New Label - Cauldron Films (Sergio Martino's American Rickshaw + Abrakadabra)

There's a new label named Cauldron Films, soon bringing two new limited releases to Blu-ray. They have a website up, and both titles are also available for pre-order through Diabolik.

I'm not really sure who runs the label or any details about them at all, other than that the focus appears to be with Euro films... but the specs for their first two releases sound quite solid and exciting.

Also according to their website an unnamed "70s Euro Title" + "Early 80s Euro Title" will be two future releases.

The first two debut releases are:

Sergio Martino's AMERICAN RICKSHAW :

https://www.cauldron-films.com/coll.../american-rickshaw-limited-blu-ray-w-slipcase



AMERICAN RICKSHAW Limited Edition Blu-ray

The way that is the way is not the ordinary way...

After a stripper tricks him into filming a sex tape, Scott Edwards (Olympic Gold Medalist Mitch Gaylord), a Miami rickshaw runner, becomes embroiled in the murder of an evangelist’s son when he inadvertently takes the wrong video tape. With the help of the stripper and an Asian witch, Edwards sets out to clear his name while avoiding the assassin dead set on retrieving the video tape.

Directed by Italian genre legend Sergio Martino (All the Colors of the Dark) and Written by Sauro Scavolini (A Man Called Blade) with a story by Roberto Leone (Santa Sangre) this late 80’s Miami-lensed Action/Horror hybrid has only ever been available on VHS in the US in a muddy full screen presentation. Featuring all of the action, nudity and bizarre practical effects you can handle, Cauldron Films is proud to present American Rickshaw (aka American Tiger / American risciò), in all of its sun drenched glory, with a brand new 2k scan sourced from the original camera negative as their inaugural release!

Starring Mitchell Gaylord, Daniel Greene (Elvira Mistress of the Dark, Me, Myself and Irene, Hands of Steel), Victoria Prouty, and Donald Pleasance (Halloween, Freakmaker)

Music by Luciano Michelini (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Silent Action, Screamers)

Directed by Sergio Martino (Torso, The Scorpion with Two Tails)

• 2K restoration from the original camera negative
  
  
• On camera interviews with director Sergio Martino and production designer Massimo Antonello Geleng
  
  
• Then and now location footage
  
  
• The Projection Booth Podcast discuss AMERICAN RICKSHAW
  
  
• Commentary with Samm Deighan & Kat Ellinger
  
• Image Gallery
  
  
• Trailer
  
  
• Booklet with writing by grindhouse comics writer and Tough to Kill co-author, David Zuzelo
  
  
• Reversible cover featuring Italian artwork
  
  
• Limited Edition high quality slipcase with new artwork by Mattias Frisk
  
  
• Limited to 1000 copies
  
  1989 • 97 minutes •English audio •English SDH subtitles • 1.66:1 • Unrated

ABRAKADABRA :

https://www.cauldron-films.com/coll...abrakadabra-limited-blu-ray-cd-set-w-slipcase




ABRAKADABRA Limited Edition Blu-ray

What the eye sees and the ear hears, the mind believes!

Thirty-Five years after his father is tragically killed during a magic trick gone wrong, Lorenzo’s own magic act is suddenly derailed by a series of gruesome magic themed murders. Struggling to prove his innocence, he begins to unravel the mystery that leads him through an intricate, bloody trail all the way back to his father’s demise.

Filled with a pulsing Goblin-esque soundtrack, 70’s atmosphere and all the earmarks of a classic Giallo, ABRAKADABRA at once pays homage to the bloody films of Dario Argento and Sergio Martino, while firmly taking its own place in the genre alongside its companion films in the Onetti Brothers’ Giallo Trilogy: FRANCESCA and SONNO PROFONDO

• CD soundtrack with music by Luciano Onetti

• Behind the Scenes

• Trailer

• Italian 5.1, Italian 2.0, and English 2.0 audio options

• English & Spanish subtitles

• Postcards with promotional artwork

• Limited Edition high quality slipcase with original poster art
  
  
• Limited to 1000 copies
  
  2018 • 70 minutes •Italian & English audio •English & Spanish subtitles • Unrated

 

I never knew this previously but I now find it awesome that the theme music for Curb Your Enthusiasm is by a guy who composed music for Sergio Martino movies!

 

Diabolik sent out an email earlier about these two releases, and shared this info about the new label:

 

Seems like Jesse Nelson of DiabolikDVD is invlolved to some extent....

https://www.facebook.com/groups/hor...2880381868667830/?comment_id=2880406328665384

 

American Rickshaw and Abrakadabra have finally shipped.

 

Two questions:

1. How did I miss this thread?
2. Is American Rickshaw as spectacular as it looks?

 

I haven't seen either film but I'm a sucker for limited editions so bought both of them.

 

I received a shipment notification earlier from Diabolik that my pre-order of American Rickshaw has shipped.

Abrakadabra has nice cover art, but I'm not sure it's exactly something I want. Retro-Giallos are often kinda ehhhhhh. I'll wait for some solid reviews on it.

American Rickshaw review: http://mondo-digital.com/rickshaw.html

 

I didn't realize when I first put in my order that Abrakadabra was a modern Giallo but I'm a bit of a sucker for magician themed stories so I figured I'd give it a try.

I watched Abrakadabra last night and enjoyed it. The ending was a bit of a cop out but up to that point it was entertaining enough. It does capture the look and feel of those sepia over exposed films very well and did a good job with its production designs. If the period hair was more faithful it could easily be confused for an early 80's production. The music is great however and really fits the genre. It's a little short though, not much suspense, and could have used much more detective work digging deeper into the occult occurrences only briefly touched upon. After all that's where the fun is. Speaking of fun the gore is both at times graphic and a little light. It's not much of a happy medium when there's light blood but also a few quite graphic shots only quickly shown. The blood is also a little watered down in a weird way; like Kool-Aid. Not a complaint just an odd observation.

Recommend it as a rental but not so much for purchase unless you enjoy the music enough to get the soundtrack CD; which you easily may.

 

Mondo Digital reviews Abrakadabra: http://mondo-digital.com/abrakadabra.html

 

Watched American Rickshaw because, well, what could be more American than an Italian movie about Chinese mysticism for the 4th? And three words come to mind...

What the what?

There's a lot of reviewers calling it confusing but really it's just kinda dumb... and dull... but dumb... and dull... Which is quite a feat for a movie with so many plot turns about a prosperity televangelist's son secretly video recording stripper's rendezvous with witless jocks, murder, arson, the wrong man pursued by relentless detectives, one-armed-mans-who-are-just-missing-a-thumb-but-wind-up-dead-so-all-we-get-is-a-beefy-guy-in-black perusing, occult cabals, witch's sly hand guiding a hero's journey like Dorthy's in the Wizard of Oz but with sex and nudity... But there you have it. They also managed to pluck the one red head on this earth whom I wouldn't instantly fall in love with on sight for a leading lady. Even Donald Pleasence was underwhelming; seeming more confused than the audience and I envy him for knowing so little about the movie. It's also a stretch to call it Action when the only action we get is the protagonist getting the shit kicked out of him time and time again. Mitch's character is about as dumb as they come. He gets out smarted around every turn and in the end

Spoiler

essentially out paces the antagonist by running away.

I started listening to the commentary but for the most part it was it was heaping praise on Martino, describing this film as a lost gem, then proceeding to point out its absurd stupidity. You can't have it both ways! Maybe I can stomach it later but I'm of the opinion this movie is best served by a running commentary supplied by Rifftrax like Samurai Cop. I'm not even sure I'd recommend a rental and that's surprising to me as I was looking forward to it more than Abrakadabra. I'm at least glad I saw Abrakadabra as it was ultimately satisfying. American Rickshaw is more like, "we survived, now let's never speak of this again." Explaining why it was so unknown before Cauldron plucked it out of obscurity.

Transfer was excellent however and I'm looking forward to what Cauldron has next: https://www.cauldron-films.com/collections/future-releases

 

^^ LOL, yeah... American Rickshaw is batshit crazy. I'd never seen it before now, but the Cauldron transfer is pristine and looks superb. Weird that the audio track is in Mono (the film displays the Dolby Stereo logo in the end credits) but that sometimes happens with these films if the audio elements aren't available. The Mono soundtrack is clear and without defects, but you can easily tell the film was meant to be experienced in Stereo.

I had a fun time watching it though. The plot is utterly ridiculous (and could only have been written by Italians) literally throwing in just about everything but the kitchen sink. Many of the other actors in the film were either grossly miscast, or simply inexperienced local Miami actors, but Donald Pleasence's role as a southern pig-snorting televangelist in the film must be seen to be believed.

But seriously, it's the type of film you just can't try to over-analyze the plot or script...because it is going to make little sense however you do that. I don't know that I would call it a true lost gem, but it was definitely entertaining to say the least. You'll be thinking "what in the hell did I just watch?"

I look forward to seeing what Cauldron does next, because the technical merits of this release were top notch.

 

Facebook update from Cauldron this morning:

We are humbled by the response to our first two limited edition Blu-Rays ABRAKADABRA and AMERICAN RICKSHAW. Thank you all for your orders and word of mouth that have made both of these such a hit among collectors and adventurous film fans. They have sold faster than we expected and quantities are already running low. The Cauldron t-shirts, with the fantastic illustration by Mattias Frisk, are also selling steadily. Every disc and shirt that you buy directly from Cauldron helps ensure that we will continue bringing you more fun and obscure films for your collection !

We have just added several new items to the CAULDRON that are brewing now. The next two are almost ready to cast a spell on you and we are beyond excited to share, but in the meantime here are some hints for you…..

1. Stylish and Gory 70’s Giallo that has Never Been Released on Blu-Ray Anywhere !

2. Nihilistic Euro 80s exploitation horror that has never been released in the US and only available in Europe on VHS. This one is sure to blow some minds !

 

Another review for American Rickshaw: http://www.rockshockpop.com/forums/...ican-Rickshaw-(Cauldron-Films)-Blu-ray-Review

 

I finally got to sit down with American Rickshaw yesterday, and it was exactly what I expected: A spaghetti action movie in the vein of Big Trouble in Little China and The Golden Child. Obviously, it isn't quite the spectacle that these movies are, but I found it perfectly charming. There's plenty of 80's beefcake on display, including the hero and Daniel Greene, who has the same sort of 80's hypermasculine studmuffin thing going as Martin Kove. The mysticism basically seems like an excuse to for minor but passable special effects and to get the hero out of trouble. At a late point in the movie, the old Chinese woman who has been helping the hero says something to the effect of "from this point on, you're on your own," and just a few minutes later, she uses her powers to deal with a superior adversary for him. Donald Pleasance does okay as the evil televangelist, but he's nowhere near as energetic as he was in Halloween. This is more than 10 years later, so there's that to consider, but The Return of Michael Myers shows that he was still able to rise to the heights of hysteria, so maybe Rickshaw was just a paycheck to him. Rickshaw is a near hit, not quite as heady as it could have been, but has enough elements I like to make it a keeper.

 

Abrakadabra review: http://www.rockshockpop.com/forums/content.php?8562-Abrakadabra-(Cauldron-Films)-Blu-ray-Review

 

10K Bullets reviews American Rickshaw: http://10kbullets.com/reviews/a/american-rickshaw-cauldron-films-bluray/

 

***NEW TITLE ANNOUNCEMENT***

Coming soon on Blu-ray from Cauldron Films ....

BEYOND TERROR (Mas Alla Del Terror, Further Than Fear)

Strange supernatural events plague three crooks after they burn an elderly devil-worshiper alive in her own house, along with her adolescent grandson.

Previously unreleased on DVD or Blu-ray, this shocking and obscure 1980 Spanish horror gem premieres on home video in the US via Cauldron Films.

Details and more in the coming weeks.

 

WOW. I've never seen that movie before, but it sounds amazing.

 

Really had no interest in Cauldron's first 2 releases but I'm definitely interested in this one and will surely pick it up.