A Hyena in the Safe Blu-ray Review

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

Introduction: A Lost Treasure of Italian Genre Cinema

Often disregarded and interesting in the canon of late-1960s Italian film is Una Iena in Cassaforte, which translates as “A Hyena in the Safe” or “A Hyena in the Vault”. Directed by Cesare Canevari and released in 1968, this film mixes the tight, gritty elements of a crime thriller with the vivid, surreal design of the giallo genre. It shows a psychedelic, claustrophobic story of paranoia and greed in which a straightforward scheme to distribute stolen diamonds among thieves becomes a deadly game of suspicion. It offers aficionados of oddball European genre films a distinctive and visually striking experience that reflects the experimental attitude of its day.

Plot Summary: A Heist Intersects “Ten Little Indians”

The idea is a typical suspense arrangement. At a secluded castle four famous foreign bank robbers assemble: Klaus from Germany, Albert from France, Juan from Spain, and Carina from Tangiers. Their plan is to split a big stash of diamonds taken from an Amsterdam bank, which is hidden in a giant safe on the grounds. The beginning is difficult since things are complex: Opening the safe needs several keys; one of them is gone. This basic logistical mistake keeps the crooks together, turning their relationship into a pressure cooker of distrust. Alliances change, secret intentions come to light, and corpses mount up like in Agatha Christie’s Ten Little Indians as they hunt for the missing key.

Psychedelic Atmosphere and Visual Style

The way A Hyena in the Safe really stands out is in its performance. The picture has a very trippy and surreal visual sense, far from a simple crime thriller. Reviewers of the picture often compliment its “bizarre camera-work,” strong angles, and overall frenetic directing. The mansion backdrop turns into a maze of tension as characters are observed from the most unexpected angles and through hidden cameras. A groovy, late-1960s vibe is produced by the color, costumes, and production design. The outcome is an environmental and occasionally baffling sensation more akin to a hallucinogenic dream than a straightforward heist-gone-wrong narrative.

Performances and Tone: An Italian Giallo With a Wink

The cast of the movie totally embraces the odd sensibility of the subject matter. Among the main female lead, Maria Luisa Geisberger stands out for her strong presence in her character. With the film not taking itself too seriously, the performances often combine intense thriller with dark comedy. This almost humorous, self-aware style lets the convoluted narrative and over-the-top characters add to the delight. Some viewers have called the movie a “giallo comedy” because it has funny scenes despite the killings and betrayals. It knows that its plot is silly, but it makes it look good.

Strong Points, Weaknesses, and Legacy

The film’s strongest point is its self-assured and original approach. Made on a clear small budget, it has a vivid color scheme, creative camera techniques, and a fast pace to make a remarkable and unforgettable atmosphere. It’s a great find for those who enjoy quirky 1960s movies.

Its flaws, nevertheless, are related to its hopes. Some storyline strands, such as the partygoers outside the mansion, are never properly clarified and the plot can seem convoluted and ridiculous. Viewers looking for clear, sensible narrative might not find the dialogue-heavy moments and occasionally erratic plotting appealing.

Its heritage is that of an intriguing cult artifact. It offers a unique, psychedelic taste and pre-dates related “trapped group” gialli like Mario Bava’s Five Dolls for an August Moon. One of the roles was played by Dimitri Nabokov, son of well-known author Vladimir Nabokov, which is a fascinating tidbit that contributes to its legendary reputation.

Ultimately: Who Ought to View This Film?

Though not a model of simple narrative, A Hyena in the Safe is a fun and creative stylization work that succeeds. It is most appropriate for:

• Fans of Italian gialli and poliziotteschi looking for deep cuts.
• Fans of late 1960s surreal and psychedelic film.
• Viewers who value stylized, small-budget movies with a distinctive mood above story accuracy.

The Video

The transfer for A Hyena in the Safe was prov ide by Variety Distribution and R.T.I Srl, Rome. It was scanned in 2021 at Cinelab Services, Rome from the film’s original camera negative. It comes to Blu-ray in a 1.33:1 AVC 1080p encodement from Celluloid Dreams, encoded and authored by Ryan Masciola at Diversified Video Solutions.

This is the first Blu-ray-only release from Celluloid Dreams and only the third release from this burgeoning boutique. Their previous releases being two fantastic gialli, The Case of the Bloody Iris and Short Night of the Glass Dolls and a fourth release of the classic The Black Belly of the Tarantula coming soon on 4K. This Blu-ray release does not disappoint, however. It’s up to the same quality as the 4K releases, with the sole exception being the format cannot resolve the film grain as purely as 4K can. Other than that, it looks natural and crisp with vibrant colors and is a strong, reference quality Blu-ray release.

The Audio

The original Italian mono track was taken from the original optical sound negatives and is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. It is clear and dynamic for a a mono mix.

The Supplements

While this release isn’t exactly stacked with bonus features, what we get are interesting interviews and an excellent audio commentary.

Bonus Features:

• Exclusive slipcover featuring brand-new, original cover art painted by Thu Lieu Pham (Celluloid Dreams Web Exclusive)
• Exclusive set of eight beautifully restored 12″x8.25″ color reproductions of the original Italian fotobuste (lobby cards)! (Celluloid Dreams Web Exclusive)
• Commentary by Guido Henkel – Guido Henkel give an in depth and knowledgeable commentary for this little minor giallo.
• “7 Guests for a Massacre” Featurette (1080p; 00:51:09)
• “Schrödinger’s Cat” Featurette (1080p; 00:36:04)
• “The Mysteries of Villa Toeplitz” Featurette (1080p; 00:07:52)
• Image Gallery (1080p)
• Italian Trailer (1080p; 00:04:10)

The Final Assessment

To put it simply, this “hyena” is a wild, vibrant, and erratic film. This little gem is worth looking for if you feel like seeing a diamond heist through a trippy lens with some paranoia, slick claustrophobic violence, and groovy music. A Hyena in the Safe falls very widely into the giallo camp, but it’s worth seeing in this gorgeous Blu-ray restoration for fans of the genre.

A Hyena in the Safe was released on Blu-ray November 25, 2025 from Celluloid Dreams

Details

• Rating Certificate: Not Rated
• Studios & Distributors: Fering | Celluloid Dreams
• Director: Cesare Canevari
• Written By: Cesare Canevari | Alberto Penna
• Run Time: 100 Mins.
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Video Format: AVC 1080p
• Primary Audio: Italian DTS-HD MA 2.0 Mono
• Subtitles: English
• Street Date: 25 November 2025