User Reviews

Wow, does this flick make for one wild and woolly experience! "Brides of Blood" (1968), the first adventure in the Blood Island trilogy, must be deemed, along with 1959's "Terror Is A Man," one of the crown jewels of Filipino horror cinema. In it, 1950s star John Ashley plays Jim Farrell, a Peace Corps worker who comes to the eponymous Blood Island in the Philippines. He is accompanied by naturalist Dr. Henderson, who wants to study the effects of recent nearby nuke tests on the island's flora and fauna, as well as by Henderson's randy, bubble-bosomed wife, played by Beverly Hills (love that name!). This film is some kind of ultimate drive-in experience, and throws in much to ensure a memorable time. Thus, there are some scary, groping, mutated trees (still not as scary as the ones in "The Wizard Of Oz," though), sacrificed topless maidens, gaggles of scampering little people (that IS the PC expression at the moment, right?), battles with torches, bolos and flare guns, AND a roaring, woman-hungry monster that beggars my poor powers of description. Please don't get me wrong; this is certainly not anybody's idea of a quality film (even my beloved "Psychotronic Encyclopedia" calls it "terrible"). It is somewhat shoddily put together, and features God-awful dubbing and egregious day-for-night photography. Still, it does offer truly exotic Filipino atmosphere, interesting characters, decent-enough acting, and eerie native chants. Plus, the film culminates with a wild, celebratory native mating dance that must be seen to be believed; a most satisfactory windup. The bottom line is that I can't imagine any fan of sci-fi, horror or action films not enjoying this pulpy funhouse of a movie on some level. Recommended.

Brides of Blood is a cheap and cheerful production but also one with a lot of problems. The plot synopsis actually makes it sound like you might be in for something rather enjoyable; but while the film definitely does have it's moments, they are few and far between and usually in the middle of a load of torrid and boring scenes. The film focuses on a primitive island where years earlier there were experiments with radioactive bombs. We follow a team who goes to the island in order to research the after-effects of the bomb as well as help the locals to build a village. However, there have been some unexpected side effects. The main problem with the film is that it really lacks a point; there's plenty of horror shown and it's actually quite inventive but it's not got any perspective. The special effects look extremely cheap and are unlikely to impress anyone; but they're fun to watch and directors Gerardo de Leon and Eddie Romero (no relation to George) have not let the budget hold them back as the effects are plentiful. Ironically though, it's the main monster that looks the most awful of all - it's unlikely to frighten anyone that is for sure! As mentioned, the plotting is all over the place and as such the film can be a bit boring at times, which is a shame and to be honest; I never really cared how it would all end. Overall, this does have some good moments; but it's not a good film and I wouldn't recommend anyone goes out their way to check it out!

Greetings...

I too saw this when it opened back in '68 at a drive in! Only it was somewhat before High School for me! I was already a veteran Saturday afternoon Horror movie fan and this was the most scary movie I had ever seen! I had nightmares for weeks...

The Jungle drums, the dark night scenes, My father in the front seat laughing and jearing - me hiding in the back seat, unable to tear my eyes off the screen! My sister was there - But she never saw the movie! She hid under the blanket the whole movie, until the second feature started - Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!

I had an amazing memory back then, and I remember that the next night, My friends and I went out into the woods, and bult a camp fire, where I recounted every scene of the movie, every line, described all the horror and all the action... They were as scared as I was, and they never saw the movie!

This plot synopsis may sound kind of vague...but so is the movie! U.S. government worker Jim Farrell (John Ashley) is going to a remote island to help the natives build houses and irrigation ditches. He's joined by doctor Paul Henderson (Kent Taylor) and his sex bomb wife Carla (Beverly Hills!). They encounter moving trees, strange vegetation and meet Stephan (Mario Montenegro) who seems to run the island (I think). There's also a hysterically stupid monster that pops up every once in a while to rape and kill the native girls. Why he does this is never explained.

Pretty silly with a (to put it nicely) pointless script. I realize this film (along with the other "Blood" pictures) have a following but I can't see why. It's full of hilariously inappropriate music and mismatched stock footage (the sunsets they see keep seeing never match the people looking at it). With the sole exceptions of Ashley and Montenegro the acting is pretty bad--Hills is easily the worst. The special effects are beyond terrible--I could actually see the wires holding the "killer" moth and moving the tree limbs! The get up on the monster was uproariously stupid. People took him seriously??? Still this is a prime example of late 1960s exploitation with minor gore and nudity (all female of course). It's amusing to realize that this played on Saturday afternoon TV uncut in the 1970s for all the kids to see! Not really good but, in a strange sort of way, kind of fun.

The DVD version by Image is a full frame version with scratches and jumps galore. The color is strong though. This is probably the only available uncut version we'll ever see. I give it a 4.

Island atmosphere with tropical music and friendly natives. An idyllic setting for a group of adventurers to find some peace. A doctor (Kent Taylor) and his horny wife (Beverly Powers) and a peace Corps volunteer (John Ashley) journey to this Philippine island to help and do research.

Unfortunately, things have changed and danger lurks. Has radiation from atomic tests in the 40s drifted to the island causing mutations? The fact that trees can attack like Harry Potter's whomping willow is some indication that things are not normal.

The natives have returned to previous customs by sacrificing naked virgins to be satisfied by someone or something; it certainly was some hideous creature! They stay with a strange man (Mario Montenegro), who has a staff of little people in his home. He also appears some 20 years younger than he actually is.

When it is time for the chief's granddaughter (Eva Darren) to be sacrificed, Jim (Ashley) swings into action to save her.

Later, Carla (Powers) is really desperately looking to get laid and follows Estaban (Montenegro). She meets the Tiki-headed monster instead. He will certainly ravish her, but not in the way she wants.

Of course, the finally defeat the monster by finding the cajones that had put aside.

This is the second of the Blood Island films after Terror is a Man. Its not related to that film, only loosely to the two films that follow, Mad Doctor of Blood Island and Beast of Blood. All the films are nominally set on a remote island in the Pacific where strange experiments happen.

Here a research team arrives at Blood Island to find that the natives have begun to return to their old superstitions. The reason is that the far off atomic testing has mutated some of the plants animals and people into killing machines. They have taken it so far that the natives sacrifice two virgins every night to the man beast that wanders the woods.

Edgy and atmospheric this is a monster movie in the grand tradition. You have weird things going on, sexual tension between the cast members, and monsters running amok, what more could you ask for? This movie was a drive-in staple for years and its easy to see why since it gives you everything that a drive-in crowd would want sex blood and breasts. Its also lots of run, creepy and just a bit scary.

The only place the movie falls down is the man beast. Its really silly. It looks like a drippy Michelin man with a stupid grin Until you get a really good long look at it towards the end of the movie it holds some ,ystery and fear, but once we see its face its all over. If you can get past that, knowing its gonna look dumb helps, you'll have a grand time with this movie. Lots of mindless fun.

7 out of 10

(FYI- This was the film picked by Cinematic Titanic, what Joel and friends are doing post MST3K, for their 2010 tour under the title Danger on Tiki Island)

A trio of a doctor, his wife and a friend visits Blood Island for research but finds more than they bargained for.

Welcomed but cautioned by the locals, Dr. Phil senses something different in the air. An eerie feeling from the women as they draw lots for an unknown reason. Also, in the island is a plantation owner in where the pathway to his house is filled with banana trees with unusually mutated branches.

The first half of the movie really was enthralling, mysterious and interesting to say at least. When the second half rolls and all the cards are revealed, we find every scene as expected it to be. Gore and screams.

As a Filipino, I have never had the chance to watch Mario Montenegro's movies and here he is quite convincing as an American that have lived as a local.

This is the best of the lot of Blood Island movies.

"Brides of Blood" officially began the the loose Filipino 'Blood Island' series begun in black and white with 1959's "Terror is a Man" (aka "Blood Creature"). Director Gerardo De Leon did complete two other horror films prior to this, "The Blood Drinkers" and "Blood of the Vampires," but this was a return to mad science in the jungle, buttressed by more gore and scantily clad lovelies. John Ashley went from AIP contract player to headliner for all three entries before doubling as actor/producer, a busty Hollywood leading lady in each, Beverly Hills ("The Comedy of Terrors") on hand for this one as Carla, sexy spouse of Kent Taylor's Dr. Paul Henderson, Ashley's Jim Farrell a representative of the Peace Corps helping the natives upgrade to modern techniques (renamed Bill Foster in the sequels, "Mad Doctor of Blood Island" and "Beast of Blood"). Shooting kicked off in Feb. 1966 under several working titles ("Brides of Blood Island," "Terror on Blood Island," "Orgy of Blood," "Blood Brides," "Brides of Death") before its 1968 release, four weeks of filming followed by several days of dubbing, Hemisphere Pictures pairing it with Christopher Lee's 1966 "Blood Fiend" aka "Theatre of Death." The reasons why it sat on the shelf for two years can't be one of quality so perhaps the greater emphasis on sexuality was problematic, some occasional toplessness from several nubile native girls, and a monster whose lustful cravings involve tearing them to pieces (we see a limb and a head falling out of a funeral procession in the opening reel). Farrell and the Hendersons are present ostensibly to investigate radioactive fallout from the island's proximity to atomic testing, finding an infected land crab, an abnormally large butterfly, and several banana trees with ambulatory limbs reaching out for unwary human passersby. Welcomed to the isolated fortress of Spaniard Esteban Powers (Mario Montenegro), Carla is astonished to learn that a man who appears to be about 30 is actually 20 years older, making the central mystery a rather transparent one. The village girls are chosen by lottery to be tied to stakes as sacrifices to the rasping, obscene 'Evil One,' a sadly bloated rubber costume with sharp teeth that induces laughter compared to the more effective makeup for its future chlorophyll descendent. The addition of Kent Taylor adds a little weight, though his performance isn't much different from "The Crawling Hand" or "Blood of Ghastly Horror," while gorgeous Beverly Hills is usually maligned as a tramp instead of neglected, literally 'lookin' for love' in all the wrong places. Ashley offers the same inexpressive demeanor and delivery as always, soon to continue behind the camera as a producer for TV series like THE A-TEAM and Chuck Connors' WEREWOLF before his premature death at 62 in 1997.

What to say, what to say? I've never been particularly interested in these Blood Island pics, but, without anything else to watch today, I decided to give BRIDES OF BLOOD a go. Whoa! What a kooky film! This is one creepy fun diamond-in-the-rough made up of various parts of ISLAND OF DOCTOR MOREAU, whatever fell on the Mario Bava cutting-room floor, and next generation HORROR OF SPIDER ISLAND and THE MANSTER with some ATTACK OF THE FUNGUS PEOPLE and FREAKMAKER thrown in.

Exceeded expectations and made for a fun afternoon viewing. Definitely going out on a limb with 7 stars, but it was really enjoyable if you like a certain kind of schlock. Early on in the proceedings, I found a particular part disturbing in the male/female sex dynamic department, but I let it pass as an example of too many things that I don't have time to dissect to a judgement. In the end, I just found it all a bit hallucinatory. Even close ups of the monster: Just too OTT to be anything but kooky-kreepy like a distant relative of the Viy of VIY ("Open my eyelids!")

I first watched this film in a drive-in theatre, when I was just out of high school. I must say it scared the begeebers out of me. And, that was doing something! I was already a dyed in the wool fan of Horror, and Sci-Fi movies. Even though it was filmed with a lot of night scenes, and there-fore hard at times to make out what you were seeing on a drive-in screen, and the special effects were not what they can do by todays standards, I still found it a very disturbing, and frightening film. If anyone else has seen it, please let me know what you thought at the time of it's release.

"Doctor Paul Henderson" (Kent Taylor) and his beautiful, sex-starved wife, "Carla" (Beverly Powers) venture to an island in the South Pacific to study the effects of an atomic bomb test which were conducted in the general vicinity. Traveling with them is a representative of the Peace Corps named, "Jim Farrell" (John Ashley) who is there to help the natives to better provide for themselves. When they get there they are told by the village chieftain, "Arcadio" (Andres Centenera) that the villagers have reverted to their primitive ways and both he and his grand-daughter, "Alma" (Eva Darren) are ashamed. At first the new visitors don't understand what Arcadio is talking about. They soon find out that the villagers are sacrificing young women to a beast of some sort near a large altar. It turns out that radiation from the atomic bomb tests have greatly affected the island. Not only do the trees become carnivorous at night but what is even worse is that a monster also appears at night and rapes and disembodies the women at the altar. Now, this film is the first movie in the "Blood Collection" series and while I am curious to see how the other 2 or 3 turn out, I am apprehensive at the same time. I say this because typically sequels are seldom as good as the original. And while this film was a low-budget production and had two very pretty actresses in Beverly Powers and Eva Darren, I must admit that the costume used for the monster was probably the silliest thing I have ever seen. You really have to see it to believe it. All things considered then, I rate this film as slightly below average.

A scientist named Paul Henderson (Kent Taylor), his hot-to-trot young wife Carla (Beverly Powers), and a young representative of the Peace Corps, Jim Farrell (John Ashley), travel to an exotic Asian locale. Among the items on the mission are to investigate possible effects of atomic fallout. Well, there's an effect, all right: a pulpy humanoid monster dubbed "The Evil One" by a peaceable tribe is on the loose, and the tribe tries to appease it by regularly sacrificing young beauties.

Preceded by previous Filipino horror-exploitation pictures "Terror is a Man" and "The Blood Drinkers", "Brides of Blood" was the first in a trilogy of genre pictures to use this "Blood Island" setting. It was also the first film in a string of B movies Ashley would headline from this part of the world.

Directed by Gerardo de Leon and Eddie Romero, familiar names to any lover of Filipino exploitation, this is pretty crude, overall, and it's also quite slowly paced most of the time, but it still holds a certain fascination. It's undeniable how much brooding atmosphere de Leon & Romero are able to milk from their native land. It does feature the requisite blood and nudity of the genre, and is on occasion creepy. (The monster announces its presence with some overwhelming vocalizations.) Of course, it's impossible not to bust a gut laughing when the monster shows up. It's an awfully clunky looking thing, in the best man-in-a-costume tradition. At first, this viewer thought that the film could have used a little more monster action, but upon reflection, realized that the monster gets JUST enough screen time. There is a "twist" in the story, but it's not difficult to predict it.

The acting is sincere from the cast; it's not particularly lively acting, but it gets the job done. The Filipino supporting players include Eva Darren as lovely native gal Alma, Andres Centenera as her dad, Mario Montenegro as solicitous local character Esteban Powers, and Bruno Punzalan as his thuggish associate Goro.

Complete with reasonably amusing makeup effects and some very hungry killer trees, this provides a solid dose of fun for prospective viewers.

Followed by "Mad Doctor of Blood Island" and "Beast of Blood".

Seven out of 10.

It seems his magnum opus, full of rubber monsters and technical oopses. If you're looking for something so bad it's entertaining, you've found it. Prepare to giggle.

When I was little (the 70's), I used to love watching old horror films. Those were the days. They were on Friday nights and Saturday afternoons (in Chicago anyway). I remembered the "Blood Island" movies vaguely. I ordered this DVD and I am a satisfied customer.

Three Americans travel to Blood Island. Upon arrival, they see that things aren't right. The villagers don't seem happy and there is a reason why.

The movie arouses suspicion and sets an eerie atmosphere. I like John Ashley and he and Mario Montenegro give good performances. The DVD has a lot of fun trailers and extras. This is a unique and well done horror film. Check it out.

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.

Im still trying to figure out how can i watch the movie... can anybody can tell how can i watch the movie?