NIGHT OF THE BLOOD BEAST (1958)—with an extensive restoration, a new 4K scan from original 35mm archival elements—and Attack of the Giant Leeches (1959)—newly restored in HD—will be available on Blu-ray and DVD Nov. 12, in a special collector’s two-disc edition from Film Masters.
NIGHT OF THE BLOOD BEAST (1958)
Astronaut John Corcoran (Michael Emmet) dies upon returning to Earth following a space mission, but mysteriously comes back to life! As the scientists at a remote space research station investigate Corcoran’s revival, they discover that a parasitic, alien lifeform is utilizing his body as a host to incubate its offspring. Starring Angela Greene, John Baer and Ed Nelson, the disc includes the highly entertaining MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 episode as well. With a full commentary track by Tom Weaver and The Weaver Players and the rare 8mm silent digest version that Monster Kids everywhere are sure to appreciate, this is one disc you won’t want to miss.
At just sixty-ones minutes runtime 50’s B-Movie NIGHT OF THE BLOOD BEAST is in no danger of outstaying its welcome. It’s yet another flick where a handful of people decide that it is for the best that they shoot and kill something otherworldly rather than attempt to connect with in a meaningful way. However, on this occasion they are right to want to kill it as the otherworldly beast turns out to be a bit of a meanie.
Plotwise there are similarities to THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD (1951) and more noticeably it predates Ridley Scott’s 1979 classic ALIEN by having the Blood Beast infecting/impregnating a human host and then keeping its human host functional to serve its nefarious purpose.
Costing a meagre $68,000 to produce and filmed in just seven days BLOOD BEAST uses the same alien costume that was used in TEENAGE CAVE MAN (1958), another Roger Corman production. Ross Sturlin wore the costume for both films. To keep costs down almost all of BLOOD BEAST’s entire crew went on to work on ATTACK OF THE GIANT LEECHES, also included in this special edition, with both Corman brothers and Kowalski.
The male characters maintain the same stoic facial expression throughout and as was symptomatic of its time women are expected to appear weak, scream a lot and rely on the men to be saved. As is the case with the accompanying ATTACK OF THE GIANT LEECHES this passes the time nicely. There are decent ideas and conversational debates to keep this flick ticking over whilst the titular beast lurks in the shadows before its final reveal.
Attack of the Giant Leeches (1959) Review
On the bonus disc, massive, bloodsucking monsters are at large in this schlock, drive-in classic from producers Roger and Gene Corman, Roger’s lesser-known brother. Legendary Yvette Vickers (ATTACK OF THE 50-FOOT WOMAN) stars along with Jan Shepard, Ken Clark … and some very nasty, giant leeches! LOVE YVETTE? Tom Weaver provides his gallery of rare and signed Yvette Vickers photos for a special treat on this disc that also includes the MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 episode and a new documentary, BORN FROM T.V: BERNARD KOWALSKI as a Director from Ballyhoo Motion Pictures.
At just over an hour’s runtime this creature feature adheres to the B-movie template. It’s both serviceable and unremarkable at the same time however it plays well and still makes for an agreeable afternoon’s viewing. ATTACK OF THE GIANT LEECHES is also very much of its time in terms of how women are portrayed. Women are either there to scream and cower before seeking solace in the arms of a dumb hunk of a man or slutty and not ashamed to flaunt it – this means YOU Yvette Vickers. Given the film’s extremely limited budget it is obvious that the titular giant leeches fail to convince but for me that just adds to the film’s charm.
SPECIAL FEATURES: A 4×3 presentation of NIGHT OF THE BLOOD BEAST (1.37:1); a new documentary on director Bernard Kowalski; MST3K episodes of both films; 8mm silent digest version of NIGHT OF THE BLOOD BEAST; full-length commentaries by Tom Weaver and The Weaver Players; Yvette Vickers still gallery from the private collection of Weaver; re-cut trailer of both films using restored elements; publicity slideshow of both films, courtesy of Mike Barnum; a before/after film restoration comparison of NIGHT OF THE BLOOD BEAST; and a full-color, inserted booklet with essays by Weaver. Captions are included for the features, documentary, and commentaries.
Both films are presented with an aspect ratio of 1.85:1, with NIGHT OF THE BLOOD BEAST also available with a TV aspect ratio of 1.37:1. Discs are region free and include English SDH. Audio is DTS-HD/Dolby AC3s.