Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		2.5

Night of the Blood Beast Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman November 8, 2024

Note: This film is available on Blu-ray as part of Night of the Blood Beast (which includes Attack of the Giant Leeches) from Film Masters.

Film Masters is continuing its trek through some wacky monster movies, many of which had some kind of connection to the iconic Corman Brothers, Roger and Gene. This particular pairing offers two Gene Corman productions, both directed by Bernard L. Kowalski, and both offering some frankly ludicrous creatures along with typically florid 1950s plot dynamics. As has often been the case with these cult offerings from Film Masters, the label has provided some enjoyable supplements, and they also offer Night of the Blood Beast in two aspect ratios. In this particular case of another veritable double feature from Film Masters, the advertised "main attraction", Night of the Blood Beast, is in considerably better shape in the video quality department than the dreaded "second billed" Attack of the Giant Leeches.

Maybe all you really need to know about Night of the Blood Beast and Attack of the Giant Leeches is that both served as the target for another scabrous "audience commentary" from the snarky crew at Mystery Science Theater 3000. However, if we're contrasting in other ways, it may also be salient to note that in the actually quite intriguing contest for "most ridiculous looking monster" engaged in between the two movies in the Film Masters double feature, my personal vote would go to this film's memorable titular character, a frankly indescribable aggregation of various design choices, probably none of which were very good. Part of the reason this film's monster may ultimately be more fun (and funny) is that you actually get to see it, as opposed to the mostly underwater shots of the creatures named in Attack of the Giant Leeches. Perhaps hilariously, then, given this "winning" status, the Blood Beast costume had just been used previously to the production of this film in Roger Corman's Teenage Caveman, in yet another example of how thrifty the Cormans could be in terms of martialing (and reusing) resources.

As to story, there are obvious riffs on other (much more prestigious) entries like The Thing from Another World, with an isolated group of scientists (yeah, right) dealing with a horrifying interloper. Rather interestingly, though, this film actually kind of presages one memorable element of the original Alien, in spirit if not in graphic intensity. Despite its often laugh out loud sendup on Mystery Science 3000 Theater, all of which is soundly deserved, the film has some surprisingly interesting aspects, even if they're delivered in an undeniably comic low rent fashion.

Night of the Blood Beast Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Night of the Blood Beast is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Film Masters with AVC encoded 1080p transfers in either 1.85:1 or 1:37:1 (as has sometimes been the case with a number of prior releases from the label). I've uploaded a few somewhat comparable screenshots of the two aspect ratios to this review, for those who'd like to contrast and compare framings. Both versions begin with the following prefatory text card:

The following presentation is from a 4K scan of a damaged original 35mm release print, with the brief exception of the title card that came from 8mm. Extensive restoration was done to preserve and repair the original source material, but due to source limitations this print is presented with certain imperfections and jump cuts. To preserve the integrity of the film, the decision was made to not cut in lesser source materials and keep the presentation in native 35mm footage.

Taken on the whole, this is an often quite striking restoration, at least when compared to some of the raw scan seen in the restoration comparison featurette included on this disc as a supplement, and when considering the fact that this was sourced from a release print and not even an interpositive let alone a negative. While there is certainly recurrent age related wear and tear on display, it's frequently relatively minor in the form of short lived scratches and nicks, as well as occasional speckling. There are some kind of comically missing frames, where action gets to skip a beat or two. Contrast is surprisingly strong, and detail levels are generally fine. I personally wouldn't have minded a bit more observable grain field, though grain can certainly be spotted.

Night of the Blood Beast Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Night of the Blood Beast features a decent sounding DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono track. Somewhat hilariously, and vis a vis the Corman penchant for reusing material, alert listeners may discern that there's a certain similarity (as in identical) between parts of the score in this film and Attack of the Giant Leeches. Music generally sounds full bodied, and some of the silly sound effects, as in an opening vignette documenting a blastoff, are actually relatively resonant as well. Dialogue is presented cleanly and clearly. Optional English subtitles are available.

Night of the Blood Beast Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode featuring Night of the Blood Beast (HD; 1:31:44) actually also includes Once Upon a Honeymoon. I frankly found the interstitials lackluster, but the snarky commentaries are often hilarious.


• 8mm version of Night of the Blood Beast (HD; 6:56) is arguably even funnier than the main feature due to its extreme redaction.


• Night of the Blood Beast re-created trailer (HD; 1:33)


• Night of the Blood Beast & Attack of the Giant Leeches publicity & still slideshow (HD; 2:22)


• Film Restoration Comparison (HD; 2:38) offers side by side looks at the raw 4K scan and the restored version.


• Commentary with Tom Weaver is accessible under the Setup Menu and offers another fun tour, including some guest stars.

Night of the Blood Beast Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Night of the Blood Beast is undeniably ridiculous, but for those willing to look past the ludicrous parts, there are at least a couple of interesting ideas in the screenplay. This has the better looking video of the two films in the Film Masters set, and the supplements are also appealing, for anyone who may be considering making a purchase.