Mad Doctor of Blood Island (1968)

User Rating:

4.9/10   

Directors:

Gerardo de Leon
Eddie Romero

Writer:

Reuben Canoy (writer)

Release Date:

January 1972 (France)

Genre:

Adventure | Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

No Waiting. No Appointment. No Escape!

Plot:

A man who loves to travel, travels to an island where a mad doctor is creating zombies. |

Plot Keywords:

Gore | Partially Lost Film | Mad Scientist | Decapitation | Green Blood

Cast

John Ashley	...	Dr. Bill Foster
Angelique Pettyjohn	...	Sheila Willard
Ronald Remy	...	Dr.Lorca
Alicia Alonzo	...	Marla
Ronaldo Valdez	...	Carlos Lopez
Tita Muñoz	...	Mrs. Lopez
Tony Edmunds	...	Willard
Alfonso Carvajal	...	Ramu
Bruno Punzalan	...	Razak
Edward D. Murphy	...	Captain
Johnny Long
Paquito Salcedo
Felisa Salcedo
Quiel Mendoza
Ricardo Hipólito

Also Known As:

Blood Doctor
Grave Desires (USA) (reissue title)
Mad Doctor of Blood Island (USA) (video title)
Tomb of the Living Dead

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA | Philippines

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:M | UK:X (original rating) (cut) | UK:18 (video rating, cut)

Filming Locations:

Philippines

Company:

Hemisphere Pictures (I)

Trivia:

Angelique Pettyjohn claimed that the love scene with John Ashley was not simulated. In any case, it was edited for television and now the uncut version cannot be found. Please check your attic.

Quotes:

Dr. Bill Foster: I, a living, breathing creature of the cosmic entity, am now ready to enter the realm of those chosen to be allowed to drink of the Mystic Emerald fluids herein offered. I join the Order of Green Blood with an open mind and through this liquid's powers am now prepared to safely view the unnatural green-blooded ones without fear of contamination. Now, drink your sample of green blood and it is guaranteed that you can never turn into a green-blooded monster.

Movie Connections:

Follows Brides of Blood (1968)

"Let the bizarre ennui envelop you!"

I had some fine memories of seeing this (heavily edited) on TV when I was a kid, so I went and got the DVD...and it's really neat to see this completely uncut. It does deliver the exploitation goods, plus there's real characters and real story.

Surprisingly well-written and well-made. If you like trash cinema, this is one of the very best, and it was made for almost nothing, but features some very serviceable performances and a nice script--in addition to the graphic violence, nudity, ritual dances and atmosphere.

Deep within the jungles of Blood Island--in the interest of science--twisted Dr. Lorca has been using chlorophyll to turn some of his patients into green-blooded mutations. The worst of these experiments has transformed into a horrible, murderous monster barely recognizable as human. It's up to civil servant John Ashley to try to save the local population from this danger. Can he destroy the dangerous experiments of Dr. Lorca?

"Mad Doctor of Blood Island" was made with total seriousness, something very rare in low budget exploitation. Characters intellectualize and debate in a civilized way rather than having screaming arguments. They wander the island depressed, questioning their lives. VERY SELDOM do horror films approach such thinky territory! And it's all done with a straight face. The entire cast is wonderful... As another reviewer suggested, "Let the bizarre ennui envelop you."

This movie is definitely not everyone's cup of tea (what movie is?), but if you like good cheap movies, I feel it is worth a look. The sequel to this one ("Beast of Blood") is entertaining, and the Chlorophyll Monster costume looks a lot better, but IMHO it's nowhere near as good as this first one.