5.5 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Tourists on a tropical island anger an island god, who turns himself into a giant alligator and stalks them.
Starring: Barbara Bach, Claudio Cassinelli, Mel Ferrer, Romano Puppo, Fabrizia CastagnoliHorror | 100% |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.35:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
Italian: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English, English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
There was a famous old ad (for margarine, of all things) that used to warn people "it's not nice to fool Mother Nature", and in that regard, films like The Great Alligator make it clear that disrespecting Mother Nature may be even worse, at least in terms of consequences for those daring to behave so badly. While the film may clearly (and/or murkily, considering the glut of underwater photography) owe more than a bit to Jaws, there's perhaps surprisingly (at least given a lower budget that would seem to want to rely on scares more than anything) a whole bunch of other content that might include elements that could be considered eco horror and/or involving carelessness toward other cultures, as careless Western interlopers upset a tribal community that may have a bit of a secret.
Note: Screenshots are sourced from the 1080 disc included in this package. For those interested, Severin is also releasing a
standalone 1080 release, and there are more screenshots
available on the review of that format.
The Great Alligator is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Severin Films with an HEVC / H.265 encoded 2160p transfer in 2.35:1. This package
also includes an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.35:1 on a separate disc. Both transfers are advertised on the back cover of this release as having
been "newly scanned in 4K from the original negative". While I don't have the old Code Red 1080 release to do a side by side comparison, a cursory
look at screenshots suggests this transfer is similar though not identical to the older version. While I'd say color timing is generally in the
same ballpark, look, for example, at the renderings of the green foliage in the background of screenshot 1 in this review and screenshot 1 in Brian's
review, and it looks to me that there's less of a blue cast in this new version. Suffusion is very good though variable in both the 1080 and 4K versions
offered in this package, though in that regard the 4K UHD disc's HDR adds some really evocative luster in the deep blue day for night scenes and one
memorable vignette bathed in red as well. Otherwise, though, color temperatures and even highlights looked pretty similar to me when stacking
Severin's 4K version up against its 1080 version. There is persistent damage on display, and that combined with a really thick at times grain
field may make this yet another release where some may understandably actually prefer the lower resolution of the 1080 version. For example, the
opening credits sequence is littered not just with thick yellow grain, but kind of strange looking yellow horizontal scratches and squiggles, all of which is
more apparent with the increased resolution of the 4K UHD version.
The Great Alligator features DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono tracks in either English or Italian. The Italian track is noticeably louder but also reveals more evident distortion in some of the music cues and sound effects in particular, so it's a bit of a tradeoff. Stelvio Cipriani contributes another really enjoyable score, and some of his kind of quasi "easy listening" cues for montages featuring our hero photographer plying his craft are especially nice. There is some jumpy editing in both tracks where cues and/or effects can kind of "thunk" into place. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly in both versions, but both languages can offer "loose sync". Optional English subtitles are available.
4K UHD Disc
Lest anyone think Sergio Martino was only interested in ripping off Jaws, there's also a clear reference to King Kong in terms of nubile young women being offered as a sacrifice to a mutant beast. While it's probably unavoidable to think of The Great Alligator as a quickly shot, low budget cash grab, as some of the supplements on this disc get into, there actually is some rather interesting and even provocative subtext at play here, even if it tends to get buried in the overall silliness of the plot and absolutely goofy special effects. Video quality is probably improved at least marginally from the Code Red version, but this is another dual 4K / 1080 release where some may actually prefer the 1080 version. Both video and audio encounter occasional hurdles, but nothing overly debilitating. The supplements are enjoyable and interesting for anyone who may be considering making a purchase.
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