(United Kingdom/1968)
Reviewed By-Kit Gavin Starring: Peter Cushing, Robert Flemyng, Wanda Ventham and Roy Hudd. Directed by Vernon Sewell Source: DD Video [United Kingdom] DVD Region 2 PAL
Set in Victorian England, police Inspector Quennell [Cushing] is investigating a bizarre series of murders. All victims have been male, mostly students of Dr. Malling, and drained off their blood. Although the film is supposed to be structured like a murder mystery, and given it’s short running time (less than 80 minutes), all pointers are pretty much blatantly pointing at the local mad doctor, Malling [Flemyng], who plays an entomologist with an unhealthy interest in collecting oversized cocoons. Mallinger’s assistant and butler, Granger, is suitably sinister and seems to have stepped straight out of Igor’s School for Sinister Mad Scientist’s Assistants. Scarfaced and sadistic, in case we needed reassuring that something remiss. As well as Granger, Mallinger also happens to have an attractive sensual daughter, Clare [Ventham] who’s wannabe suitors end up dead, after having been seduced .
Clare sometimes transforms into a human sized giant Death’s head moth. No big surprise there. Although it is supposed to shocking, it isn’t and the rest of the film is largely dull and routine at best. Also, the effects are so cheap that Clair transforms by dissolve rather than any genuine special effects occurring which might elevate the scene. The costume which she wears is truly dire and unconvincing, complete with glowing red eyes and feelers. No logical reason is ever given for these transformations either. The film seems to have been made nearly two to three decades too late, and the mood and atmosphere feels like it belongs in a much earlier feature. The film clearly is very low budget and it shows throughout the entire feature. All a real shame!!
One of the interesting aspects of the film however which should not be over looked despite the (justifiable) bad red that the film gets is the presence of the Death’s Head moth, which was made famous by the film The Silence of the Lambs just under a quarter of a century later. Indeed the film was shot under the title of Death’s Head Vampire. The plot is overly emphatic on the moth, and suggests the totally unbelievable (major suspension of disbelief here, verging on impossibility) is that one British man in every three is an enthusiast of the Death’s Head Moth. Come again?!? However, sadly, the Moth monster is truly awful – adding to the muddled mess and ineptitude of the picture under review. The script is filled with inconsistencies and is so thinly plotted, despite an interesting premise, is nothing short of illogical and disappointing. The film has to be seen to be believed when it comes to the sheer ridiculous nature of the inconsistencies.
Cushing’s role, although he is supposed to be in the lead role, is sadly not given much or enough screen time, and normally his presence can be counted upon to liven up even the most unexceptional films. The role of the mad doctor of the story, Mallinger, is played by Robert Flemyng who replaced the original choice of Basil Rathbone who came very close to playing the role. Unfortunately, Rathbone died less than a week before the film was due to commence shooting. Though unlikely that his presence would have made the film any better, it might have added much needed entertainment value to the film. The Liverpool born Flemyng made a minor mark amongst cult movie fans for his portrayal of the eponymous evil leading character in The Terror of Doctor Hichcock by Italian director Riccardo Freda, one of the true classics of Italian Gothic cinema in the early part of the 1960’s. Here however Flemyng is unexceptional and his nondescript acting and lack of screen persona here are generally tedious at best, only livened up when he is opposite the ever reliable Cushing. Also cast in a guest star role is British character actor Roy Hudd, who plays a somewhat offbeat morgue attendant, who happily eats away his meals at the feet of the corpses in the morgue. He also shares some enjoyable scenes with Peter Cushing.
For the transfer DD Video have once again utilised a theatrical print, as presumably the elements were unavailable or non locatable. The release also bears the ridiculous sounding US title of "The Vampire Beast Craves Blood" (which sounds more like a crude bad translation of a European horror film than a British production). Unfortunately the print which has been used to create this DVD is rather on the weak side, with the film’s color levels being pretty bad throughout, with ghosting present, blacks which look like dark gray at best. However despite the muted feel of the print used, it is actually in pretty good shape, without too much dirt or grain intruding, and no splicing being overly obvious. The print is real mixed blessing, so it is difficult to judge honestly and constructively quality. The film itself has been little seen since its original release, but this still doesn’t excuse the poor quality of materials used here. Sound track is presented in it’s original mono, somewhat uninspired and flat but sufficient.
On the extras side of things, DD Video, much like its other releases have pulled out some of the stops to make this an enjoyable and worthwhile release on that front in any case. The extras start off with a full screen trailer for the film for the film under its original British title. There is also a fairly nicely stacked gallery of production stills. The main extra and a frequent and most welcome occurrence with the British horror line from DD Video is another of their full-color 24 page "Viewing Notes", well researched and written by British film historians Marcus Hearn and Jonathan Rigby, both highly regarded in their field of filmic knowledge of British horror cinema. Also included on the disc is an interview with the films female star, actress Wanda Ventham with Marcus Hearn. For just shy of ten minutes of its twenty five (or so) running time, Ventham discusses with fondness her memories of working on the film. Ventham seems at ease and is happy to discuss her thoughts and memories. Having discussed the film, Hearn turns to her other cult appearances in films and TV programmes, which again the starlet seems happy to discuss. Ventham had also appeared in Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter and cult TV series such as UFO and Doctor Who. Ventham comes across as accessible and delightful and her presence is most welcome. Well done to DD Video for including this interview.
The film under review was never going to make it as a masterpiece of supernatural horror regrettably, and it’s star, Peter Cushing was often to dismiss the film in his interviews as being the worst film he ever made. This dismissal seems somewhat unfair and the film is actually not anywhere near as bad as he claimed it to be, and is still worth checking out by fans of Peter Cushing and of British horror during it’s glory days. Unfortunately, owing to the materials available for it’s release on DVD in the UK, the print is unexceptional and the soundtrack at best serviceable, also act as a deterrent to potential customers. Despite all these misgivings, DD Video have put effort into its extras, most notably the usual excellent "viewing notes" provided with the DVD, and the entertaining interview with Wanda Ventham [at least we are spared another interview with Christopher Lee]. Rather on the expensive side to buy, far from the best film out there, but not as bad as it could be.
Story: 2 BITCH SLAPS Audio: 2 BITCH SLAPS Video: 2 BITCH SLAPS Extras: 2.5 BITCH SLAPS Overall: 2 BITCH SLAPS To Purchase this DVD, visit X-Ploited Cinema
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