Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.5

The Monster of Piedras Blancas Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov October 2, 2016

Irvin Berwick's "The Monster of Piedras Blancas" (1959) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of independent distributors Olive Films. There are no supplemental features on the disc. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

There is something evil in the dark

The events in the film take place in one of those sleepy coastal towns that Stephen King likes to visit in his novels. The time appears to be the late 1950s, or possibly the early 1960s, though it does not really matter much because none of the main characters seem terribly concerned with life outside of their community.

When a killer goes berserk and the local authorities admit that they don’t know where to look for him, people panic. Then amidst the fear and paranoia someone mentions that the elusive killer could be a legendary monster that is hiding in the sea.

Irwin Berwick’s directorial debut was most likely meant to appeal to viewers who appreciated the special flavor of the various exotic horror pictures that emerged between the 1930s and 1950s. Some good examples are Erle C. Kenton’s Island of Lost Souls, George Wagner's The Wolf Man, and Jack Arnold’s Creature from the Black Lagoon. The noirish overtones suggest that perhaps there was also an attempt to attract the attention of viewers who flocked to see the latest popular noir pictures.

It is probably fair to speculate, however, that the picture did not perform particularly well with the two groups because its production limitations are quite obvious. Indeed, it is shot in a way that reveals a clear awareness of budget restrictions that gradually lower expectations to a degree that most B pictures are typically comfortable with.

But the picture’s modest (cleaner, more minimalistic) appearance may well be the key reason why it actually looks quite attractive today. For example, the cautious yet effective use of light and shadow create an atmosphere that could work quite well in an early Fritz Lang noir thriller, yet the retro horror element pushes the picture in a completely different direction. Also, rather than being a weakness, the absence of big stars actually allows the narrative to evolve more naturally and avoid the cliched dramatic peaks that otherwise would have undoubtedly been part of it.

The original poster art reveals the identity of the killer and this is rather unfortunate because the buildup in the second act could have been more effective without the knowledge that it is a monster of some sort. The thing does look kitschy, but not in a cheap and goofy way that collapses the entire picture. (The monster suit was created by Jack Kevan, who also worked on the suit and make-up effects that were used in Creature from the Black Lagoon).

Berwick collaborated with cinematographer Philip Lathrop, whose credits include such classics and genre hits as The Pink Panther, Experiment in Terror, The Cincinnati Kid, Point Blank, and The Driver.

The cast includes Pete Dunn, Les Tremayne, John Harmon, Jeanne Carmen, and Don Sullivan.

The Monster of Piedras Blancas Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Irvin Berwick's The Monster of Piedras Blancas arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Olive Films.

The release is sourced from a fairly recent and healthy master. While grain could be slightly better defined close-ups and larger panoramic shots typically boast very good to excellent definition and clarity, while fluidity is consistently very pleasing. Depth is good. The grayscale is convincing, never exhibiting balance issues or similar anomalies that could potentially destabilize the integrity of the image. There are no traces of problematic sharpening adjustments. Finally, a few tiny specks sneak in, but there are no distracting large cuts, debris, damage marks, warped or torn frames to report in our review. Indeed, this is a very solid and competent technical presentation. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

The Monster of Piedras Blancas Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional yellow English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

There are no technical anomalies to report. Clarity and depth are very good, while fluidity is consistently very pleasing. Also, there are no balance issues to report, though there are a few segments -- mostly during the footage from the beach -- where some minor fluctuations can be detected. These fluctuations, however, are part of the film's original sound design. There are no audio dropouts, pops, cracks, distracting background hiss, or digital distortions to report.

The Monster of Piedras Blancas Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Most unfortunately, there are no supplemental features to be found on this Blu-ray release.

The Monster of Piedras Blancas Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

What makes films such as Irvin Berwick's The Monster of Piedras Blancas worth revisiting is the fact that they have a certain retro vibe that make many of them look quite charming. I personally find them most effective when seen late at night. If you have a soft spot for these types of genre films, consider adding The Monster of Piedras Blancas to your collection. It does not break any new boundaries, but it has a good atmosphere and even a few interesting surprises. RECOMMENDED.