HERCULES
IN THE HAUNTED WORLD (1961)Director: Mario Bava
Fantoma Films
HERCULES
IN THE HAUNTED WORLD (1961)The naked black branches of a
barren tree reach heavenwards like talons against the dark cobalt skies of Icalia.
Fog obscures the remains of an ancient graveyard filled with marble tombstones.
Out of the darkness the towering figure of a vampiric high priest and monarch
appears, clad in black velvet robes. His eyes wide with hatred and rage, Lyco
(Christopher Lee) surveys the necropolis before him during a noctural storm.
Within moments of Lyco's commands the surrounding earth heaves forth with slime
covered talons of the dead skeletal phantoms. A glacial, blond beauty in trance,
Deinira, the fiancée of Hercules looks on blankly, seemingly lost forever.
Lyco choreographs the undead tableaux throught the Ionian field.
A very young Christopher Lee gives us all one of his finest essays as a villain in his best 60s menace as he gives it up for Master Mario. His physical height is employed to full advantage. The sense of menace he projected effortlessly (he had just portrayed the evil Count Dracula four years earlier) must be seen to be believed. This is required viewing for all Christopher Lee fans and a most memorable moment in his stable of portrayals.
Park
gives a spirited performance here, one of the few he would ever give. As the
mantle of carrying on the role of Hercules fell to Park (Steve Reeves appeared
in the title role in HERCULES and HERCULES UNCHAINED), Park would go on to appear
as the muscled demi-god once more (in HERCULES AND THE CAPTIVE WOMAN. In fact
the lightheartedness on the set of ECOLE AL CENTRO DELLA TERRA extends to such
scenes as Park hurling papier-mâché boulders in heavily fogbound
soundstages). His task is to retrieve a golden apple to restore Deineira to
life yet he must go through a series of dangerous
adventures.
Franco Giacobini provides some comic relief as Telemachus, a buffoon who always loses his girl to the very blond Giorgio Ardisson as Theseus, Hercules' best friend sporting long golden locks. The small part though somewhat annoying still reinforces the lighthearted approach here and doesn't detract that much from what's going on.
There's even a scene set inside a cave in which Giacobini and Ardisson are bound to stone altars as giant green rock creatures vow to stretch them out and lumber around the fogbound set. This does inspires a chuckle or two from the audience and the antics keep right on going.
Presented in Technicolor splendor,
HAUNTED WORLD is filled with memorable images such as blood-orange sunrises,
sensual deep blue and crimson gel 
sets,
mauves and deep green accents, with unorthodox camera setups and his trademark
zoom lens. But Bava's psychedelic look is unmistakably classic and first-rate.
The film is scored by Armando
Trovajoli whose ethereal moodiness permeates this Greek city of the dead, the
Stygian rivers, the sight of Sirens, the voyage to Pluto, flames turning into
rivers of water, an oracle lit with red and blue gels in a Spartan temple, and
the numerous deeds Hercules takes on in order to bring back his love Deineira
from the Underworld.
Fantoma Films has presented the original cut of HERCULES IN THE HAUNTED WORLD on DVD and it fully lives up to Bava's unique Technicolor images. It's an Anamorphic transfer in its original 2.35:1 widescreen aspect ratio. Given the age of the film, it's nice to see it in such excellent condition with strong and vivid colors (especially the deep blues). Blacks are solid, fleshtones are accurate, grain is minimal, and overall, the transfer holds a smooth, eye-popping appearance that no Bava fan will be disappointed with. There are both English and Italian language mono tracks which both sound quite impressive. Neither Christopher Lee nor Reg Park lends their voice to either, but it's interesting to hear the dissimilar vocal characteristics and plot angles in each version (English subtitles are also optional). Note that the onscreen title reads, "Hercules In the Center of the Earth."
Extras include a nice poster and still gallery, and it's interesting to see how various countries implied that Lee's character was really an evil vampire! Also included is the much battered theatrical trailer for The Woolner Brother's re-edited U.S. release, as well as liner notes by Bava expert Tim Lucas.
This is one of Mario Bava's best moments, a fun little journey to the underworld that never takes itself seriously and always entertains. Good work, Fantoma! (Christopher Dietrich)