This low-budget monster movie set in the Florida Everglades features mad science, college jerks, bright colors, an odd-looking creature, and the singing of Neil Sedaka (singing “Do the Jellyfish”). There’s no particular reason to see the movie, but it manages to be somewhat entertaining despite its limitations. Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is …
A Bay of Blood (1971)
Rather a jumbled plot, as the murder of a wealthy woman by her husband sets in motion a series of killings, including a couple that served as inspirations for scenes in later slasher movies. There’s no one to root for, really, in the film, directed by Mario Bava and originally titled Ecologia del delitto, and …
The Raven (Universal, 1935)
A brilliant neurologist (Bela Lugosi) becomes obsessed with a young socialite (Irene Ware) whose life he has saved, and he will stop at nothing — not even murder — to win her. Lugosi is excellent in the role, and Boris Karloff is on hand, too, as a criminal whom the doctor recruits to help him, …
The Invisible Ray (Universal, 1936)
Karloff and Lugosi are in fine form in this Universal picture, with the former essaying the not-unusual role of a scientist gone mad (here driven murderously so by exposure to the dreaded Radium X) and the latter a humanitarian doctor who saves the scientist’s life but must eventually face the consequence of his action. Well …
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Monogram Monday: Spook Busters (Monogram, 1946)
The Bowery Boys, newly graduated from exterminator college (all save Sach), get their first job tackling pests in a reputed haunted house… and soon end up tangling with a mad scientist (Douglass Dumbrille) with designs on Sach’s brain. There are some good gags involving various members of the group. I tend to like the boys’ …
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Revolt of the Zombies (1936)
Revolt of the Zombies begins during the First World War, but then the setting changes, as an expedition heads to Cambodia, where one of the party discovers the secret of making zombies and uses his evil knowledge to plot his punishment of those who oppose him. Unfortunately, it all plays out more as melodrama than …
Beast of Blood (1970)
Dr. Bill Foster (John Ashley) is back on Blood Island in this sequel to Mad Doctor of Blood Island, again confronting its horrors and finding new opportunities for romance as well (his love interest of the previous film having been killed at the start of this one). He’s investigating whether the deranged Dr. Lorca (Eddie …
The Alligator People (Twentieth Century Fox, 1959)
A bride (Beverly Garland) abandoned by her new groom searches for him, hoping to learn the reason why he suddenly left her and went into hiding. Her investigation eventually leads her to a remote southern mansion, where she learns the horrifying truth, a truth connected with the title of the film. Entertaining overall, with Garland …
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Mad Doctor of Blood Island (1968)
A doctor (John Ashley) is sent by the Philippine government to investigate strange happenings on an isolated island; making the same voyage to the unwelcoming isle is the daughter (Angelique Pettyjohn) of a missing scientist. They uncover the depredations of a monster created by a mad scientist and must strive to defeat both creature and …
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Man Beast (1956)
In this cryptozoological snoozefest, an expedition heads into the Himalayas to find a woman’s brother, who had disappeared on a previous attempt to locate the yeti, and the new group encounters the unexpected and plenty of unlooked-for danger. Unfortunately, it’s all rather slow going, and none of the characters is particularly interesting. Not recommended. Otto …