Monster from the Ocean Floor (1954) Special Collector’s Edition on Blu-ray & DVD Review

Monster from the Ocean Floor (1954) Special Collector’s Edition on Blu-ray & DVD Review

Scanned in 4k from an original 35mm camera negative, Film Masters announces its first special edition of 2025, the cult classic, MONSTER FROM THE OCEAN FLOOR (1954), available Feb. 4 on Blu-ray and DVD.

The first feature-length film produced by the iconic king of pop cinema, Roger Corman, MONSTER FROM THE OCEAN FLOOR was inspired by a Los Angeles Times story Corman read about a one-man submarine manufactured by Aerojet General. He couldn’t pay for utilizing the sub in his move, but he promised plenty of publicity … and a deal was struck.

For his inaugural endeavour, Corman recruited first-timers William Danch (SHAZAM! THE JIM BACKUS SHOW, MICKEY) to write the screenplay and director Wyott Ordung (A WHALE OF A TALE, THE MUMMY AND THE CURSE OF THE JACKALS, THE NAVY vs. THE NIGHT MONSTERS). Other first-timers included actor Stuart Wade (TEENAGE MONSTER) and, soon to be a regular Corman player, Jonathan Haze (THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, NOT OF THIS EARTH, IT CONQUERED THE WORLD), who was given a bit part as the ill-fated abalone diver.

In the film, Julie Blair (Anne Kimbell, PORT SINISTER, GIRLS AT SEA) is an American artist vacationing at a seaside village in Mexico where rumours swirl about a man-eating creature dwelling in the cove. Steve Dunning (Wade) is a marine biologist doing research in the area in a one-man submarine. While Julie thinks there may be some truth to the tales, Steve is sceptical … Nonetheless romance soon blooms. But when the mysterious death of an abalone diver (Haze) and Julie’s own terrifying encounter prove that the creature exists, Dunning takes to the depths in a daring underwater battle against the monstrous predator.

Roger Corman’s THE MONSTER FROM THE OCEAN FLOOR was released as a B-movie quickie in the wake of the previous year’s box-office smash THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS and riding the wave for audience’s tastes for all things underwater – with both 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA and CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON both released in the same year as this low-budget cash-in. THE MONSTER FROM THE OCEAN FLOOR went to on to gross more than twenty times its original budget.

As a creature feature THE MONSTER FROM THE OCEAN FLOOR is sadly lacking much in the way of an actual creature, effectively leaving revealing the titular beastie till the very end. Around the film’s midway point there’s a curious shark that ends grabs more screen time than the monster itself. In the film the monster is often referred to as an amoeba when in fact it ends up being an exceptionally large octopus, albeit an octopus with one eye. The original monster design had test audiences in fits of laughter, so Corman had the titular beast’s design changed so as not to cause mirth hence why it ended up looking like a giant octopus.

The film is just too talkative and consequently ends up as dull and slow-paced. There is never any sense of dread. You should be fearing the unseen monster throughout but instead you’re willing it to pop out of the ocean and squish the cast before they pontificate more about its existence. On the plus side it is pleasing to see a very capable female lead character carry the movie and men as mere support players in her story. This promises much but ends up delivering extraordinarily little and meanders its way to an anticlimactic finale.

Scanned in 4k from an original 35mm camera negative, Film Masters’ first special edition of 2025 will be available Feb. 4 on Blu-ray and DVD, with a host of special features.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Tom Weaver and The Weaver Players provide full-length commentary, which includes archival contributions from Roger Corman; liner notes by Weaver; Ballyhoo Motion Pictures presents two new documentaries, Bob Baker: From Monsters to Marionettes and Roger Corman: Becoming a B-Movie Maker; stills gallery, courtesy of Mike Barnum; original 35mm theatrical trailer; and re-cut 2025 trailer.

TECH SPECS:

Monster From the Ocean Floor is presented with an aspect ratio of 1.37:1. Discs are region free and include English SDH. Audio is DTS-HD/Dolby AC3s.

Monster From the Ocean Floor

Film Masters

Genre: Cult/Horror

B+W

Not Rated

Format: Blu-ray & DVD

Running Time: Approx. 64 Minutes (Plus 90 Minutes Special Features + Stills Gallery)

Suggested Retail Price: $29.95 Blu-ray / $19.95 DVD

Street Date: Feb. 4, 2025

Catalog #: FMB023 Blu-ray / FMD023 DVD

UPC Code: 840418319048 Blu-ray / 840418319031 DVD