This was the first audio commentary I ever heard by Tim Lucas, author of the mighty tome Mario Bava: All the Colours of the Dark, and likely the first he ever recorded.

As such I've given it a rather generous 7 out of 10. In truth Lucas isn't the most charismatic of speakers (plus there is a slightly alarming number of incidences of dead air silence) but he makes up for his static tonal register with insight and facts, facts, facts!

Seriously, Lucas is a complete Bava obsessive and litters his commentary with all kinds of interesting background on the man himself and his directorial début. Moreover, Lucas is a seasoned fan of cinema and the man behind the Video Watchdog magazine. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Lucas is able to offer impressive biographical overviews of all the cast and crew involved, as well as having a genuine sense of who his likely listener is. In fact I would suggest this last point is where this track's strength lies and indeed this is true all of his commentaries. Tim Lucas is a fan speaking for the fans.

The audio commentary covers the stars and the technical staff but also the historical reception of the film and its influence to the genre. Ultimately, it informs the listener and offers you a greater appreciation of the film - the benchmark for any audio commentary.

Overall: Great first effort. Keep up the good work Mr. Tim Lucas!