The Blood Beast Terror (1968)

Director:

Vernon Sewell

Writer:

Peter Bryan (screenplay)

Release Date:

16 May 1969 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Mystery | Horror | Sci-Fi

Plot:

A scientist, working with genetics, creates a creature that is capable of transforming back and forth...

Plot Keywords:

Moth | Constable | Transformation | Mad Scientist | Hypnotism

Cast

Peter Cushing	...	Detective Inspector Quennell
Robert Flemyng	...	Dr. Carl Mallinger
Wanda Ventham	...	Clare Mallinger
Vanessa Howard	...	Meg Quennell
David Griffin	...	William Warrender
Glynn Edwards	...	Sgt. Allan
William Wilde	...	Frederick Britewell
Kevin Stoney	...	Granger
John Paul	...	Mr. Warrender
Russell Napier	...	Landlord
Roy Hudd	...	Smiler - The Morgue Attendant
Leslie Anderson	...	Joe Trigger - Coachman
Simon Cain	...	Clem Withers - Gardener
Robert Cawdron	...	Chief Constable
Kenneth Colley	...	James
Beryl Cooke	...	Housekeeper
Roy Evans	...	2nd Porter
Joan Ingram	...	Cook
David Lyell	...	2nd Student
John Scott Martin	...	Snaflebum
William Maxwell	...	1st Porter
Michael Mundell	...	1st Student (as Mike Mundell)
Norman Pitt	...	Police Doctor
Malcolm Rogers	...	Dr. Elliott
Drew Russell	...	P.C. Smith
Honor Shepherd	...	Senior Housemaid
Robin Wentworth	...	Starkadder
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Arnold L. Miller	...	Policeman (uncredited)

Directed by
Vernon Sewell

Writing credits
Peter Bryan		(screenplay)

Produced by
Arnold L. Miller	....	producer
Tony Tenser	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Paul Ferris

Cinematography by
Stanley A. Long		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Howard Lanning

Art Direction by
Alfred Woods

Set Decoration by
Freda Pearson

Costume Design by
Marie Feldwick

Makeup Department
Henry Montsash	....	hairdresser
Rosemarie McDonald Peattie	....	make-up artist

Production Management
Ricky Howard	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
George Pollard	....	assistant director

Art Department
Len Harvey	....	construction manager
Freda Pearson	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Alan Hogben	....	sound mixer
Dennis Lanning	....	dubbing editor
Mike Tucker	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Roger Dicken	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Jim Alloway	....	focus puller
Norman Jones	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marie Feldwick	....	wardrobe

Music Department
Paul Ferris	....	conductor

Other crew
Pat O'Donnell	....	production secretary
Eve Wilson	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Tigon British Film Productions

Distributors

• Tigon Film Distributors (1968) (UK) (theatrical)
• Cinépix Film Properties (CFP) (1969) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Pacemaker Pictures (1969) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1974) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Image Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD) (VHS)
• Mad Monster Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Monterey Home Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Odeon Entertainment (2012) (UK) (DVD)
• Redemption Films (2012) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Redemption Films (2012) (USA) (DVD) (remastered edition)
• Video for Pleasure (VFP) (1983) (Belgium) (VHS)

Also Known As:

"The Vampire-Beast Craves Blood" - USA

Runtime:

88 min | USA:80 min (dvd release)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Sweden:15 | UK:X | USA:G | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Iceland:16 | Norway:16 | Italy:VM14 (DVD) | Italy:VM18

Filming Locations:

Goldhawk Studios, Shepherd's Bush, London, England, UK

Company:

Tigon British Film Productions

Trivia:

First film of Roy Hudd.

Goofs:

Continuity: Near the end of the movie, Sergeant Allan fires 7 shots from a single-action pistol without reloading.

Far BELOW the British horror standard from that time...

You'll have to agree about one aspect of this movie…these British scriptwriters sure knew how to think up appealing titles! Look at this: blood + beast + terror … Separately, these three words already make every horror lover slaver. Together, they form the title to a seemly indispensable horror film. Sadly, this is a very wrong perception. The Blood Beast Terror is not a vital British horror picture. Especially not compared to so many other titles from that era. Although the plot of this film features a few promising and creative aspects (the still unknown universe of insects!), it develops itself very slow and tediously. The twists near the end don't really offer any surprises or innovative elements. Certainly not if you're familiar with the more famous Hammer monster movies like `The Reptile'. Peter Cushing stars as a cop investigating murders that are seemly committed by a giant death's head moth. Dr. Mallinger (Robert Flamyng) and the stunningly beautiful female resident in his mansion are behaving suspiciously, so Cushing goes undercover in rural Britain. His cute daughter and a bug-worshiping nerd accompany him. There's absolutely no tension to detect in this film. Maybe that's partially due to the far-fetched plot, but I rather blame the tame directing-skills of Vernon Sewell and the truly limited depth of this film. The characters in `Blood Beast Terror' are weak and uninteresting, while the make-up effects are downright ludicrous. The transformation-sequences that turn wench into moth are really, really cheap! And yes, I do keep in mind that the film is over 35 years old now. Even then, the special effects look stupid, mind you! In the same year of 1968, the production company (Tigon Productions) released `The Witchfinder General' starring Vincent Price. That film is at least a dozen times better and one of the most atmospheric movies I ever saw. A proof that the Hammer studios weren't the only ones who were able to create timeless, compelling horror. My advice: skip this one and continue your search for the more essential golden Brit-horrorfilms.