(United Kingdom 1967)
Reviewed By-Kit Gavin Directed by Terrence Fisher Starring: Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Patrick Allen, Jane Merrow and Sarah Lawson Source: DD Video [United Kingdom] DVD Region 2 PAL
In the midst of winter, an extreme heat wave is covering a small island called Fara, in the British Isles. Temperatures are increasing with alarming rapidity, rising to the high 90’s Fahrenheit. Understandably, the residents on the island, unable to explain the phenomena, start to suffer as a result of the heat. The majority takes place of the action in and around a local inn, run by a couple, the Callums. Jeff [Allen], a writer and owner of the inn, and his wife, Frankie [Lawson] are visited by Jeff’s former mistress, Angela [Merrow], who will be working as Jeff’s secretary. The arrival of Angela creates a temperature in and of itself of unease and sexual friction and tension, between her former lover and his wife.
As well as the rising temperature, various inexplicable events are taking place, such as people vanishing and sheep dying mysteriously. Also the adverse climate is having an effect of the telephone lines as much as television reception. A visiting scientist, Godfrey Hanson [Lee] begins to investigate the phenomenon and discovers that blob-like shaped aliens are responsible for events which are taking place. Lee, initially an aloof and mysterious figure explores the island singlehanded, setting traps, armed with cameras and taking countless photographs and locking himself away in his room, devising experiments.
The main star of the film and heading an excellent cast is Christopher Lee, who, once again cast against type, plays the local scientist who turns out to be the "hero" of the film. At first his role isn’t especially sympathetic, boorish and a stuffed shirt, arrogant and not interested in those around him developing into a caring more human character concerned with others and their welfare. Patrick Allen and Sarah Lawson work particularly well as a couple and in their individual roles, as they were and still are a real life item, still married and with two children, despite their characters onscreen not being especially inspiring. Lawson would return to working with Fisher, alongside Lee, in his masterpiece horror/thriller for Hammer, The Devil Rides Out. Patrick Allen too would work on The Devil Rides Out, re-dubbing the voice for Australian model/actor Leon Greene, as well as the voice-over for the trailers. Peter Cushing is given "Guest Star" billing in quite a substantial role as that of a local doctor, Vernon Stone, and equally is very good in the role, as the well to do country doctor. Most of the rest of the cast should be familiar faces to an aficionado of British B-movies from the 1950’s and 1960’s.
Terrence Fisher was often to say in interviews that he hated making science-fiction movies and though he mostly dismissed the genre, he seems to have injected interest and enthusiasm into this project, putting the science fiction theme on the shelf and imbuing the project with an assortment of personal trademarks to his directorial ability and interpretation. Again the film involves normal people being invaded by malevolent outside forces, One of the areas where Fisher achieves considerable success is in conveying the sense of stifling heat and claustrophobia, quite an achievement given that the film itself was shot in the middle of February in very cold weather. One of Fisher’s main achievements in the film is creating interesting and complex relationships between characters, but also conjuring up an aura of suspense and unease around the work. Fisher’s other focuses include creating effective dynamics and interplay between the characters, and suspense not so much on special effects and bogus sci-fi jargon which makes little sense. Despite the cheap origins and low budget involved in the making of this film, production values are good and solid, events mostly taking place in the Callum’s local inn. Cinematography and set design is workable and pretty much give a no thrills look but it still works, none the less, without betraying the film’s low budget origins or making them too glaring.
Indeed most of the films suspense in this engaging little thriller lies not in the monsters themselves, who are rarely seen, perhaps owing to the low budget origins of the film but are mostly heard – mostly as loud ringing wails and high pitched screams. In fact not seeing the creatures adds to the mood and stifling atmosphere as much as the claustrophobic uncertainty of the piece, as well as the characters trying to understand the nature of the unseen menace, generating suspense along the way. Lee shows and feels obvious disdain for the creatures during the commentary and in other interviews, and they all really surface towards the end of the film. Some may see the actual creatures, fluorescent blob monsters, as being anti-climactic when they finally surface at the end of the film, looking unconvincing and hardly moving. Also their (limited) movements seem artificial to say the least, and their presence towards the end will seem something of a disappointment to some viewers.
Night of the Big Heat marks the second of two low budget science fiction films [a genre which the director loathed] by Terrence Fisher [Dracula: Prince of Darkness, The Devil Rides Out] for Planet Productions, made in the mid Sixties. The sure fire combination of horror icons Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee in a film, together with a solid director such as Fisher here (their last collaboration together in fact), even make a minor movie (such as the one under review) enjoyable fare. The film was released under the somewhat derivative title on the DVD in the UK, whereas it was given a perhaps more suitable title in the United States where it played under the title of Island of the Burning Doomed. In both countries it played on double bills, Stateside with Godzilla’s Revenge and in the UK with Elio Petri’s The 10th Victim. Both being rather bizarre choices to say the least.
Scheduled for an earlier release DD Video delayed the release of this film on DVD so as better quality materials could be found for this release, which should be commended where some companies, especially in the UK, are content just to put out the first release they can and as soon as they can. A big thumbs up to DD Video for doing such for the fans of these low budget movies. Throughout most of the film, presented widescreen (in it’s original aspect ratio of 1:85:1) and anamorphically enhanced, the picture is pretty impressive and clean albeit over the passage of time the colors have somewhat faded, possibly due to bad storage. At times too there are splices in the film, however there doesn’t seem to be any damage and the film seems to completely intact and uncut. The print of the film on the disc has a feel of watching the original film, and although colors are slightly faded, and there is light speckling, the experience is not dimmed by the print not being as pristine as it might be, none the less it has a more authentic feel for such a low budget movie.
Audio quality is good and clear, presented in the original mono. Dialogue isn’t muffled, and both the alien sound effects and the enjoyable, slightly jazzy yet otherwise conventional music score by Robert Lockyer [also composer for Island of Terror] are crisp and clear.
As with other releases in the series, the main feature accompanying the disc is another nicely illustrated, well presented and put together extended liner notes in the form of a full color 24 page booklet, written by Marcus Hearn (who also contributes to the commentary track – see below) and respected writer Jonathan Rigby. The booklet itself goes into extensive detail, packed with everything you could want to know about the film, it’s origins, the cast and more. There is even a special section found therein dedicated to the actress Jane Merrow. Once again, well put together and most interesting and it’s presence is most welcome here.
The principal extra comes in the form of an audio commentary featuring the film’s star Christopher Lee, the screenwriters Pip and Jane Baker, and all nicely moderated by author Marcus Hearn, who also moderated a number of the US releases of Hammer titles’ audio commentaries by Anchor Bay Entertainment. Hearn is the perfect moderator, posing informed intelligent questions and not allowing ego to step in. It might have been nice to hear Lawson and Allen (with his very distinctive voice) speak about the film, but the disc might have been overcrowded with too many voices chiming in. Once again the well spoken, dryly amusing Lee enjoys sharing stories and anecdotes with remarkable clarity. Hearn, a well respected authority is the perfect foil for the input which is being fed whilst also giving further factoids and information about the film onscreen. Not that Lee is allowed to hold center stage throughout, the writers the Bakers, are more than able to hold their own and contribute plentiful information and outlook and views on the construction of the film.
As well as a relatively short gallery of stills, rounding off the DVD there are four trailers for 4 other releases in the British horror line from DD Video; viz. The Abominable Snowman, Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter, Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell, and Quatermass and the Pit.
Story: 3.5 BITCH SLAPS Audio: 3.5 BITCH SLAPS Video: 3.5 BITCH SLAPS Extras: 3.5 BITCH SLAPS Overall: 3.5 BITCH SLAPS To purchase this DVD, visit X-Ploited Cinema
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