Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Queen of Blood Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 30, 2015

It’s no secret that producer Roger Corman likes to keep costs down on his productions. He’s actually famous because of it, but 1966’s “Queen of Blood” goes beyond his habitual frugality, working out a plan to transform two Russian movies into a sci-fi distraction for American audiences. Writer/director Curtis Harrington pulls off an impressive bit of editorial puzzling with “Queen of Blood,” and while he can’t completely hide the seams between Russian and American footage, he manages to overcome budgetary limitations with healthy amounts of style and an endearing commitment to genre highlights.

Space isn’t the final frontier in “Queen of Blood,” which offers a look at the futureworld of 1990, where humankind is slowly reaching out beyond the stars. Stars John Saxton, Judi Meredith, Dennis Hopper, and Robert Boon portray astronauts handed an exploratory mission to Mars, where strange sights and the lure of a green space vampire await them. Suspense isn’t a major priority for Harrington, who’s hanging on for dear life, trying to sell an enormous sci-fi extravaganza that’s partially made from two different movies. It’s an interesting juggling act, and one that helps the feature cut through some sluggish passages, with the helmer working to keep “Queen of Blood” visually interesting to best of his ability.

Queen of Blood Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation offer an unusual visual collection of Russian and Harrington footage, with the HD viewing experience making it relatively easy to spot the differences. Colors are perhaps the most impressive here, offering striking primaries that elevate blood reds and Martian greens, keeping hues secure and intriguing. Period cinematography adds a degree of softness to the image, but detail is adequate, grasping facial textures and make-up limitations, while design elements are easily studied. Delineation is satisfactory, preserving distances. Source shows some wear and tear, but no overt damage is found.

Queen of Blood Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix runs into a little trouble with clarity, encountering a muddier listening experience that restrains dialogue exchanges. Intelligibility isn't lost, but certain passages are buried deep, while excitable performances hit a few crispy highs. Scoring is equally cloudy but functional, creating the mood as intended. Atmospherics and sound effects are more forceful and appealing.

Queen of Blood Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview (21:34, HD) with film historian Robert Skotak is a satisfying exploration of the movie's production origins, explaining how "Queen of Blood" came to be under such unusual circumstances.

• Interview (6:27, HD) with Roger Corman is a brief examination of the producer's initial vision for the Russian footage and how the feature was ultimately shaped.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:26, SD) is included.

Queen of Blood Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Queen of Blood" isn't the most dynamic example of its genre, but it has a curious look, matching American B-movie pursuits with towering Russian special effects. Performances are also alert, perhaps aware that a human touch is desperately needed when dealing with a thoroughly cinematic effort. "Queen of Blood" lacks urgency, but its craftsmanship is appealing, creating a memorable journey into horror and sci-fi with help from three features and Corman-branded filmmaking ingenuity.