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Released by: Kino Lorber/Redemption Films
Released on: 7/17/2012
Director: Vernon Sewell
Cast: Peter Cushing, Robert Flemyng, Wanda Ventham, Vanessa Howard, Glynn Edwards, Roy Hudd
Year: 1968
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The Movie:
Bloody and beaten (eaten?) bodies are turning up around the countryside in late Nineteenth Century England. Police inspector Quennell (Peter Cushing) is on the case, intrigued that the victims share the same injuries. Also on the case is his right-hand manservant Sergeant Allen (Glynn Edwards) pretty much doing all the dirty work (sort of like Sam did on Quincy, M.E.). Some kind of monster, human or otherwise, is tearing people apart, but not without leaving some valuable clues. Quennell's hard work brings him to the front door of entomologist extrordinaire Dr. Mallinger (Robert Flemyng), who lives with his daughter Clare (Wanda Ventham), in a remote castle. His experiments have gained him widespread respect among his peers, but you just know he's gone too far at some point and blown a gasket.
Inspector Quennell's intuition takes over, and he knows something is going on in the bowels of that castle. He takes his own daughter Meg (Vanessa Howard) with him and the two stay nearby in an inn under an alias so the inspector can get a better look into what's going down in Mallinger's pad. No one is beyond suspect: not the creepy butler, not the doctor's daughter, and certainly not the good doctor himself. And no one is safe from the killer, including the inspector's daughter. Once the ante is raised things go south for just about everybody as this little mystery reaches the final act.
A Gothic setting, a monster, a little blood, Peter Cushing, ample young women…sounds like a Hammer movie. Sadly it isn't, but it's still a fun little monster movie, regardless of the fact the monster isn't in it much (good choice, director). It plays out like a typical whodunit, with some macabre elements, but doesn't put forth a whole lot in the sex and/or violence department. And its pretty slow, making the average 90-minute running time seem a bit longer. Still, it manages to hold interest pretty well.
Some interesting characters make brief appearances; most noteworthy is the always-eating mortician, played by Roy Hudd. He's inappropriate, cracks jokes at every opportunity, and makes it very apparent why his chosen profession involves people who can't talk back to him. But the saving grace in this one is, you guessed it, Peter Cushing. He's as elegant as ever as the calm and calculated inspector and ads little moments here and there to make his character endearing. Like when Sgt. Allen brings him a tea, Quennell scolds him for spilling tea in the saucer. Cushing had to have adlibbed that and it sounds so natural that he probably was scolding the actor for spilling his tea, but stayed in character doing it. That's professionalism right there.
Video/Audio/Extras:
Blood Beast Terror makes its high-definition debut with a 1080p AVC-encoded transfer and in the original aspect ratio of 1.66:1. The image is quite nice with great detail and plenty of natural film grain. It doesn't appear to have had DNR applied to it and skin tones look natural. Black levels are strong for the most part, although some of the nighttime footage seems a bit off at times. Colors are strong and the image is clear. It delivers a very satisfying picture. The sound is pretty basic, being an LPCM mono track, but it does its job fine. There are no problems with hissing or the like, and the dialogue is clear and easily understandable.
The extras: a gallery of stills (a little over a dozen of them), and trailers for other titles from Kino Lorber. Besides a trailer for the feature, also look for Burke & Hare, Killer's Moon, Virgin Witch, and The Asphyx.
The Final Word:
While it's certainly not essential viewing, Blood Beast Terror is worth watching for Mr. Cushing if nothing else. He's just great. Kino's presentation of the film is great all around and shouldn't disappoint.
Click on the images below for full sized Blu-ray screen caps!
