Greetings And Salutations, and welcome to my review of Brides Of Blood; here's the breakdown of my ratings:
Story: 1.25 Direction: 1.00 Pace: 1.00 Acting: 1.00 Enjoyment: 1.25
TOTAL: 5.50 out of 10.00
Okay, so I'm a sucker for bad B-Movies, and with a title like Brides Of Blood, you know I was instantly hooked. The surprises come quickly, though. Brides isn't really a B-Movie as we've come to know and love them. This picture has a budget and a solid cast of performers, though the story has all the essential traits and does wander down that wonderful exploitation road.
Cesar Amigo takes us on a trip to the Bikini Atoll area of the Pacific, where the American's tested their nuclear weapons. We are travelling with a small group of volunteers. Dr Henderson's come to research the effects of the radiation on the animal and plant life. Jim Farrell, an architectural engineer, has come to help the islanders construct wells, hospitals, schools, etc. And Carla Henderson is there to look after and assist her husband, the Doctor. They're not on the island long before they start to make some startling discoveries. Carla finds an odd-looking creature that her hubby believes could be a mutated crab. And while being escorted to the mansion of Esteban Powers, a copse of trees attacks them. The radiation has empowered them to propel their branches and roots to seek and secure sustenance. But there's something darker on the radioactive island. A few days into their work and the islanders hold an unusual lottery. Only the female villagers participate in the drawing of stones. The one who pulls the coloured rock is the chosen one. And, on this isle, being the chosen one is not a good thing. The superstitious folk believe they need to satiate the carnal desires of a beast who roves the forest around their village. What is the secret behind the beast and his brides? Will our three researchers and their new friend, Powers, be able to solve the enigma of the beast, or will they succumb to the creature? Amigo peppers the tale with solid, intricate, and naturalistic characters. My favourite in the group is Carla. This lady is sexy, sassy, and truly in love with her husband. However, Amigo makes their relationship an awkward and abnormal one. Her actions and reactions, though off-kilter, are honest and genuine. She and the story were the chief elements that kept my eyes on the screen.
The directors, Gerardo De Leon and Eddie Romero do a superb job of bringing the fantastical tale to life. They compose most of their shots excellently, though subtly. It's not iconic composition; no one image takes your breath away. Its practical composition; make the visuals interesting enough to keep your eyes engaged on the screen. For example, when we are around Power's mansion and see his dwarf servants moving about, the camera is always at their head height. It's a slight thing, and, subconsciously, it works. The directing duo try to vary the pace according to the action or required atmosphere, but it's a nearly imperceptible change. One of the best things about the picture is the special effects. The moving trees aren't terrible, and for the 1960s they're bloody awesome - you can't see the wires or rigging. Even the degenerate beast looks good.
The cast is superb. Of course, since I liked the Carla Henderson character so much, I have to state I also loved Beverly Power's portrayal. But that doesn't mean the rest of the performers were below standard. Oh, No! In fact, Mario Montenegro is extremely likeable as the wealthy widower, Esteban Powers. He adds respectability and classiness to the individual. And Kent Taylor comes across with strength and purpose as the Doctor. The only one I wasn't too keen on was John Ashley as Farrell, but this could be down to the character being a little wishy-washy.
Overall, Brides Of Blood is an entertaining and enjoyable romp into the Sci-Fi Horror Radioactive Mayhem sub-genre. And, I would happily recommend it for an afternoon or early evening viewing - to brighten your day - particularly if you're also a lover of B-Movies.
Drop that mutant crab and come and check out my Absolute Horror and The Final Frontier lists to see where I ranked Brides Of Blood.
Take Care & Stay Well.
Story: 1.25 Direction: 1.00 Pace: 1.00 Acting: 1.00 Enjoyment: 1.25
TOTAL: 5.50 out of 10.00
Okay, so I'm a sucker for bad B-Movies, and with a title like Brides Of Blood, you know I was instantly hooked. The surprises come quickly, though. Brides isn't really a B-Movie as we've come to know and love them. This picture has a budget and a solid cast of performers, though the story has all the essential traits and does wander down that wonderful exploitation road.
Cesar Amigo takes us on a trip to the Bikini Atoll area of the Pacific, where the American's tested their nuclear weapons. We are travelling with a small group of volunteers. Dr Henderson's come to research the effects of the radiation on the animal and plant life. Jim Farrell, an architectural engineer, has come to help the islanders construct wells, hospitals, schools, etc. And Carla Henderson is there to look after and assist her husband, the Doctor. They're not on the island long before they start to make some startling discoveries. Carla finds an odd-looking creature that her hubby believes could be a mutated crab. And while being escorted to the mansion of Esteban Powers, a copse of trees attacks them. The radiation has empowered them to propel their branches and roots to seek and secure sustenance. But there's something darker on the radioactive island. A few days into their work and the islanders hold an unusual lottery. Only the female villagers participate in the drawing of stones. The one who pulls the coloured rock is the chosen one. And, on this isle, being the chosen one is not a good thing. The superstitious folk believe they need to satiate the carnal desires of a beast who roves the forest around their village. What is the secret behind the beast and his brides? Will our three researchers and their new friend, Powers, be able to solve the enigma of the beast, or will they succumb to the creature? Amigo peppers the tale with solid, intricate, and naturalistic characters. My favourite in the group is Carla. This lady is sexy, sassy, and truly in love with her husband. However, Amigo makes their relationship an awkward and abnormal one. Her actions and reactions, though off-kilter, are honest and genuine. She and the story were the chief elements that kept my eyes on the screen.
The directors, Gerardo De Leon and Eddie Romero do a superb job of bringing the fantastical tale to life. They compose most of their shots excellently, though subtly. It's not iconic composition; no one image takes your breath away. Its practical composition; make the visuals interesting enough to keep your eyes engaged on the screen. For example, when we are around Power's mansion and see his dwarf servants moving about, the camera is always at their head height. It's a slight thing, and, subconsciously, it works. The directing duo try to vary the pace according to the action or required atmosphere, but it's a nearly imperceptible change. One of the best things about the picture is the special effects. The moving trees aren't terrible, and for the 1960s they're bloody awesome - you can't see the wires or rigging. Even the degenerate beast looks good.
The cast is superb. Of course, since I liked the Carla Henderson character so much, I have to state I also loved Beverly Power's portrayal. But that doesn't mean the rest of the performers were below standard. Oh, No! In fact, Mario Montenegro is extremely likeable as the wealthy widower, Esteban Powers. He adds respectability and classiness to the individual. And Kent Taylor comes across with strength and purpose as the Doctor. The only one I wasn't too keen on was John Ashley as Farrell, but this could be down to the character being a little wishy-washy.
Overall, Brides Of Blood is an entertaining and enjoyable romp into the Sci-Fi Horror Radioactive Mayhem sub-genre. And, I would happily recommend it for an afternoon or early evening viewing - to brighten your day - particularly if you're also a lover of B-Movies.
Drop that mutant crab and come and check out my Absolute Horror and The Final Frontier lists to see where I ranked Brides Of Blood.
Take Care & Stay Well.