Two Helpings of CORMAN With a Side of Crow

NIGHT OF THE BLOOD BEAST and ATTACK OF THE GIANT LEECHES

(Blu-ray)

1958-1959 / 127 min (2 movies)

FROM FILM MASTERS

Review by Mr. Bonnie, the Blood Beast😼

Film Masters pairs-up a couple more Roger Corman-produced quickies, though actually produced by little brother Gene. The restorations for both are nice, but this is a case where the side dishes are tastier than the main course.

First up is Night of the Blood Beast, in which an astronaut is killed when his ship crash lands on its return to Earth. But he doesn't stay dead for long. In fact, he’s got a bunch of little space critters inside of him. Meanwhile, the creature that put them there is on the rampage with plans to take over the world. Overall, the film is poky and pedestrian, though the basic concept ain’t bad.

"Hey, buddy, you've got one attached to your...oh, never mind."

Attack of the Giant Leeches is daffier and dumber, but more entertaining…usually at its own expense. Taking place in the Florida Everglades, an earnest game warden battles the title creatures, which look they’re made out of Hefty bags. This one also boasts the gorgeous Yvette Vickers tramping-it-up as a local yokel’s cheating wife. She’s the best special effect in the movie.

However, the side dishes are what make this meal. Included as bonus features are the two Mystery Science Theater 3000 episodes which riffed these films. Night of the Blood Beast is from the fourth season, when Joel Hodgson was still the on the show. Attack of the Giant Leeches is from season seven, after Mike Nelson had taken his spot. Neither episode is remastered or anything, but both are extremely funny and still the best way to revisit both films.

EXTRA KIBBLES

MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 VERSION OF BOTH FILMS

TV VERSION OF NIGHT OF THE BLOOD BEAST - 1.37:1 Aspect ratio

8MM SILENT DIGEST VERSION - Night of the Blood Beast

AUDIO COMMENTARIES FOR BOTH FILMS - By Tom Weaver

FEATURETTE - Made from T.V.: Bernard Kowalski as a Director is an affectionate tribute by historian C. Cortney Joyner.

RECUT TRAILERS

PUBLICITY & STILL SLIDESHOW

YVETTE VICKERS SLIDESHOW - Mee-ow!

SUPPLEMENTAL BOOKLET - Featuring a couple of essays, publicity materiel and photos.