Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

The Ape Blu-ray Movie Review

A fun horror-thriller genre expedition.

The Ape is an engaging horror-thriller featuring a star performance by the legendary Boris Karloff. Produced by William T. Lackey (Guilty or Not Guilty, Lost in the Stratosphere), The Ape is an impressive genre production for 1940. Fans of silly old-school genre films will find it to be a worthwhile delight: a zany blast of monkey-fun.

Dr. Bernard Adrian (Boris Karloff) is a scientist seeking a cure for polio at any cost. Attempting to turn back time on the effects of polio for a young woman who reminds him of his dearly departed daughter, Dr. Adrian wishes to work with spinal fluid in order to create a concoction that will bring his scientific conquest from concept to reality. If only spinal fluid was easy to obtain – as it must be procured from living, breathing, alive human beings. At the same time as Bernard works on his serum, a giant ape escapes into the local community and wrecks havoc. Could the ape be the solution the mad doc is looking for?

At the heart of The Ape is the performance by Boris Karloff. The talented performer walks a fine line throughout the film between crafting melodrama and demonstrating the horror underpinnings of the storyline. The actor gives depth to his mad scientist character and makes the experience all the more fun, engaging, and memorable. The end result is a genre film that is better than it is on paper alone.

The action and suspense of the scenes featuring the giant ape are reason enough to see the feature-film. As the ape traverses across the outdoors, roaming the land, the suspense and sense of adventure give the filmmaking a sense of wonder that only classic B movies can provide: it might seem a bit silly sometimes but the end results are entertaining and worthwhile. Though low-budget, the magic of filmmaking is easily felt.

"Does this costume make me look fat?"

Another compelling element of the production is the costuming and effects work utilized for the ape appearance throughout the feature-film. Given that The Ape was produced in 1940, it is impressive seeing the results of the designers. The ape never looks like a real ape, but the aesthetic is truly fascinating and effective for the storytelling to work its magic. A job well done.

The cinematography by Harry Neumann (Midnight Limited, The Mystery Man) gives the production a distinct aesthetic which works well for the genre setting. The horror-thriller element is conveyed with the visuals from scene to scene. The black and white cinematography is compelling and fits the tone and style of the production. Against the backdrop of the original music score composed by Edward J. Kay (The Toughest Man Alive, Treasure of Ruby Hills), The Ape comes alive on the silver screen.

The original screenplay by Curt Siodmak (The Invisible Man Returns, I Walked with a Zombie) and Richard Carroll (Five Came Back, Back from Eternity) is one of the few elements of the film that is questionable. The storytelling isn't complex or well-drawn and if it were not for some of the more impressive production elements the film might not have worked so well. The concept is good but entering the end-game of the film reveals that the plot-line could have used more fine-tuning.

Directed by William Nigh (Born Rich, The Lightning Flyer), The Ape makes the most of its average screenplay and turns it in to a fun horror-thriller that manages to entertain with a solid performance from the great Boris Karloff. Edited by Russell F. Schoengarth (The Tarnished Angels, My Man Godfrey), The Ape carries a consistently engaging pace for audiences to experience. The clever cinematographic approach and “ape” visuals make the film worth a watch.

The Ape Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, The Ape is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the aspect ratio of 1.32:1 full frame. The release has received a brand new 2K master of the film. The print quality is surprisingly good and retains some natural film grain. The print looks nice and clean with only minor specks on the print. If there is any criticism, it is that black levels are less than ideal. Even so, the film looks superb in high-definition and the new scan is more than merely adequate.

The Ape Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Blu-ray release is presented in lossless DTS HD Master Audio mono. The audio presentation sounds quite good overall and doesn't leave viewers wanting more. Dialogue is crisp, clear, and easy to understand throughout the entire presentation. The track has an impressive degree of clarity given the age of the audio elements. There are no egregious issues to report concerning hiss, crackle, warps, clicks, and other audio-related deficiencies. A fine match for the new video scan, the audio fits the bill perfectly.

Please Note: Optional English subtitles are provided.

The Ape Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary by Film Historian Tom Weaver

Audio Commentary by Film Historian Richard Harland Smith

Poster and Image Gallery (HD, 2:46)

The release also includes a selection of trailers promoting other releases available from distributor Kino Lorber: Black Sabbath (HD, 2:23), The Crimson Cult (HD, 2:04), and The Undying Monster (SD, 1:05).

The Ape Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Ape is an entertaining B-movie in the horror-thriller genre. The film is highlighted by an excellent performance by Boris Karloff. It is easy to see that Karloff makes the entire experience more compelling on the whole. A well-directed production and one that showcases the fantastic black-and-white cinematography well. The one downside to the film is a flimsy script, but the filmmaking still manages to remain fun the entire time. The Blu-ray release features a new 2K scan that is impressive to behold. Fans of the film will want to add the release to their collection. Recommended.