Brides of Blood (1968)

Sadly Over-hyped

Overrated and overhyped

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Brides of Blood (1968)** (out of 4) Crazy cult film from the Philippines centers on three researchers (John Ashley, Kent Taylor, Beverly Hills) who arrive on Blood Island to see if radiation has caused any problems. Soon they realize that certain trees are alive and attacking people but even worse is a deformed monster who the locals are giving "brides" to, which it then eats. BRIDES OF BLOOD isn't a well-made movie so if you're looking for class then it's best to go watch the Val Lewton horror movies. If you're looking for cheap exploitation then this here should be right up your alley. I will start off by saying the 92-minute running time is way too long for a movie like this because with an exploitation film you want the goods and nothing else. There are a few too many dialogue scenes that really stretch the running time out and I think the film could have been more entertaining without all of these. With that said, there are some really memorable moments to be found here and they're good enough to make this a cult film. The highlight is without question the monster, which is hard to describe because it's just something you have to see to fully believe. If I had to describe it I'd say it's a mutated pile of spinach with a mouth and pointy teeth. The look of this thing is so silly but at the same time you can't help but be entertained by it. Another good thing are the really bad special effects of the trees attacking people. There's a reason killer tree movies are kept limited and it's because the effects look so silly. It's obvious that in many scenes it's the actors "moving" the trees to make it appear that they're the ones moving and attacking them. The Philipeans setting is another major plus because it just gives the film a cheap look but it also contains some nice atmosphere that really jumps off the screen. Both Ashley and Taylor sleepwalk through their roles but they're still fun to see. BRIDES OF BLOOD certainly isn't a classic but if you enjoy exploitation then there's enough here to make it worth sitting through.

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!

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)

Brides of Blood starts as Dr. Paul Henderson (Kent Taylor) & his wife Carla (Beverly Powers as Beverly Hills) along with good natured Samaritan Jim Farrell (John Ashley) arrive on the ominously named 'Blood Island'. The Hendersons are there to study the after effects of radiation from atomic bomb testing in the nearby ocean while Jim's there to assist the locals build a village & generally pass his Western knowledge on to make the islanders lives better. Once there they are greeted by Arcadio (Andres Centenera) & his Granddaughter Alma (Eva Darren) the only two English speaking natives. The Henderson's & Jim quickly discover that all is not well on Blood Island, from mutated wildlife to nightly sacrificial rituals in which a nice young female is left out for some horrible creature to fondle & tear to pieces. As you would expect the natives are a little on edge but all American hero Jim is determined to save them & rid Blood Isalnd of the evil that contaminates it!This Philippino American co-production was directed by Gerardo De Leon & Eddie Romero & isn't anything special although parts of it are sort of watchable. The script, which is uncredited, is slow going at times & Blood Brides becomes very tedious to watch while at other times it's quite good low budget 'they don't make them like this anymore' type horror, unfortunately those moments are few & far between. There's a generous helping of exploitative moments including some gore, a bit of nudity & it has a sleazy feel at times but I just didn't think it was much fun to watch. I mean I just think that it's one of those films which is more fun to talk about & imagine rather than watch, overall I thought it was OK but when I had finished watching it I felt slightly disappointed. The character's are OK & I don't know about you but I wouldn't travel to somewhere called Blood Island, I just wouldn't. Haven't these people ever watched any horror films before?Directors De Leon & Romero don't do anything special & the film is a bit of a chore to watch although one or two of the effects are quite, well, effective. There are also a couple of scenes in here which have potential. Originally called Brides of Blood it was renamed Island of Living Horror for American TV although the VHS tape that I watched last night here in the UK also had that title & I would expect that it was cut & this cut version is the only one currently available so gore wise there are a couple of severed limbs & that's it although there are some very awkward looking cuts in both the film & soundtrack whenever it appears something gory should be happening.The budget on Brides of Blood must have been pretty low, it's reasonably well made, the living tress look OK while the moth sequence looks absolutely awful. The main radioactive monster himself looks a bit stiff although I thought it looked quite gross at times, does that make me weird? Did you know that it was shot entirely in the Philippines? Well, now you do. The acting wasn't great & Ashey really is an awfully wooden actor, a special mention goes to Beverly Hills, what a name.Brides of Blood is an OK exploitation film for fans of the genre, other's should probably avoid it. The first in director Eddie Romero's 'Blood Trilogy' & was followed by Mad Doctor of Blood Island (1968) & the best of the three films Beast of Blood (1971), don't you think that the title of any cheap film just sounds so much cooler when it has the word 'blood' in the title?