The Blood Beast Terror [DVD]

excellent DVD Peter Cushing fills the screen unlike a lot of actors today although the fishing rod used in this periodic film did look like a 1960;s fibreglass rod:-)

In 19th Century England, a number of unexplained deaths are occuring. The victims, all men, have been found drained of blood. Witnesses to these deaths are no help to the local constabulary, having completely lost their minds. Inspector Quennell(Peter Cushing) believes that some unidentified creature is responsible, due to the wounds on the bodies. The trail of clues leads to the house of renowned entomologist Doctor Carl Mallinger(Robert Flemyng), who lives there with his reclusive daughter Clare(Wanda Ventham). As Quennell continues to investigate, he doesn’t realise that his own flesh and blood is in terrible danger, as his daughter Meg(Vannessa Howard) is soon required to feed the insatiable appetite of the beast that craves blood!
In the late 1960’s, whilst Hammer films were becoming increasingly reliant on their Dracula and Frankenstein franchises, and Amicus Films concentrated on their Anthology films, it was left to other smaller companies to provide the British public with more diverse fayre. Probably the most famous of these other companies was Tigon, a company set up by exploitation maestro Tony Tenser. Tigon’s notable output include that marvellous horror about religious hypocrisy in the Middle Ages, ‘The Witchfinder General’, another terrific 60’s British horror about the spread of a malignant evil in the countryside called ‘Blood On Satan’s Claw’ and the interesting primitive slasher ‘The Haunted House Of Horror’. Then there was ‘The Blood Beast Terror’. To think of this film in the same league as the afore-mentioned triumphs would be silly as this is a very minor effort in comparison. It does get a very bad press though, which is rather unfair.
For a start, the film was beset with production difficulties. The role of Dr. Mallinger was originally written for Basil Rathbone, who unfortunately died before shooting started. In addition to this, Cushing’s wife was ill at the time the film was being made, maybe contributing to the actor’s later assertion that he hated making the film. Whatever Cushing’s feelings were towards this film ,he still delivers a terrific performance, one of the main reasons why ‘The Blood Beast Terror’ remains so enjoyable despite itself.
A lot is made of the supposedly ridiculous monster. Okay, a ‘Were-moth’ in a low budget horror will always look better on paper than in reality, but the concept was no more ridiculous than other bug eyed monsters of the time. In addition to Cushing’s excellent performance there are nice turns from Ventham, who has an icy countenance as Clare, Roy Hudd as a food obsessed Mortician and Glynn Edwards as Seargent Allen. Of the main performers, only Flemyng dissappoints, looking rather embarrassed in every scene that he is in.
Maybe part of the problem this film has is that it is a British horror. Perhaps the perception was that ‘The Blood Beast Terror’ was a rare blot on the glorious landscape of the golden age of British horror. I see it more as a rather entertaining b-movie if one disengages the brain before commencing watching it.
The only really silly aspect for me is the inclusion of the character of Granger(Kevin Stoney), Mallinger’s butler, who regularily tortures Mallinger’s pet eagle(?), only to soon perish at the claws of said bird of prey. If Granger and/or the Eagle were included as red herrings then I would rather they had not been included at all, so ridiculous are these scenes.
This DD release has the American transfer of the film, titled ‘The Vampire Beast Craves Blood’. This i supposed to be the best picture quality available for this film. The picture quality is a bit faded but clear and the audio is fine. The best extra is a nice interview with Wanda Ventham and a glossy booklet that explores the history behind the film and its cast and crew.
So there we have ‘The Blood Beast Terror’, a curious title as the film contains little blood or terror. Perhaps a better title would have been ‘Boys For The Were-Moth’. I found it reasonably diverting anyway, and it is well worth a watch for any fan of British horror or low budget creature features. 4 out of 5.