Maya

Horror veteran William Berger stars as Dr. Slivak,who is murdered while undertaking a study of a Mayan pyramid.A number of bizarre supernatural murders follow,while Slivak's daughter and old friend attempt to solve the mystery."Maya" by Marcello Avallone is actually an international production that was filmed in Venezuela.The film offers plenty of sex and blood and several truly atmospheric moments.There's even a cockfight and an exorcism which concludes with the victim vomiting live snakes.Marcello Avallone has to be one of the most underrated Italian horror directors."Maya" is his crowning achievement-a masterful and highly innovative horror flick somewhat reminiscent to Lucio Fulci's masterpiece "The Beyond".It is also very well made,with beautiful photography and plenty of good actors to match.Give this overlooked Italian horror a look.8 out of 10.

This Italian horror film delivers a typically stylish atmosphere and thrilling scenes to make it a pleasant experience for every friend of Italian horror films. Director Avallone tells a chilling story about an old Maya curse that breaks loose. Several hapless characters fall victim to it in quite nasty ways. But Avallone focuses more on the uncanny aspects of the plot than on the gore - which doesn't mean that there's no blood flowing here.

Recommended for all horror fans and in my opinion more thrilling than Avallone's better known first horror film "Spettri" (Specters). Rating: 7/10.

Ah, late 80s horror from Italy... Gory deaths, beautiful nude women, and zero explanations given!

At the great Italian University of Cult & Horror Movies, Marcello Avallone certainly wasn't the brightest or the most gifted student. Six out of the eight movies he directed are completely forgotten, and the two horror flicks he made during the late 80s aren't exactly high-flyers neither. I concur with most reviewers around here, stating that "Maya" is slightly better than "Specters", but it still is a muddled and thoroughly incoherent flick.

Avallone was clearly fascinated by macabre history and ancient civilizations. "Specters" revolved around a feline monster escaping from a sarcophagus in Rome, whereas "Maya" takes place - supposedly, at least - in Mexico and revolves around an entire village falling victim to a vicious Maya (duh!) curse. Old prof Slivak (veteran William Berger) is the first to die when he climbs up a Mayan temple and awakes "something". The evil but invisible force spreads and kills several people in brutally imaginative ways, like impalement through the mouth or hung up by chains. The sexiest girl even has her pretty nose split open when she gets smacked around in her bathtub.

The pacing is sluggish, the occult aspects remain underdeveloped, and the macho protagonist Peter Phelps is an insufferable jerk, so unless you're an avid fan of Italian 80s horror, there aren't many reasons to search for this obscure title.

Obscure flick only out on VHS and do has a VHS rip on DVD on the German Dragon label. I only searched it because it was directed by Marcello Avallone of SPECTRES (1987). It shows that it was made by the Italians. Because the effects are rather okay and you do have overdubs for special effects sounds. On the other hand the way the camera was used also shows it origin of country and of course the use of lightning also reveals that fact.

It's a supernatural flick and it do has a few good moments, like one hanging on fish hooks or another one being smashed with her head in a bath tub. But it do has a few flows. It's slow building and it do has a few awkward moments. Overall it's not that bad and do has all elements, nudity, the red stuff and some good effects but it do fails a bit here and there due that some scene's do take too long. Still, so typical Italian that the lovers of that cinema really has to search this obscure flick. And for the girls, yes, Peter Phelps do shows his body famous of Baywatch and other series.

Gore 0,5/5 Nudity 1,5/5 Effects 2,5/5 Story 2/5 Comedy 0/5

I recently watched the Italian film 🇮🇹 Maya (1989) on Tubi. The story follows an American living in Mexico whose best friend dies in a Mayan temple. As bodies begin to pile up around the temple, he decides to take a break from his womanizing ways to investigate the mystery behind the deaths.

Directed by Marcello Avallone (Spectres), the film stars Peter Phelps (Point Break), Mirella D'Angelo (Tenebrae), Antonella Antinori (Facing Windows), and Antonello Fassari (Valentina).

I enjoyed this movie more than I expected. While the plot is straightforward and nothing extraordinary, the settings are well chosen, featuring numerous gorgeous ladies and plenty of nudity. The horror effects are top-notch and blew my mind with their intense gore. There's a particularly memorable finger scene and some hook imagery reminiscent of Hellraiser. The kills are astonishing. Unfortunately, the ending felt a bit like a copout, reminiscent of Poltergeist, but it didn't detract from the excellent journey to get there.

In conclusion, Maya is a worthwhile watch for horror fans who appreciate the gory, non-cannibal Italian horror films of that era. I'd score it 6.5/10.