Is Mad Doctor of Blood Island a Hidden Treasure or Dumpster Fire?
Blu-ray Distributed By: Severin Films / November 13, 2018
In perhaps the most infamous film in the BLOOD ISLAND franchise, co-directors Eddie Romero and Gerry de Leon upped the already over-the-top nudity, violence, horny monster havoc and unmatched WTF?-ness of the first movie to deliver what Dangerous Minds hails as “one of the greatest/nastiest/goriest films of the 1960s.” AIP-leading-man-turned-producer John Ashley (HOW TO STUFF A WILD BIKINI, THE A-TEAM) and ‘60s-starlet-turned-‘80s-porn-queen Angelique Pettyjohn (STAR TREK, TITILLATION) star in this “horrifying nightmare of a thousand frightening dreams” – also known as GRAVE DESIRES and TOMB OF THE LIVING DEAD – now scanned in 4k from a recently discovered camera negative and presented totally uncut for the first time ever, including the legendary “Oath of Green Blood” prologue!
Trashmen Rubbish Round Table
Jimbo
JimboTime to dig deep into the recesses of that grey matter and try to remember anything about Mad Doctor of Blood Island. I know it’s been a while since we sat down to watch the 3rd entry in Severin’s Blood Island box set (SOLD OUT). Maybe this will help jog some memories…
- Taking the green blood oath before the film…
- Spastic zooming in “monstervision”
- A green monster wreaking havoc upon the island locals.
- John Ashley returning to the Island, but this time playing a completely different character than in the previous Brides of Blood.
- An incredibly riveting performance by Ronaldo Valdez. (He played the son returning to the island, and yes I’m being sarcastic.)
- Something about a mad doctor?
- Cruelty to animal (actual animal sacrifice)
- Tits!
- And much more!
Travis
It’s funny, the more I read through that list the less I remember. It starts off pretty good, between the mismatched intro and the instant nudity during the first monster attack. I think it very quickly got bogged down in boring exposition, occasionally interrupted by another monster attack with the spastic zooming. There are a few small gore effects that were nice, but in general this was kind of boring. I’ll admit it wasn’t as bad as I was expecting from this boxset, but it isn’t something that made me interested in the other titles in the series or god forbid, actually buy the boxset.
Jimbo
Even if this one didn’t grab you, I really recommend Terror Is A Man…
Jamie
Easily the best part of the film is the William Castle-esque opening where patrons at the theater were given some green “blood” before the film began. I wish theaters would still do this.
Mad Doctor of Blood Island is the perfect late night movie. It’s silly, slow, bizarre, has some 70’s titties, and some low budget monster make up effects. The plot is barely memorable, something about scientists returning to an island where a young man’s father turned into a creature due to some experiments? Am I right? I remember Ronaldo Valdez having a fairly young attractive mom in the film. It’s shot in the Philippines so of course it stars John Ashley (too bad Jack Hill didn’t direct).
I enjoyed the spastic, throbbing c…camera (ohhhhh fooled you!) as the monster appeared, gave the film a sort of strange charm despite making me a little dizzy during these sequences.
Overall I enjoyed it for what it was. I have seen worst Eddie Romero films (I’m looking at you, Beyond Atlantis).
Craig
This is a movie that I actually come back to at least once a year. It gives me warm fuzzy feelings. Parts that I used to feel were boring I end up finding new things to enjoy (maybe because I wasn’t paying attention before?). A lot of the dialog is delivered as though they were suffering from somnambulism but the words themselves are so overwrought and ridiculous that they act as camp for me now.
Jimbo
Agreed. I think my brain has become a bit more elastic with regard to what it tolerates as entertaining. I don’t know what that says about my tastes.
Something like this I think “average” folks would turn off in a heartbeat. “Too boring.” “Too cheesy.” “Too cheap.” Those are some of the things I can imagine people saying.
I had fun watching this with you guy, and I don’t regret getting the box set. I love collecting and re-watching off-beat cinema. I guess this kind of movie appeals to the cinematically curious… People looking for something completely different than the new reboot of a remake of a sequel thing. (Even though this is kind of a remake of the sequel in it’s own cannon)
The age of the old school drive-in cinema is long gone. But blu-rays like this seem to be the best way to preserve what once was. To me, that seems worth celebrating…
Travis
I think some value comes in this period of movies being somewhat caught in the middle. Certainly not well made or wholesome enough to draw in old movie fans, not exploitative enough to satisfy younger viewers. It’s not the movie’s fault it was made when it was, and I do appreciate the nudity and gore, but the filler parts aren’t great.
Of course I’d rather watch these than 99% of what comes out today, but that’s retroactive bar lowering.
Jamie
It tried to push the boundaries but not quite hard enough. But that isn’t Eddie Romero’s style either as most of his films were PG. I happen to like his style and think it works. Sure there is boring moments but that’s when you get up to take a piss or make a drink or throw some laundry on. Watching it at a drive-in would work best. Maybe not a multiplex.
Craig
I admit that there are looong passages in this film so if you’re going to watch it, it needs to be with friends so you have someone to bullshit with during those parts. Jamie’s right, it’s a good drive-in movie.
My favorite parts: The oath of the green blood, the gooey slime monster, the slime monster finding the photo of his son on the tricycle, John Ashley’s fight choreography, Tony Edmond’s drunkenness. Also, I don’t need gore and nudity to enjoy a film but I do appreciate it when the ladies take their shirts off.
And if you haven’t seen it yet, you owe it to yourself to watch the trailer with Brother Theodore narration (Linked above).
Travis
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have to have nudity and gore to enjoy a movie, but once you open that door don’t half ass it! Like wasn’t there a big tribal dance number? Prime spot for some indigenous floppin’ titties!
Craig
Oh, I know. I’m just saying that I appreciate it when it happens.
Hidden Treasure/Dumpster Fire?
| Jimbo: |  (3.0 / 5) |
| Jamie: | (3.0 / 5) |
| Travis: |  (2.0 / 5) |
| Craig: |  (3.5 / 5) |
| Average: |  (2.9 / 5) |
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Special Features
- Audio Commentary with Horror Film Historians Nathaniel Thompson and Howard S. Berger
- Audio Commentary with Hemisphere Marketing Consultant Samuel M. Sherman
- Tombs of the Living Dead: Interview with Pete Tombs, Co-Author of “Immoral Tales”
- A Taste of Blood: Interview with Critic Mark Holcomb
- The Mad Doctor of Blood Island: Archival Interview with Co-Director Eddie Romero
- Trailer
- Poster & Still Gallery
- Bonus Disc: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack CD (in box set only)
- Reversible TOMB OF THE LIVING DEAD Cover
