The Beasties & Babes of BLOOD ISLAND

FEAR IN THE PHILIPPINES: THE COMPLETE BLOOD ISLAND FILMS (Blu-ray)

1959-1970 / 368 min (4 movies)

From Severin Films

Review by Josey, the Sudden Cat

While Eddie Romero may not be quite as revered as the ‘other’ horror director who shares the same surname, he managed to put together a scrappy little franchise in his own right. But instead of undead hordes, he served up mad doctors and mutant monsters. In lew of shopping malls and underground bunkers, they lurked in the jungles of Blood Island. 

From 1959 to 1970, Eddie and partner-in-grime Gerry de Leon cranked out four low budget films in what came to be known as the Blood Island series, all produced in the Philippines, but shot in English with American and Filipino actors. Whereas George A. Romero used the Living Dead films as a platform to address society’s ills, Eddie was mostly used his as a platform for babes, boobs & blood…in increasing amounts as the series progressed (or regressed, depending on your point of view).

The first film, 1959’s Terror is a Man, is actually pretty good. Moody and atmospheric, it’s a loose adaptation of H.G. Wells’ The Island of Dr. Moreau, featuring Richard Derr as William, a shipwreck survivor who’s rescued by Dr. Girard (Francis Lederer), a scientist obsessed with surgically making a panther more human. William himself becomes obsessed with Girard’s sultry wife, Frances (Greta Thyssen). And since Thyssen is unbelievably gorgeous, who can blame him? This is the least exploitative film of the series, and ironically, the only one Romero isn’t credited with directing.

Terror is a Man may be the better film, but 1968’s Brides of Blood is arguably the kookiest, therefore more fun. This one begins with an attempted rape by its hero, Jim (John Ashley), who tries to have his way with blonde bimbo Carla Henderson (Beverly Powers, aptly credited as Beverly Hills). She’s the unsatisfied wife of Dr. Paul Henderson (Kent Taylor), who’s on Blood Island to engage in scientific shenanigans of his own. Meanwhile, the locals are regularly sacrificing naked young women to a jungle-dwelling beast, while the rest of the cast are being terrorized by killer trees. It’s a crazy as it sounds, but related to the first film in name only. This is also the first appearance of Ashley, who apparently enjoyed visiting The Philippines enough to return for the next two films.

Reuniting with his wife, Dr. Henderson suddenly remembers why he wanted a divorce.

Do you remember that Star Trek episode where Kirk is forced to train for gladiatorial combat by a hot alien babe in go-go boots and a foil bikini? That woman, Angelique Pettyjohn, is Romero’s token tart in Mad Doctor of Blood Island, which is completely unrelated to the first two entries (John Ashley plays a different character as well). This one features yet another overconfident scientist, Dr. Lorca (Ronald Remy), who turns hapless humans into monsters. This one ups the blood & boob count, with the lovely Pettyjohn considerably less Reynolds Wrapped.

She wasn’t the only Star Trek starlet to head overseas. Celeste Yarnell joins Ahley for Beast of Blood, the only film in the series that’s actually a direct sequel. Dr. Lorca’s chloroform creature from Mad Doctor of Blood Island is back for more mayhem, as is the dreaded doctor himself (this time played by Eddie Garcia). The bloodiest entry of the franchise - including a lengthy & graphic surgery scene - it’s also more lurid and rapey, but not as much goofy fun as its predecessor.

Fear in the Philippines features pretty decent transfers of all four films, and each comes with a good selection of bonus features, mostly interviews with critics, historians, a few cast members and Eddie Romero himself (who passed away back in 2013). He may not be as well known as ol’ George, but fans of his brand of schlock cinema will get a kick out of this. 

EXTRA KIBBLES

Terror is a Man:

INTERVIEWS - Man Becomes Creature, with Hemisphere Marketing Consultant Samuel L. Sherman; Dawn of Blood Island, with co-director Eddie Romero; Terror Creature, with author Pete Tombs; When the Bell Rings, with critic Mark Holcomb.

TRAILER

POSTER & STILL GALLERY

Brides of Blood:

INTERVIEWS - Jungle Fury, with co-director Eddie Romero; Here Comes the Bride, with Hemisphere Marketing Consultant Samuel L. Sherman; Beverly Hills on Blood Island, with actress Beverly Powers.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By Samuel L. Sherman

ALTERNATE TITLE SEQUENCE

TEASER & TRAILER

POSTER & STILL GALLERY

Mad Doctor of Blood Island:

INTERVIEWS - The Mad Doctor of Blood Island, with co-director Eddie Romero; Tombs of the Living Dead, with author Pete Tombs; A Taste of Blood, with critic Mark Holcomb.

2 AUDIO COMMENTARIES - 1) By historians Nathaniel Thompson & Howard S. Berger; 2) By Samuel L. Sherman

TRAILER

POSTER & STILL GALLERY

Beast of Blood:

INTERVIEWS - Celeste and the Beast, with actress Celeste Yarnell; Dr. Lorca’s Blood Devils, with actor Eddie Garcia.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By Samuel L. Sherman

SUPER 8 DIGEST VERSION - This is interesting.

TRAILER

RADIO SPOT

POSTER & STILL GALLERY