This is one of those rare films that seems oddly out-of-date. Although this movie came out in 1971 the black and white film, along with the music played during the picture, made it seem like something out of the late 50's or early 60's. The reason for this was the fact that it was initially produced in 1965 by a developing film industry in the Phillipines and not shown to a world-wide audience until six years later. Even so, this wasn't a bad movie by any means. Essentially, attractive women are being killed and drained of blood on the outskirts of Manila. This has the detective in charge, "Inspector Miguel Ramos" (Vic Diaz) so baffled that he calls a friend of his in America named "Adam Rourke" (Robert Winston) to come and help him with the investigation. Things begin to happen very quickly upon his arrival which further convinces him that he is on the right track to solving the case. But time is of the essence as more and more women are being killed. Anyway, I liked the performance of Robert Winston who vaguely reminded me of George Lazenby in the James Bond film "On Her Majesty's Secret Service". I also appreciated some of the attractive actresses like Katherine Henryk (as "Sylvia Ramos"), Yvonne Nielson ("Serena") and several other uncredited ladies as well. On the other hand, other than possibly Robert Winston, the acting wasn't that great and the special effects for the "bubble-headed monster" were just plain laughable. But all things considered, I still liked it somewhat and therefore have given it an average rating.
24 Reviews
Vic Diaz vs the Bubblegum Monster
El-Stumpo1 November 2007
Warning: Spoilers
From the clothes, hairstyles and black and white film grain it looks like Blood Thirst was filmed in the Philippines by an American production company around the mid Sixties, but wasn't released until 1971 on the bottom of a double bill with British vampire movie Bloodsuckers (1970). Even in 1971 Blood Thirst would have seemed like an anachronistic curio quaint, and for the most part uneventful, until the ludicrous ending's payoff where we see the film's chewed bubblegum-faced monster. Then, and only then, can I say: baby, all is forgiven.
Chubby Vic Diaz (and let's face it, it's not a Philippines B film without the seedily lovable Vic) plays Inspector Ramos, a Makati policeman on the trail of missing hostesses from the Barrio Club, a downbeat tourist trap run by the suspicious Senor Calderon. When the girls turn up hanging upside down and drained of blood from cuts on their arms, he sends for his old friend from the States, a cop named Adam Rourke who, as a New Yorker, is obviously used to seeing ritual murders. Posing as an "Ugly American" on a writing assignment, he goes undercover at the Barrio Club, asks one too many questions, cracks jokes like a proto-Arnie while shooting a would-be assassin, and turns out to be an ill-tempered ladies man with his eye on every Caucasian-looking woman in Manila. Just like every sleazy Hawaiian shirted white guy on a Philippines hayride.
His eyes settle on both Inspector Ramos' adopted sister Sylvia, who resists Rourke's questionable charms until she can no longer stand it, and on the Barrio Club's featured attraction, the exotic dancer and blond Peruvian bombshell named Serena. It seems her beauty is more than skin-deep: it's vein-deep, and may be the still-beating heart of a blood cult of Mayan or Incan origin or older, we're never quite sure in which Golden Goddesses are kept eternally youthful with the blood of club hostesses. The Golden Goddess theory may explain, though not fully, why Serena looks more Swedish than Peruvian, but definitely won't point to where she's stashed her stewardess uniform for Scandinavian Airlines.
And so to the "horror" element: a blood cult, a bubblegum faced monster waving a knife at a young girl strapped to an altar. And that's pretty much it. It's an odd film reminiscent of an undercooked episode of Hawaii Five-O minus the pineapple, that's more interested in its mystery angle than the gore or supernatural elements. It also feels empty, and not just plot-wise Blood Thirst is the only film I can recall that makes a city of over 10 million people seem uninhabited. Still, it's an interesting 73 minutes, more for what it is than what it does: a cheapo spook-show which predates the John Ashley/Roger Corman deluge of Philippine horrors by several years. And, to be fair, it's not every day you see a monster clobbered to death by an undercover cripple's fake leg.
Adam: There's a killer on the loose a homicidal maniac with delusions of ancient history. Now, can I use your phone?
Chubby Vic Diaz (and let's face it, it's not a Philippines B film without the seedily lovable Vic) plays Inspector Ramos, a Makati policeman on the trail of missing hostesses from the Barrio Club, a downbeat tourist trap run by the suspicious Senor Calderon. When the girls turn up hanging upside down and drained of blood from cuts on their arms, he sends for his old friend from the States, a cop named Adam Rourke who, as a New Yorker, is obviously used to seeing ritual murders. Posing as an "Ugly American" on a writing assignment, he goes undercover at the Barrio Club, asks one too many questions, cracks jokes like a proto-Arnie while shooting a would-be assassin, and turns out to be an ill-tempered ladies man with his eye on every Caucasian-looking woman in Manila. Just like every sleazy Hawaiian shirted white guy on a Philippines hayride.
His eyes settle on both Inspector Ramos' adopted sister Sylvia, who resists Rourke's questionable charms until she can no longer stand it, and on the Barrio Club's featured attraction, the exotic dancer and blond Peruvian bombshell named Serena. It seems her beauty is more than skin-deep: it's vein-deep, and may be the still-beating heart of a blood cult of Mayan or Incan origin or older, we're never quite sure in which Golden Goddesses are kept eternally youthful with the blood of club hostesses. The Golden Goddess theory may explain, though not fully, why Serena looks more Swedish than Peruvian, but definitely won't point to where she's stashed her stewardess uniform for Scandinavian Airlines.
And so to the "horror" element: a blood cult, a bubblegum faced monster waving a knife at a young girl strapped to an altar. And that's pretty much it. It's an odd film reminiscent of an undercooked episode of Hawaii Five-O minus the pineapple, that's more interested in its mystery angle than the gore or supernatural elements. It also feels empty, and not just plot-wise Blood Thirst is the only film I can recall that makes a city of over 10 million people seem uninhabited. Still, it's an interesting 73 minutes, more for what it is than what it does: a cheapo spook-show which predates the John Ashley/Roger Corman deluge of Philippine horrors by several years. And, to be fair, it's not every day you see a monster clobbered to death by an undercover cripple's fake leg.
Adam: There's a killer on the loose a homicidal maniac with delusions of ancient history. Now, can I use your phone?
Sheesh--what a yawner
preppy-311 April 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Dull dull dull.
A bunch of women in the Phillipines have been found drained of blood completely. An American detective named Adam Rourke (Robert Winston) comes to investigate.
WARNING!!! SPOILER AHEAD!!! I'm not sure of the plot cause I kept falling asleep! Something about some blonde woman making sacrifices to the sun god to stay immortally young....or something. END SPOILER!!!!
They also have this "monster" (a guy in hilarious makeup with gives him a lumpy face) helping drain the girls of blood.
This is being passed off as a horror film--don't let that fool you. It's basically a boring PG rated detective story with some horrific elements. There's next to no blood and no gore at all. Also most of the actors are (badly) dubbed--their voices don't even remotely match their features!
I'm giving this a 3 for two reasons: 1) Robert Winston--he sure can't act but he's pretty nice-looking and has a lengthy shirtless sequence showing a nice body and 2) there is some beautiful black & white cinematography--MUCH better than this film deserves.
But it's basically a dull, stupid, forgettable movie. A sure cure for insomnia!
A bunch of women in the Phillipines have been found drained of blood completely. An American detective named Adam Rourke (Robert Winston) comes to investigate.
WARNING!!! SPOILER AHEAD!!! I'm not sure of the plot cause I kept falling asleep! Something about some blonde woman making sacrifices to the sun god to stay immortally young....or something. END SPOILER!!!!
They also have this "monster" (a guy in hilarious makeup with gives him a lumpy face) helping drain the girls of blood.
This is being passed off as a horror film--don't let that fool you. It's basically a boring PG rated detective story with some horrific elements. There's next to no blood and no gore at all. Also most of the actors are (badly) dubbed--their voices don't even remotely match their features!
I'm giving this a 3 for two reasons: 1) Robert Winston--he sure can't act but he's pretty nice-looking and has a lengthy shirtless sequence showing a nice body and 2) there is some beautiful black & white cinematography--MUCH better than this film deserves.
But it's basically a dull, stupid, forgettable movie. A sure cure for insomnia!
This film was a pleasant surprise !
Mikel310 October 2005
I picked this up in a $1 store on a DVD with another film. I really wanted to see the other film ('Castle of Blood' -USA title) on the DVD and only watched 'Blood Thirst' out of curiosity and because my wife said, "lets give it a chance". We figured how can you go wrong buying two films on a DVD for one dollar especially when one of the films('Castle of Blood') is rated highly. The earlier comments here lead me to believe 'Blood Thirst' was going to be a bomb. Instead my wife and I both found it enjoyable maybe even more so than the higher rated film. More than once we were laughing out loud...and the good part is those scenes were supposed TO BE funny. As opposed to scenes that are unintentionally funny in some truly bad films. Also, I thought the dubbing to English was well done as was the transfer to a nice clear DVD image. The film had a great early 60s feel to it and the B/W only made it better. There were some wonderfully off-beat characters and scenes. I also found it hard to believe this was released in 1971 because of the early 60s look and feel.
Anyway, I wouldn't let the other comments here keep you from seeing this, it's an enjoyable/offbeat little film with some good acting in it and surprisingly funny scenes. It's worth your time for a fun detective /horror film with a few chills and romance thrown in for good measure. And don't forget to check your local discount stores for it. I'm glad to have it in my DVD collection what a bargain!
Anyway, I wouldn't let the other comments here keep you from seeing this, it's an enjoyable/offbeat little film with some good acting in it and surprisingly funny scenes. It's worth your time for a fun detective /horror film with a few chills and romance thrown in for good measure. And don't forget to check your local discount stores for it. I'm glad to have it in my DVD collection what a bargain!
Okay Filipino fright flick
Woodyanders28 July 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Macho wisecracking playboy American sex crime expert Adam Rourke (decently played by Robert Winston) is summoned to the Phillippines by jolly and affable police captain Miguel (a typically fine and engaging performance by ubiquitous Filipino exploitation cinema mainstay Vic Diaz) to investigate a baffling series of brutal murders. Director Newt Arnold, working from an overly talky and largely uneventful script by N.I.P. Dennis, sadly allows the pace to crawl along at a sluggish clip and crucially fails to build much in the way of either suspense or spooky atmosphere. Moreover, the infrequent attacks by a rather laughable lumpy faced monster are flatly staged. Fortunately, this film is beautifully shot in gorgeous sepia-tinged black and white by cinematographer Hermos Santos; the various blue, green, and red hues give this picture an exquisitely moody and stylish film noirish look. In addition, the mellow jazzy score hits the groovy spot, there are a few cool secondary characters (my favorite is the crippled, but still highly capable undercover cop who helps Rourke out), the climax is reasonably lively and exciting, and fetching blonde Yvonne Nielson as a sexy exotic nightclub dancer adds a little sizzle to the otherwise pretty drab proceedings. A strictly passable timewaster.
I could see why this sat on the shelf for six years!
planktonrules3 January 2010
Warning: Spoilers
In the Philippines, a strange series of murders have occurred to pretty young ladies. When their bodies were found, they were completely drained of blood and someone or some 'thing' is obviously running amok. For some odd reason, a local police official thinks it's important to contact his American friend and ask for his undercover help. Why this was necessary is beyond me—as was the extremely hostile reaction the policeman's step-sister has towards the American.
The look and especially the soundtrack has a strong film noir feel to it. The leading man also, at times, talks like a typical noir character—very cool and self-confident. I especially liked the slapping scene—what a tough guy! However, the movie goes off in a weird direction in the end—one that is very, very unlike noir—and more like a typical cheesy 1950s horror film. In fact, the entire ending was just bizarre to the max!! I've rarely seen a "normal" film that so completely goes off the deep end as this one did at the end—and it was laughably bad to say the least.
Overall, a rather dumb film, as the ending just made my brain hurt and the costumes were completely silly. Despite some decent acting and a nice style, a film that only masochists need see.
The look and especially the soundtrack has a strong film noir feel to it. The leading man also, at times, talks like a typical noir character—very cool and self-confident. I especially liked the slapping scene—what a tough guy! However, the movie goes off in a weird direction in the end—one that is very, very unlike noir—and more like a typical cheesy 1950s horror film. In fact, the entire ending was just bizarre to the max!! I've rarely seen a "normal" film that so completely goes off the deep end as this one did at the end—and it was laughably bad to say the least.
Overall, a rather dumb film, as the ending just made my brain hurt and the costumes were completely silly. Despite some decent acting and a nice style, a film that only masochists need see.
It's Definitely A "B" Horror
Rainey-Dawn8 February 2017
This was made in 1965 but released in 1971 on the US grindhouse circuit - that is why the film "feels" like a 1960s film (some people don't seem to realize this).
Grindhouse? Well it's women missing and some found dead... so an American sex-crime specialist has been called in on the case by a detective friend in Manila. It's not overly bloody nor a gore-fest, it's just believed to be sex-crimes and the film was made in the Philippines.
It's better than it looks - yes it's a monster that looks like chewed bubblegum that appears at the latter part of the film (you can see that by the poster/video cover) but if you can look past that then you'll find an okay detective crime-horror film. But how does the the blood cult fit into all this? Are they Vampires? Witches? 4/10
Grindhouse? Well it's women missing and some found dead... so an American sex-crime specialist has been called in on the case by a detective friend in Manila. It's not overly bloody nor a gore-fest, it's just believed to be sex-crimes and the film was made in the Philippines.
It's better than it looks - yes it's a monster that looks like chewed bubblegum that appears at the latter part of the film (you can see that by the poster/video cover) but if you can look past that then you'll find an okay detective crime-horror film. But how does the the blood cult fit into all this? Are they Vampires? Witches? 4/10
Great neo-noir look, disinterested B-horror content
ofumalow26 September 2021
It's strange this film sat on a shelf for six years, because in 1965 (when it was completed) it would have been a perfectly viable mid-60s "bottom half of the bill" or drive-in feature. It's also beautifully lit/shot in a noirish style (I can't even remember there being any daylight scenes) for such a silly B horror. It's also odd that the lead actor apparently gave up acting after this, since he's very handsome and personable (and has a great Sean Connery-like build), even if the script leans too hard on giving him wisecracks that undercut the already pretty minimal suspense here.
Shot and set in the Philippines, the film nonetheless makes little effort to have much local character, instead going for sort of a generic U. S. programmer feel, with a brisk pace but little feel for suspense or atmosphere. So, it's a very good-looking low-budget movie that nonetheless doesn't seem willing to take its horror subject (vampire-like murders) seriously enough to actually be creepy. I'm not even sure why there's a rubbery "monster" (as separate from the vampire) that looks like it's out of "The Incredible Melting Man."
Interestingly, the director later was 1st A. D. on a terrific lineup of mainstream Hollywood films (including "Godfather Part II," "Towering Inferno," "Blade Runner" and "The Abyss"), but directed nothing again himself until Van Damme's much-liked first starring film "Bloodsport" nearly twenty five years later. I guess he just didn't have the hunger to make his own movies. He clearly had the technical expertise necessary, though this enjoyable genre throwaway suggests he didn't care enough to seek out good material to direct, or to elevate mediocre material beyond the above-average visual sheen.
Shot and set in the Philippines, the film nonetheless makes little effort to have much local character, instead going for sort of a generic U. S. programmer feel, with a brisk pace but little feel for suspense or atmosphere. So, it's a very good-looking low-budget movie that nonetheless doesn't seem willing to take its horror subject (vampire-like murders) seriously enough to actually be creepy. I'm not even sure why there's a rubbery "monster" (as separate from the vampire) that looks like it's out of "The Incredible Melting Man."
Interestingly, the director later was 1st A. D. on a terrific lineup of mainstream Hollywood films (including "Godfather Part II," "Towering Inferno," "Blade Runner" and "The Abyss"), but directed nothing again himself until Van Damme's much-liked first starring film "Bloodsport" nearly twenty five years later. I guess he just didn't have the hunger to make his own movies. He clearly had the technical expertise necessary, though this enjoyable genre throwaway suggests he didn't care enough to seek out good material to direct, or to elevate mediocre material beyond the above-average visual sheen.
Thrilla in Manila,this most definitely isn't
Stevieboy66630 January 2023
New York detective Adam Rourke (Robert Winston) is invited by a friend to help solve a string of murders that has young women killed and drained of their blood in Manila, capital of The Philippines. Filmed in black and white in 1965 this sat on the shelf before being released in 1971, playing the Grindhouse circuits. It must have looked dated even way back then. The barmy plot revolves around an hilarious but memorable man-monster who attacks lone women for their blood as part of a form of vampirism that is half occult and half scientific. The film is very talky, Winston's wisecracking cop quickly becomes tiresome, and there is more love story than horror, it's not until the final 20 minutes or so that this really lives up to its title. On the plus side the movie does have a film noir look about it, the jazzy musical score is pretty cool and we are treated to some very seductive female dancing. I had never heard of this title before despite being a horror fan for over 40 years, thank you to Talking Pictures TV (UK) for screening it. Bad movie yes but also worth a look if you like your horror a little less mainstream, AKA Blood Seekers.
Amusing and Stylish
rfrover4 April 2006
Giving this film a 6 out of 10 warrants some explanation, my vote reflects my taste for this genre of film-making; low-budget, disposable, 1960's drive-in films. That said, this particular example is quite distinctive and well worth a look. Made in the Philippines (around '62 or '63, I would guess, despite its official release date of 1971) on an obviously limited budget, the picture is wonderfully well photographed in black and white with some moody, noir touches. The lead, Robert Winston, is quite good-looking, albeit modestly talented. There are a surprising number (for this period) of beefcake shots. I'm assuming that someone recognized that his gifts were not in the acting department. The usual, grinding expository dialogue is graced with some humor, I LIKE the monster, the scenery is interesting and, on the whole, it moves along quite nicely. Shlock filmmakers of the present day (and they are legion) could learn a bit from the the achievements of these frugal talents.
QUENCH IT!
mmthos31 October 2021
Passable early Filipino vampire effort, presented as a noir. Leading Lady's (Yvonne Nielson) dance sequences and secret ceremonies are highlights. The monster has quite an original look. Detective work is verbose, foreign actors' accents, making it more difficult to listen to.. As leading man, Robert Winston's James Bond wannabe's entitled male chauvinist attitude may disturb today's audience: When he is slapped for unwanted advances, he slaps back! He makes great efforts to be culturally sensitive, though, to dispel notions of Ugly Americanism. Manila locations provide good local "color:, though filmed in B&W..
If you liked From Dusk Til Dawn,,, (quasi-spoiler)
duowcewy5 November 2006
Warning: Spoilers
You HAVE to see this - and then ask yourself how original one of the central parts of that film is. Some parts seem - to me - to be direct "borrowings". I actually like Filipino horror films - they tend to be fantastic, have pretty good production values (other than the monster costumes and mad-scientist sets), and have some fine actors in them. This one has good camera-work, good lighting, the soundtrack works. Filipino horror films, like Mexican ones, also have different religious undertones that add something to them.
The acting is usually solid, although the dialogue probably would flow better if the Filipinos spoke Spanish. Vic Diaz, who is in this one, is great. If you like him, check out his flatulent vampire in Vampire Hookers.
Give it a try - the first time I saw it I thought it was just cheesy, but had to see it a second and third time. I'll bet you Tarantino did.
The acting is usually solid, although the dialogue probably would flow better if the Filipinos spoke Spanish. Vic Diaz, who is in this one, is great. If you like him, check out his flatulent vampire in Vampire Hookers.
Give it a try - the first time I saw it I thought it was just cheesy, but had to see it a second and third time. I'll bet you Tarantino did.
Thirst finally quenched
mart-4517 March 2007
This is a real textbook case of how to fail to make a chandleresque film in spite of every effort. Use the dialog that is rich with ominous one-liners and full of household clichés and heavily sexual innuendos that are from the bottom of the lowest barrel; be sure the action is full of tough and cool wannabes slapping each other in uncontrollable sexual frenzy; add the soundtrack that suffocates the viewer with loads of sexually sizzling cool jazz and exotic (equally sexually loaded) Latino mambo music. Make sure the lightning is never above dim and shadows are lurking everywhere in this moist, hot jungle of sexual predators. A few exotic dances by a blond sex goddess wouldn't harm, even when the lady is only capable of waving her arms a little - as long as she is oozing sexual promiscuity. Note the frequent use of the word "sexual"? Add some more sexuality, and voilà! there's your rip-off of The Big Sleep multiplied by Double Indemnity. Or, that's what you might think. In gruesome reality, you get Blood Thirst, a ridiculous B programmer that is a parody of itself. For film noir lovers this film is a must - you get the techniques of the genre laid bare before you. Great for studying what film noir is all about - there's much to learn about why the ingredients don't always sum up to what one might expect.
Great Monster, Poor Film
Michael_Elliott7 October 2017
Blood Thirst (1971)
* 1/2 (out of 4)
Women are being found outside a nightclub with their blood drained. The police captain (Vic Diaz) has no clues and no idea of what the cause could be so he calls his detective friend (Adam Rourke) from New York to help him investigate.
BLOOD THIRST has a 1971 date on it but this B&W film was actually shot in 1965 but couldn't find anyone to release. After seeing the film it's easy to see why no one wanted to touch it because there's really not too much here to recommend. If you do happen to see the film then it's best to remember when it was made and not when it was released because the film certainly doesn't have much sexuality or violence.
The biggest problem with this film is the fact that they decided to try and milk the "mystery" surrounding the murders. There are countless scenes with the two friends sitting around trying to guess as to what's going on. All of these scenes are deadly boring and they made the 74-minute running time seem at least twice as long. What's worse is that we've got a weird looking creature that is doing the killing yet they keep him off the screen for the majority of the running time.
I mean, if you're going to have a great looking monster then why not show him off more? Surely seeing the monster attack more victims is more entertaining than watching a couple guys talk, right?
* 1/2 (out of 4)
Women are being found outside a nightclub with their blood drained. The police captain (Vic Diaz) has no clues and no idea of what the cause could be so he calls his detective friend (Adam Rourke) from New York to help him investigate.
BLOOD THIRST has a 1971 date on it but this B&W film was actually shot in 1965 but couldn't find anyone to release. After seeing the film it's easy to see why no one wanted to touch it because there's really not too much here to recommend. If you do happen to see the film then it's best to remember when it was made and not when it was released because the film certainly doesn't have much sexuality or violence.
The biggest problem with this film is the fact that they decided to try and milk the "mystery" surrounding the murders. There are countless scenes with the two friends sitting around trying to guess as to what's going on. All of these scenes are deadly boring and they made the 74-minute running time seem at least twice as long. What's worse is that we've got a weird looking creature that is doing the killing yet they keep him off the screen for the majority of the running time.
I mean, if you're going to have a great looking monster then why not show him off more? Surely seeing the monster attack more victims is more entertaining than watching a couple guys talk, right?
"Someone has come up with a novel idea for a bloodbath"
richardchatten28 January 2023
Despite the 1971 release date, this film was actually shot in 1965, and all the better for it. Cleanly shot in black & white with drawling saxophone music on the soundtrack, it's more like an Italian giallo than an actual horror film with Robert Winston (no relation) as the clean-cut, sharp-suited hero Adam Rourke (author of a book on the motivation and detection of sex crimes) hot in pursuit of "a homicidal maniac with delusions of history".
Most of the supporting cast are obviously dubbed, including Katherine Henryk as an English rose called 'Sylvia'; that a local detective called 'Miguel' has such an Anglo-Saxon sister is explained by the fact that she's adopted.
Most of the supporting cast are obviously dubbed, including Katherine Henryk as an English rose called 'Sylvia'; that a local detective called 'Miguel' has such an Anglo-Saxon sister is explained by the fact that she's adopted.
A less-than-killer thriller from Manila.
BA_Harrison22 July 2017
A hideous monster is on the prowl in Manila, draining the blood of its victims, all young, female employees at the Barrio nightclub. Local police inspector Miguel Ramos (Filipino regular Vic Diaz) calls in his old friend Adam Rourke (Robert Winston), a smarmy, smart-ass sex crimes expert from the U.S., to help him on the case.
With a title like Blood Thirst, one might reasonably expect a gory piece of exploitation schlock, but sadly this is not the case. What we get is more like a noir-ish detective flick (complete with shadowy black and white photography and a sleazy jazz soundtrack), albeit with slight horror elements. This means that for much of the time the film is content to follow Rourke as he investigates the mysterious murders, romances Miguel's sister Sylvia (Katherine Henryk), and gets in a few fist fights, all of which proves very dull.
The silly climax sees Serena, a dancer at the Barrio, revealed to be a South American Golden Goddess who possesses the secret to everlasting youth. As Miguel and Adam battle Serena's disfigured helper, they interrupt her ritual—which involves human blood, special herbs, and a chair that harnesses the energy of the sun—causing her to rapidly grow old and disintegrate.
With a title like Blood Thirst, one might reasonably expect a gory piece of exploitation schlock, but sadly this is not the case. What we get is more like a noir-ish detective flick (complete with shadowy black and white photography and a sleazy jazz soundtrack), albeit with slight horror elements. This means that for much of the time the film is content to follow Rourke as he investigates the mysterious murders, romances Miguel's sister Sylvia (Katherine Henryk), and gets in a few fist fights, all of which proves very dull.
The silly climax sees Serena, a dancer at the Barrio, revealed to be a South American Golden Goddess who possesses the secret to everlasting youth. As Miguel and Adam battle Serena's disfigured helper, they interrupt her ritual—which involves human blood, special herbs, and a chair that harnesses the energy of the sun—causing her to rapidly grow old and disintegrate.
60s Film Noir with added monster(s)
Harlekwin_UK31 January 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Blood Thirst is an oddity.
Mostly this is a murder mystery and plays out almost to the end as such.
This plays well enough without being utterly gripping. There are some interesting moments, for example when the lead uses a dummy to "take the hit" for him - something he has to do frequently it seems.
The twist is reasonably constructed, with the female lead turning out to be the "big bad" and the "monster" merely a henchman obtaining the young pretty things for her sacrificial rites of eternal youth.
The final villainous monologue is those absolutely required on this occasion as without it the motivation is utterly obscure. Perhaps more time and care, even the odd clue, should have been put into this aspect of the movie.
I was impressed with the efforts to get into more realistic scene lighting than is common in the period, though that made the contrast levels a bit odd; deep blacks and high whites.
Not a waste of time, but nowhere near as accomplished as it could have been.
Mostly this is a murder mystery and plays out almost to the end as such.
This plays well enough without being utterly gripping. There are some interesting moments, for example when the lead uses a dummy to "take the hit" for him - something he has to do frequently it seems.
The twist is reasonably constructed, with the female lead turning out to be the "big bad" and the "monster" merely a henchman obtaining the young pretty things for her sacrificial rites of eternal youth.
The final villainous monologue is those absolutely required on this occasion as without it the motivation is utterly obscure. Perhaps more time and care, even the odd clue, should have been put into this aspect of the movie.
I was impressed with the efforts to get into more realistic scene lighting than is common in the period, though that made the contrast levels a bit odd; deep blacks and high whites.
Not a waste of time, but nowhere near as accomplished as it could have been.
BloodThirst
gavcrimson9 October 2020
The obvious prototype for the kind of Filipino exploitation films that became legion in the 1970s. All the elements are starting to fall into place here...the American lead...the Manila nightlife atmosphere...the supporting cast of Filipino character types, including of course Vic Diaz. However the decision to focus on the sleuthing, romancing and two fisted antics of its American hero over the vampire like murders being committed by a Haemorrhoid faced creature makes this feel more like a TV series pilot than a horror film. That, and its unfashionable use of B&W, are likely what doomed Blood Thirst to the very bottom of Drive-In triple bills.
Maganda!
ferbs5423 January 2014
Warning: Spoilers
For those connoisseurs of foreign horror films who are desirous of seeing the 1965 Filipino obscurity entitled "Blood Thirst," their only recourse, it would seem, is the DVD currently available from those maniacs at Something Weird. The picture in question shares the disc with another relatively unknown film, the similarly titled "Bloodsuckers," and it was to see this British product of 1970 that I initially rented out this DVD. But "Bloodsuckers" turns out to be a terrible mess of a film, despite the participation of Peter Cushing and Patrick Macnee; an ineptly put-together head scratcher that suffers even more in comparison to "Blood Thirst," a surprisingly good, well-made little chiller that manages to satisfy on all levels. Released in America six years after its Filipino debut, the film features gorgeous B&W cinematography by DOP Hermo Santos and comes off like a film noir crossed with a cheesy horror flick...and with winning results!
In the picture, we learn that a serial killer has been slaying young girls on the streets of Manila. Their bodies are always found hung upside down and completely drained of blood, their forearms slit exactly the same length every time. At a loss as to how to proceed, police inspector Miguel Ramos (played by the great Filipino mainstay Vic Diaz, who seems to pop up in just about every Filipino movie that I watch) calls in his American friend Adam Rourke (Robert Winston), a homicide lieutenant who is an expert in sex crimes. Hunky dude Rourke centers his investigations on the Barrio Club, an upscale nightspot where several of the murdered girls had worked. He thus encounters the club's suave owner, Calderon (Vic Silayan, who comes off like a Filipino Cesar Romero), as well as its featured exotic dancer, the blonde hottie Serena (Yvonne Nielson), while being aided by Ramos' sister, the emotionally conflicted Sylvia (Katherine Henryk). As the film proceeds, the viewer learns that the killer is quite a sight indeed; a lumbering mess of a man (?) with a face composed of innumerable lumps and hideous nodules. And as Rourke evades numerous attempts on his life while getting closer to Sylvia, he learns that the solution to this murder mystery might be even stranger than he had guessed....
Tightly directed by Newt Arnold, "Blood Thirst" was filmed at the height of the secret-agent craze, the same year that the 007 vehicle "Thunderball" broke box-office records, and its debt to this international spy mania is very pronounced. Winston seems to be channeling Sean Connery in his performance here, and Rourke's similarities with James Bond are many. They are both handsome men with hairy chests; both are chain-smokers, crack shots, quick with a humorous quip and smooth with the ladies. In addition, both go undercover to achieve their objectives in exotic locales, and both are good at karate and brawling...and at taking a punishing beating, as well. Rourke, of course, must contend with a much lesser degree of criminality than superagent 007, and he evinces more of the characteristics of the everyday dude, such as talking to himself and slapping himself on the head when he makes a mistake. Winston gives a highly likable performance here, as does his partner Diaz, a pudgy presence with an angelic smile that can appear as either sweet or diabolic, as the case may be. (For example, the last time I encountered Diaz, it was in the 1971 Eddie Romero film "Beast of the Yellow Night," in which Vic plays the Devil himself!) Rourke's love interest in the film, Sylvia, has been cast most unusually, as Henryk is not pretty in the conventional sense, and yet, because of her appealing nature and spunky disposition, she is a woman who grows more and more attractive as the picture proceeds. I was also happy to spot Bruno Punzalan in this film, here playing the thuggish bartender at the Barrio Club; Punzalan, like Diaz, also seems to pop up regularly in these Filipino outings of the period, and he has a doozy of a dustup with Rourke about halfway through this picture. "Blood Thirst" is well acted by every one of its players and is overall a surprisingly intelligent affair; a film whose noirish elements gradually blend into pure horror by its exciting conclusion, in which blood, "solar electrical energy," and the powder of roots of trees hundreds of years old are all combined in one mind-boggling melange. The film tends to drag a bit in its central 1/3, but it never grows dull, and the stunning-looking B&W photography, artfully employing light and shadow, is always a feast for the eyes. Simply put, the film looks great, and is nicely captured here on this Something Weird DVD. For this viewer, the film comes as something like serendipity; an unexpected treat that I had previously never heard of before. To my great surprise, I must warn viewers AWAY from "Bloodsuckers" and urge them to see "Blood Thirst" instead, a film that is truly ripe for rediscovery....
In the picture, we learn that a serial killer has been slaying young girls on the streets of Manila. Their bodies are always found hung upside down and completely drained of blood, their forearms slit exactly the same length every time. At a loss as to how to proceed, police inspector Miguel Ramos (played by the great Filipino mainstay Vic Diaz, who seems to pop up in just about every Filipino movie that I watch) calls in his American friend Adam Rourke (Robert Winston), a homicide lieutenant who is an expert in sex crimes. Hunky dude Rourke centers his investigations on the Barrio Club, an upscale nightspot where several of the murdered girls had worked. He thus encounters the club's suave owner, Calderon (Vic Silayan, who comes off like a Filipino Cesar Romero), as well as its featured exotic dancer, the blonde hottie Serena (Yvonne Nielson), while being aided by Ramos' sister, the emotionally conflicted Sylvia (Katherine Henryk). As the film proceeds, the viewer learns that the killer is quite a sight indeed; a lumbering mess of a man (?) with a face composed of innumerable lumps and hideous nodules. And as Rourke evades numerous attempts on his life while getting closer to Sylvia, he learns that the solution to this murder mystery might be even stranger than he had guessed....
Tightly directed by Newt Arnold, "Blood Thirst" was filmed at the height of the secret-agent craze, the same year that the 007 vehicle "Thunderball" broke box-office records, and its debt to this international spy mania is very pronounced. Winston seems to be channeling Sean Connery in his performance here, and Rourke's similarities with James Bond are many. They are both handsome men with hairy chests; both are chain-smokers, crack shots, quick with a humorous quip and smooth with the ladies. In addition, both go undercover to achieve their objectives in exotic locales, and both are good at karate and brawling...and at taking a punishing beating, as well. Rourke, of course, must contend with a much lesser degree of criminality than superagent 007, and he evinces more of the characteristics of the everyday dude, such as talking to himself and slapping himself on the head when he makes a mistake. Winston gives a highly likable performance here, as does his partner Diaz, a pudgy presence with an angelic smile that can appear as either sweet or diabolic, as the case may be. (For example, the last time I encountered Diaz, it was in the 1971 Eddie Romero film "Beast of the Yellow Night," in which Vic plays the Devil himself!) Rourke's love interest in the film, Sylvia, has been cast most unusually, as Henryk is not pretty in the conventional sense, and yet, because of her appealing nature and spunky disposition, she is a woman who grows more and more attractive as the picture proceeds. I was also happy to spot Bruno Punzalan in this film, here playing the thuggish bartender at the Barrio Club; Punzalan, like Diaz, also seems to pop up regularly in these Filipino outings of the period, and he has a doozy of a dustup with Rourke about halfway through this picture. "Blood Thirst" is well acted by every one of its players and is overall a surprisingly intelligent affair; a film whose noirish elements gradually blend into pure horror by its exciting conclusion, in which blood, "solar electrical energy," and the powder of roots of trees hundreds of years old are all combined in one mind-boggling melange. The film tends to drag a bit in its central 1/3, but it never grows dull, and the stunning-looking B&W photography, artfully employing light and shadow, is always a feast for the eyes. Simply put, the film looks great, and is nicely captured here on this Something Weird DVD. For this viewer, the film comes as something like serendipity; an unexpected treat that I had previously never heard of before. To my great surprise, I must warn viewers AWAY from "Bloodsuckers" and urge them to see "Blood Thirst" instead, a film that is truly ripe for rediscovery....
Definitely a B-movie - but extremely watchable!
Jemiah12 January 2006
I was pretty startled to find out that this film was made in 1971. It has all the earmarks of a 1950s B-lister - ambiguous horror, randy hero, tons of gorgeous dames, peril, black and white photography. There's barely enough horror in this film to call it such, and what there is, is extremely cheesy, but I found myself loving it nonetheless. The Manila, Phillipines setting is interesting and the strained one-liners of the hero (and his primary love interest) are gold-plated howlers. This is a fine movie to put on and mock, while having a few pina coladas, before watching something actually good (or at least, a genuine 1950s B-movie horror classic). You won't feel bad about not giving it your complete attention, but fulfilled when you do.
A surprisingly well-made Filipino horror flick
Leofwine_draca15 February 2017
Warning: Spoilers
BLOOD THIRST is an interesting and engaging little horror effort shot in the Philippines by a US crew. It was made in 1965 so it's short and in black and white, although it wasn't given a US release until six years later. I immediately lumped it in with the trashy shockers that Eddie Romero was shooting during the period (like the infamous MAD DOCTOR OF BLOOD ISLAND) but it's a much classier affair. Surprisingly, it has decent production values too, perhaps the best I've seen in a Filipino horror film.
The plot is simple enough, yet fun with it. Robert Winston is the imported American, a detective who goes undercover as a writer for reasons that remained obscure to me. He hangs out a lot at a nightclub full of dancing women while at the same time investigating a series of bizarre murders in which lone women are killed on the streets at night, their bodies found strung up and drained of blood. It turns out that a rubber-faced monster with links to the nightclub is responsible. The monster is cheap but cheerful and I personally loved the look of it.
BLOOD THIRST is well-shot and quite stylishly directed in places with a good sense of location. It borrows the same style as a Bond movie, with random attacks in hotel rooms, and has a Jess Franco vibe to it to boot. One of the most engaging things about the production is the inimitable Vic Diaz, that stalwart actor of Filipino cinema, getting a chance to play something other than a bad guy for once. Here he's a local cop and he does very well with the role too, bringing plenty of charisma to the part.
The plot is simple enough, yet fun with it. Robert Winston is the imported American, a detective who goes undercover as a writer for reasons that remained obscure to me. He hangs out a lot at a nightclub full of dancing women while at the same time investigating a series of bizarre murders in which lone women are killed on the streets at night, their bodies found strung up and drained of blood. It turns out that a rubber-faced monster with links to the nightclub is responsible. The monster is cheap but cheerful and I personally loved the look of it.
BLOOD THIRST is well-shot and quite stylishly directed in places with a good sense of location. It borrows the same style as a Bond movie, with random attacks in hotel rooms, and has a Jess Franco vibe to it to boot. One of the most engaging things about the production is the inimitable Vic Diaz, that stalwart actor of Filipino cinema, getting a chance to play something other than a bad guy for once. Here he's a local cop and he does very well with the role too, bringing plenty of charisma to the part.
Entertaining thriller, notable for its star
PeterBradford14 July 2020
There's not much blood in BLOOD THIRST, but it's still a moody and effective thriller. The standout is American actor Robert Winston, whose career amounted to very little else besides the starring role in this film. He's handsome, chiseled features. robust hairy chest, muscular physique, and talented. A shame he didn't do more work.
Better than I was expecting.
Sleepin_Dragon28 January 2023
Adam Rourke is called in by a friend from Manilla to investigate a bizarre string of deaths, women seemingly killed by a vampire like creature.
I can understand many of the criticisms of Blood Thirst, but on the whole, I quite enjoyed it. First off, 1971, that surprised me, it looked as though it was made in about 1956, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. It's very atmospheric, it's like a B horror noir, and for me that's quite appealing.
Although it's visually quite dated, it's quite nicely shot, I enjoyed several of the sequences, Serena's dance perhaps being the main highlight, it looked so good. Some of the fight sequences though, are best forgotten.
The monster definitely benefited from the black and white filming, I thought it looked pretty good.
Adam Rourke, he's an interesting lead, he's quite a handsome chap, he's quite amiable, but he's about as subtle as a Christmas Tree in July, some of his dialogue will have you hiding under your duvet.
I liked Robert Winston here, Vic Diaz, Yvonne Nielson, Katherine Henryk were all very good also.
It's far from brilliant, but very watchable.
6/10.
I can understand many of the criticisms of Blood Thirst, but on the whole, I quite enjoyed it. First off, 1971, that surprised me, it looked as though it was made in about 1956, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. It's very atmospheric, it's like a B horror noir, and for me that's quite appealing.
Although it's visually quite dated, it's quite nicely shot, I enjoyed several of the sequences, Serena's dance perhaps being the main highlight, it looked so good. Some of the fight sequences though, are best forgotten.
The monster definitely benefited from the black and white filming, I thought it looked pretty good.
Adam Rourke, he's an interesting lead, he's quite a handsome chap, he's quite amiable, but he's about as subtle as a Christmas Tree in July, some of his dialogue will have you hiding under your duvet.
I liked Robert Winston here, Vic Diaz, Yvonne Nielson, Katherine Henryk were all very good also.
It's far from brilliant, but very watchable.
6/10.
"We Can Only Presume There's A Peculiar Twist In A Sick Mind!"...
azathothpwiggins11 June 2021
BLOOD THIRST takes place in Manila, Philippines, where a series of grisly murders wreak havoc. The female victims are found in a signature way that's usually reserved for certain livestock. An expert from NYC named Rourke (Robert Winston) is brought in to assist the Manila police.
As Filipino films of this sort go, it's not bad. Of course, it's mostly about Rourke's investigation, and his digging ever deeper into what could be an occult conspiracy.
There are some interesting characters, like night club owner Calderon (Vic Silayan), and the beautiful, beguiling dancer, Serena (Yvonne Nielson). The killer is also of interest, since it's not clear just how human he / it is!
Almost derailed by a silly, romantic subplot, it still manages to be bizarre enough to satisfy...
As Filipino films of this sort go, it's not bad. Of course, it's mostly about Rourke's investigation, and his digging ever deeper into what could be an occult conspiracy.
There are some interesting characters, like night club owner Calderon (Vic Silayan), and the beautiful, beguiling dancer, Serena (Yvonne Nielson). The killer is also of interest, since it's not clear just how human he / it is!
Almost derailed by a silly, romantic subplot, it still manages to be bizarre enough to satisfy...
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