to Denmark, receiving a chance to visit the bridge from the picture. He details the production journey for producer Sidney Pink, who was fond of Copenhagen locations, choosing to shoot the endeavor in the city, also using color to bring the effort to life. Changes to the initial cut are highlighted, including a general rethinking of Reptilicus and the danger involved with its movement. The television journey for "Reptilicus" is analyzed as well, helping to make money for AIP for decades, while footage from the movie was recycled in various television and film projects. Bissette closes with a display of promotional materials from his collection.

• "Pink Goes West" (10:47, HD) is an interview with film historian Jay Jennings, who covers producer Sidney Pink's post-"Reptilicus" career, moving into the creation of westerns during the 1960s. Jennings examines many of these endeavors (including "Bang Bang Kid" and "The Tall Women"), focusing on work in Spain, with Pink striving to use Hollywood stars to help boost the visibility of these titles.

• "Fifty Million Years Out of Time" (32:11, HD) is an appreciation piece with film historians Robert Parigi and C. Courtney Joyner (recorded separately), with the men getting into the journey of not only "Reptilicus," but film exhibition and global business happenings during the 1940s and '50s. Information is also provided concerning the rise of monster movies, with the success of "Godzilla" trigging similar endeavors, giving producers options to launch their own movies highlighting giant terrors. Analysis of "Reptilicus" is provided, with the interviewees inching through the shoot, which was completed in two languages and contained technical challenges due to lackluster special effects. The release of the effort is also tracked, celebrating the push to sell the bigness of it all.

• A Trailer has not been included on this release.

Reptilicus 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Reptilicus" is a tough one to process, as so much of the feature is devoted to bland characters debating scientific and attack plans, and supporting personalities don't add much to the dramatic endeavor. The picture is slow to start, and it never reaches a fever pitch. And yet, there's the basic appeal of kaiju cinema, with the eponymous creature destroying Copenhagen, inspiring the citizens to panic and military to attempt several attack missions. Some lift is present at the end of the film, which basically saves the viewing experience, closing with craziness. It's certainly a disjointed viewing experience, but there's obvious B-movie appeal to "Reptilicus" and its own particular way with monster horrors.