Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		2.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.5

Treasure of the Amazon Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 30, 2021

Prolific director Rene Cardona Jr. elects to claim part of the jungle adventure gold rush of the early 1980s with “Treasure of the Amazon,” one of three movies he made in 1985. Cardona Jr. is not one to offer hospital corners on his pictures, and this messiness extends to “Treasure of the Amazon,” which attempts to create three distinct plotlines about outsiders in the deep jungle hunting for gold and diamonds, tracking separate games of survival as the teams are hit from all sides by danger. The feature isn’t a good example of multi-character storytelling, but it does remain on the move, with Cardona Jr. interested in exploitation elements to hold attention, working to give his jungle event some cheap thrills.

There’s gold in the Amazon, and Nazi officer Klaus (Donald Pleasence) is ready to collect it, joined by Morimba (Sonia Infante), a topless local who’s unsure what her boss is really up to. Also on the hunt for treasure is Gringo (Stuart Whitman), a grizzled adventurer venturing into the jungle with Jairo (Jorge Luke) and Zapata (Pedro Armendariz Jr.). Searching for oil, Pat and Clark (Bradford Dillman) find diamonds instead, sharing their discovery with Barbara (Ann Sidney), an overwhelmed American desperate to get back home.

“Treasure of the Amazon” isn’t “Raiders of the Lost Ark” or “Romancing the Stone.” It’s a Cardona Jr. joint, meaning numerous shots of wandering animals (some killed onscreen), a plot that basically dissolves as it goes, and a collection of charismatic actors trying to make the best out of a weird assignment. Lust for gold is a secondary concern for the helmer, who creates scenes of antagonism and panic instead, juggling the three plotlines as they slowly come together, with the visitors soon targeted by a native tribe interested in collecting heads. “Treasure of the Amazon” isn’t an epic, it’s more of a grungy thriller that pays a few visits to the gore zone as the players begin to lose their lives, with one character torn apart by crabs. It’s violent stuff, but not extensively so, with Cardona Jr. carefully portioning out his grisliness, showing more interest in tough guy threats and Pleasance sweating up a storm as a Nazi, joining Whitman as the pros add a little thespian emphasis to an endeavor that needs it.

Treasure of the Amazon Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is sourced from a 4K scan of the original 35mm negatives. The viewing experience is bright and inviting, taking in the jungle locations with excellent dimension for open spaces, while tighter shots in caves, villages, and boats also capture detail around the actors. Textured facial surfaces are common, enjoying the grizzled and primped appearance of the cast, and costuming is fibrous. Colors are appreciable, with dense greenery throughout. Tribal makeup additions handle with authority, and clothing retains some primary power. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is fine and film-like. Source is in good condition, with some light scratches.

Treasure of the Amazon Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Vinegar Syndrome notes at the beginning of the movie that "Treasure of the Amazon" had no sound elements to work with, forcing the company to use a tape source for the 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix. This "less than ideal" situation results in a difficult listening experience at times, with stretches of muddiness and tininess. Intelligibility isn't completely wiped away, but the general unevenness of the track is persistent, leading to weak dialogue exchanges and scoring cues.

Treasure of the Amazon Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Still Gallery (2:40) collects poster art, film stills, and publicity shots.

• A Trailer has not been included in this release.

Treasure of the Amazon Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Insects attack, leeches are collected, and naked natives are everywhere. "Treasure of the Amazon" pays attention to exploitation interests to keep the whole effort engrossing, which helps to ignore a lot of the production's sloppiness, including a few actors who seem intoxicated while stumbling through their lines. It's nonsense, but diverting enough, with Cardona Jr. offering a lurid examination of greed and Amazonian hostilities while laboring to find a movie somewhere in all the feature's randomness.