This limited edition 3-disc set (designed by Earl Kess) is limited to 6,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them. Special note: this is Volume #1 of a three part (and world first) expanding box set featuring the films of René Cardona Jr.
René Cardona Jr. was the king of Mexican exploitation cinema throughout the 70s and 80s, directing dozens of films in a variety of genres and taking creative inspiration from the most popular trends in American and Italian genre cinema. Vinegar Syndrome presents The Cardona Collection: Volume 1, containing three of his violent, horror tinged adventure and disaster movies, all newly restored from their original negatives.
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TREASURE OF THE AMAZON:
Gringo, an American ex-pat driven mad by a failed (and deadly) treasure hunt in the Amazonian rainforest, is encouraged by two novice adventurers to help them recover Gringo’s mythic loot. Setting out on their journey, they cross paths with Klaus von Blantz, a deranged and greedy ex-Nazi, who has launched his own fortune seeking expedition and Clark, another American hunting for oil. As greed and jealousy grows between the competing posses, they discover that their biggest threat isn’t each other, but the ravenous native beasts around them…and some very hungry local tribesmen…
A terrifically entertaining and twisted Mexican take on Italian style cannibal and jungle films, René Cardona Jr.’s TREASURE OF THE AMAZON is chock full of all the right ingredients: gratuitous gore (and some imaginatively nasty death scenes), cannibal natives, animal attacks, and a surprise A-list cast featuring Oscar Nominee Stuart Whitman (Night of the Lepus), Donald Pleasance (Halloween), and Golden Globe winner, Bradford Dillman (Piranha) playing along side Eurosleaze film favorites such as Hugo Stiglitz (Nightmare City) and John Ireland (One on Top of the Other). Vinegar Syndrome is delighted to present this overlooked piece of Amazonian set splatter to Blu-ray, newly restored in 4K from its original negative!
directed by: René Cardona Jr.
1984 / 105 min / 1.85:1 / English Mono
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THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE:
Edward, a wealthy old man, has commissioned a yacht to take his family on an expedition to investigate underwater ruins in the Bermuda Triangle. While at sea, his daughter discovers a strange looking doll floating in the water, to which she takes an immediate liking. No sooner than entering the Bermuda Triangle, increasingly mysterious events start to befall the travelers, as the group begins loosing all sense of time. And it’s not long before various members of the party turn up dead, while the strange doll develops an appetite for fresh flesh…
A strange Mexican-Italian co-production that balances adventure and survival film tropes along with touches of supernatural horror and mystery, René Cardona Jr.’s THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE stars two-time Oscar winner, John Huston (Chinatown, Prizzi’s Honor), Italian sex symbol Gloria Guida (To Be Twenty), Euro starlet Claudine Auger (Thunderball), and Mexican exploitation stalwart, Hugo Stiglitz (Survive!). Imaginatively weird and frequently jaw dropping, Vinegar Syndrome brings THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE to Blu-ray for the first time, newly restored from its original 35mm negative.
directed by: René Cardona Jr.
1978 / 112 min / 1.85:1 / English Mono
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CYCLONE:
When a powerful cyclone sweeps through the Caribbean, downing a small plane, sinking a fishing boat, and sweeping people off of the nearby islands, a group of sea bound survivors take refuge on a damaged boat. Stranded and with no way to communicate with land, the days drag on and hunger and hopelessness overtake the group. However, their horror is only beginning as food supplies start to dwindle and the survivors are forced to take unspeakable measures to stay alive, all as carnivorous sea life circles in, seeking fresh blood…
An epic disaster thriller made on a shoe-string that slowly morphs into an unsettling tale of survival and desperation, René Cardona Jr.’s cult classic, CYCLONE brings together a remarkable cast, headlined by five time Oscar nominee, Arthur Kennedy (Let Sleeping Corpses Lie), exploitation queen Carroll Baker (Orgasmo, Baby Doll), Spaghetti crime favorite, Lionel Stander (Milan: Caliber 9), and Italian character actress, Olga Karlotos (Fulci’s Zombie). Elevated by a lush score from two time Oscar nominee, Riz Ortolani (Goodby Uncle Tom, Don’t Torture a Duckling), Vinegar Syndrome presents this star-studded thrill ride on Blu-ray for the very first time, presented in both its commonly seen English export version as well as it’s rare, alternate Mexican theatrical cut, both of which feature extensive alternate footage!
directed by: René Cardona Jr.
1978 / 119 min / 1.85:1 / English Mono
Overall rating: 4.3007812 / 5 from 256 reviews.
This limited edition 3-disc set, featuring three films by René Cardona Jr., is highly praised for its excellent film quality, top-notch transfer, and fantastic packaging. Customers appreciate the great collection of films, the entertaining movies, and the appealing artwork on the box.
Review topics: [quality, looks, cover, set, design, feel, packaging, work, value, box, case, price, upgrade, sound, buy, movie, film, collection, transfer, artwork, release, features, cyclone, cardona, slipcase, flick, presentation, amazon, story, boxset].
"If you like adventure, disaster, mystery and all-round insanity, you ought to enjoy this set, which collects some of Rene Cardona's most famous films. Cyclone is my favourite, but I was also entertained by Treasure of the Amazon and the bonkers Bermuda Triangle, with each film featuring some notable names for the Hollywood of yesteryear. Great value if you can get it in a sale, especially the ongoing Slumber one, where this and the second volume can be had for an absolute steal."
"Pulp adventure, tropical oddities, and family‑run filmmaking resurrected with boutique care. The Cardona Collection: Volume One is a vibrant, lovingly restored dive into a cinematic world where sincerity outweighs polish and imagination outruns budget. Essential for collectors who crave the strange, the sun‑drenched, and the defiantly handmade."
"VS has restored 3 Cordona (Man vs. Wilderness/Eco-Horror) The slipcase with a Hardbox (Magnetic for Vol. 2) The Artwork is incredible. The 3 films are Cheesy Goodness, A Solid Recommendation!"
"I love Cardona, and this collection is no exception. Great trash in sublime packaging!"
"I already had all these movies on dvd, but seeing them with such a great picture quality made me enjoy them even more! Treasure of the Amazon is both wild and wacky! It's the kind of jungle adventure that they don't make anymore. Some of the dialogue needs to be heard to be believed. The tone changes from comical to grim as there's a fair bit of gore in this one. I thought the previous dvd release of Cyclone looked great, but this pushes it into a whole another level. The movie is the kind of a "70's disaster" film that Cardona is famous for. And i think his best. Bermuda Triangle was another huge upgrade from previous releases. Who can say no to Huge Stiglizt and Gloria Guida? Not me. All of these three films are enjoyable in their own escapist way. I already got the second set and came back for more :) I hope there will be a third set too in the not too distant future!"
"Sharks, cannibals, and the supernatural all in one boxed set. These low budget films jumped on the boat to follow the current trends and ended up being fun disasters surrounding disaster plotlines. Not great by any means, but a lot of fun to watch, especially if you enjoyed Volume 2 (superior, in my opinion). Great collection for anyone completing their Italian shark or cannibal films, but probably not for anyone looking for the best of the best in either genre. Great transfer, cool set."
"I wanted to see these movies since I first found them on the VS website. First of all the packaging is top notch. Great artwork, a slip cover, hard case, and magnets which I can only guess is to help keep it attached to the second volume which I also have. As far as the movies go, I have only seen Treasure of the Amazon, so far. The plot is enjoyable as far a cannibalism exploitation movies go. I will say it’s light on the actual cannibalism and gore compared to other movies in this genre. Overall an enjoyable watch."
"I was mainly familiar with the Cardona family's horror films before the Cardona collection and I'm pleased to say the charm extends into other genres. This set is all about locations, where everything has that summer feel perfect for summertime viewing. You also get a nice breadth of genres from adventure, to disaster film, horror, and survival, often within the same film. Encoding is excellent as with the Vin Syn Mexican horror films they have also released."
"Outstanding packaging! I ordered this title along with volume two and was pleasantly surprised when the two sets connected seamlessly via magnets to create one big box set!"
"Picked this up during the last sale for $15 and boy what a great decision that was! Can't believe I overlooked this one for so long. I'll sum it up like this: Treasure of the Amazon- this is my kind of movie: jungle safari, cannibals, gore, animal attacks (the crab scene reminds me of Fulci's tarantula scene from the Beyond). Probably the best of the 3 in my opinion. Plus Donald Pleasance plays a Nazi, come on! Bermuda - well the entire film pretty much takes place on a ship. Creepy girl with a creepy doll found at sea (that comes to life in a few ugly shots). I'd have thrown that girl overboard. Pretty cool movie but I didn't think they needed to kill those sharks. Cyclone - probably the 2nd best of the bunch. A disaster movie and tale of survival as a cyclone leaves people stranded at sea. All I know is while everyone else was killing and eating that dog I would've been content just breastfeeding off that pregnant lady. Did nobody think of that?! Overall this was a deal and a steal! Thank you vinegar syndrome! Always a pleasure. Looking forward to the others in the set."
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