The Blood Beast Terror (1968)

User Rating:

4.5/10   

Director:

Vernon Sewell

Writer:

Peter Bryan (writer)

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 | Hypnotism | Investigator | Mad Scientist

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	...	Sergeant Allan
William Wilde	...	Frederick Britewell
Kevin Stoney	...	Granger
John Paul	...	Mr. Warrender
Russell Napier	...	Landlord
Roy Hudd	...	Smiler
Leslie Anderson	...	Joe Trigger
Simon Cain	...	Clem Withers
Robert Cawdron	...	Chief Constable
Kenneth Colley	...	James
Beryl Cooke	...	Housekeeper
Roy Evans	...	Second Porter
Joan Ingram	...	Cook
David Lyell	...	Second Student
John Scott Martin	...	Snaflebum
William Maxwell	...	First Porter
Michael Mundell	...	First Student (as Mike Mundell)
Norman Pitt	...	Police Doctor
Malcolm Rogers	...	Dr. Elliott
Drew Russell	...	PC Smith
Honor Shepherd	...	Senior Housemaid
Robin Wentworth	...	Starkadder

Directed by
Vernon Sewell

Writing credits
Peter Bryan		(writer)

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

Original Music by
Paul Ferris

Cinematography by
Stanley A. Long

Film Editing by
Howard Lanning

Art Direction by
Alfred Woods

Set Decoration by
Freda Pearson

Costume Design by
Marie Feldwick

Makeup Department
Henry Montsash	....	hair stylist
Rosemarie McDonald Peattie	....	makeup 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)
• Video for Pleasure (VFP) (1983) (Belgium) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Blood Beast from Hell
The Deathshead Vampire
The Vampire-Beast Craves Blood (USA)

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Tigon British Film Productions

Trivia:

Peter Cushing considered this to be the worst of his many films.

The Blood Beast Terror (1968) **

I've always heard atrocious things about this Hammer imitation, but it wasn't that bad IMO. It may be the only time I've seen Peter Cushing appear that he was walking through a role, though. He just doesn't seem very interested and I've read somewhere that he considered this his "worst horror film". I don't know whether this was his own approach to the material or the spawn of director Vernon Sewell. Maybe it was the part of a police inspector that didn't showcase Cushing to his best ability.

I haven't seen THE REPTILE yet, but apparently this film is very derivative of it. I thought that the Deathshead moth creature was reminiscent of THE WASP WOMAN myself, but this wasn't a bad thing; the creature makes some pretty satisfying appearances and killings.

The ending is very weak and the whole approach comes off on the superficial side. But one could do much worse for a horror movie.