I am Medea, official oracle of the immortal gods, sorceress of Ecalia. ![]() It is a time when Olypian gods and demigods rule over the elements of nature and control the destinies of men. Medea: "This is Ecalia, a kingdom city of ancient Greece in an age of myth and legend. The introductory text of the respective version follows. In the US version, the oracle Medea gives an introduction about how a kingdom is threatened by the vampire Lico and only Hercules can defeat him. In the Italian version, Lico begins with a dark monologue about the powers of evil. The US version basically has redesigned opening credits. Both are included on the US Blu-ray by Kino Lorber. The US version was compared to the Italian version. The big advantage of the US Blu-ray is that you have the possibility to see the US version of the movie in good picture quality, otherwise the Italian version is preferable. Except for the redesigned opening credits, there is no new footage, rather existing scenes were reused. ![]() By extending the role of Medea, who acts as the narrator, the film was simplified so that even the US audience can follow the plot without any problems. At this point, some foolishness with Telemachus on the ship was removed and the next scene, in which Heracles meets the suffering population, begins a little later. After Heracles' escape from the underworld, the US version shows Medea again, who summarizes the events. Besides smaller adaptations, like slightly shortened scene transitions, there is another major change. Also new in the US version are animated opening credits. To achieve this, scenes of Medea, which can be seen again later, were inserted while other material was removed. The opening credits have been revised so that now the oracle Medea gives an introduction, while the monologue by Lico was removed. For a release in the US, the film was modified in some points by the former distributor Woolner Brothers. More interesting now is the US version of the film. For the UK version, which is rather the international version of the movie, we have a separate comparison you can read here. Apparently, Kino Lorber had access to the same master that Koch Media used for the German Blu-ray release, as both the opening credits and the end credits are in German. This is the longest cut of the film, which begins with a monologue by Lico in his crypt, who deals about his alliance with the powers of evil. On the one hand, the Italian original version of the film is included. ![]() In the US, Kino Lorber released a set with two Blu-rays containing three different versions, which shed some light on the confusion of edits. Not always quite rounded, but surely one of the better Heracles/Hercules movies. Thanks to Mario Bava in the director's chair, the pepulum is so full of harmonious staging, great sets and special effects and gaudy colours that you almost forget that you are dealing with a trivial film. In Hercules in the Haunted World, the muscle-bound Reg Park, who embodies the role of Hercules for the second time after Hercules and the Captive Women, has to deal with vampires, undead and rather cuddly stone monsters. Now, Heracles has to deal with an extremely powerful enemy who is able to bring the dead back to life. Lico has made a pact with the powers of darkness and plans to make Deianira his wife, so that he can become the new king. Back in Icalia, however, Heracles finds out that Lico is responsible for the disaster. Together with Theseus and Telemachus, Heracles conquers the horrors of the underworld and comes into possession of the stone. After questioning the oracle Medea, Heracles learns that a magical stone hidden deep in Hades can help her. Lico, her guardian and uncle, thinks that a shadow has settled around her spirit. Heracles returns to Icalia with his friend Theseus to marry the princess Deianira, but Deianira has changed a lot.
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