Das todbringende Ungeheuer (OT: The Deadly Mantis) (Der Fluch der Galerie des Grauens #5) (G1 Amaray) [Germany]

[pygospa]

Release date: 29.01.2021
Buy link: Wicked-Vision
Price: €29.99
Discs: Dual Format (BD+DVD)

Booklet: 24 pages

 

 

 

 

It's somewhat a tradition for Anolis to announce upcoming releases on or around Christmas, and this year is not different: Six titles where either revealed, or teased, or had some additional information, we didn't know (e.g. cover variants). The first of this list is the announcement that their "Curse of the Gallery of Horrors" series will be continued as the first release they'll have planned for us in 2021, release date being the end of January (Wicked already lists it as the first shop in Germany, and they estimate the release date for January 29th). And it'll be the long awaited "The Deadly Mantis", as no. 5 of the list:
 

1. IT! Terror from Beyond Space
2. Donovan's Brain
3. The Angry Red Planet
4. The Night Walker
5. The Deadly Mantis

There is no other information on the release yet, their "main announcement" (as they call their announcements that come up a week before you can order them at all the stores), we only get the picture of the cover. But of course there will be some bonus features. And given the overall series, we already know it will be a G1 (i.e. DVD-sized) Amaray, with two discs, the second one being a DVD copy of the Blu-ray, a booklet and the design of the series including the spine image continuation.

 

The movie is directed by Nathan H. Juran (The Black Castle) and based on a story by producer William Alland (Creature from the Black Lagoon). It stars Craig Stevens, William Hopper and Alix Talton. It tells the story of a giant praying mantis, that was trapped in ice for millions of years, until the explosion of a volcano finally manages to melt the North Pole ice. And once defrosted, it turns out, that the creature is still alive...
 

To bring the monster alive, in this black and white movie they actually built a 61m by 12m long papier-maché mantis, with a 46m wingspan. It was moved by a complicated hydraulic system. But besides they also had miniature models of Buildings and Cars, etc. that could be used, and for some shops they even used real living paying mantis that climbs around miniature buildings. Even though they had so many special effects, the movie itself wasn't well received during it's time and therefore got buried in oblivion.

While there will be some more information, Anolis already released the cover and Wicked already added it to their store for preorder.
 

 

[pygospa]

As usually, I'll add a mention for @Grendel and @Mad-martigan who I know of that they are collecting these and like to be kept updated. Of course, feel free to add mentions to whomever you know who also collects these or might just be interested in this particular release. Btw. I have to say, I am pretty pleased with this release, as I think the cover artwork looks spectacular. And I am interested to finally get to watch this movie - I've heard good about it and know that some people are actually waiting for this one.