Wednesday, January 03, 2018

Movie review - "Beast of Blood" (1970) **

A genuine sequel to The Mad Doctor of Blood Island in that it picks up literally where the last one left off - on a boat, with the creature on board. The creature knocks off pretty much everyone except John Ashley - not that we see it because the other actors didn't return. Then Ashley goes back to the island. Instead of being accompanied by an army platoon, he's got a journo (Celeste Yarnall).

The mad doctor is still operating, Ashley still gets over his head, there's a lot of gore, a sex scene between Yarnall (a lot better actor than Angelique Pettyjohn) and Ashley, some action at the end.

This is a much better movie than the earlier one. No annoying zooms, the photography is genuinely good, the production values are better, the island looks prettier. Ashley seems more comfortable. The villain is good - he wears an eyepatch and has an impressive lair.

Its still a bit dull in spots. I don't get the magic these films have for fans. Maybe you had to see them young on TV or something.

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