Plot: What’s it about?
Amir (Reed Hadley) is the kind and just ruler of a land called Kalid, but he is not well and will soon perish. But Dr. Lloyd Trenton (Kent Taylor) has a plan that could keep Amir in the realm of the living, though not in the traditional sense. Amir has asked Trenton to transplant his brain into a new body, one that is healthy and will allow him to survive his condition. Once Trenton has moved the brain into a new host body, some simple plastic surgery is all that stands between Amir and his continued rule over Kalid. So when he passes on, Amir’s corpse is taken to Trenton for the operation, but the doctor’s assistant manages to mangle the donor body, rendering it useless in the frame of his procedure. Instead of letting Amir’s brain perish, he puts inside of the body of Gor, a monster of a man whose face was burned by some sadistic locals. Of course, Amir is outraged when he wakes and discovers his hideous new form, but Trenton has yet another surprise. In addition to the transplant, Trenton performed another operation and implanted a sensor inside Amir’s brain, one that could send shocks through his system. Now Trenton plans to use Amir to control Kalid, or else kill the benevolent leader in the process. Is there any hope for Amir and the people of Kalid, or will Trenton’s plan to rule be a success?
The outlandish Blood Island series from the Philippines had closed shop, but that’s didn’t mean the bloodshed had ended. In this final film in the Blood Series, low budget marvels Sam Sherman and Al Adamson assume command and deliver one of the series’ most offbeat and entertaining installments. I think it fits in well with the other entries, as it has an unusual storyline, low budget roots, and an old fashioned approach to the horror elements. Brain of Blood boasts a seven foot monster that is well crafted for such a low rent picture, as well as a host of off the wall moments, the kind of stuff you’d expect in such an odd series. This movie might not have been shot in the Philippines, but the texture and feel of Brain of Blood makes it seem as though it was, as it blends in so well with the other Blood Island movies. As with those films, you’ll need a knack for bad movies and a good sense of humor to fully appreciate the antics here, but if you fit those qualifications, then Brain of Blood is one you cannot afford to miss. You’ll see brain transplants, dumb blondes, electric currents, an evil dwarf, a giant monster, and in short, a world of total cinematic chaos. Adamson & Sherman were able to capture the essence of the Blood Island movies here and since Image has issued a nice disc, I am able to more than recommend this release.
Video: How does it look?
Brain of Blood is presented in a full frame transfer, which seems to be an open matte edition. I was pleased to find some vivid and rich colors here, as the movie makes good use of the green & red hues, but I worried that time had faded them. Not the case however, as the colors look terrific here and flesh tones remain warm & natural also. Although some grain has softened the contrast a shade, the black levels still seem solid and effective, with no lost detail to mention. The print has some debris and marks, but looks better than expected and so does this entire transfer, a much more solid presentation than anticipated.
Audio: How does it sound?
The audio here is by no means memorable, but it is solid and never falters much, so I see no reason for complaints. You don’t expect much from a low budget horror movie from 1972, so when this mono soundtrack lacked dynamic presence, I wasn’t surprised and neither will anyone else, as it isn’t meant to be that impressive. I didn’t notice much hiss or distortion however, which is great news and on the whole, time hasn’t been too hard on these materials. The vocals sound clean and unmuffled at all times, while the music and sound effects are consistent, about what you’d expect from this kind of production.
Supplements: What are the extras?
An audio commentary with Sam Sherman starts us off and since he was involved in the actual production this time, he is able to tell some good stories. His role in the other Blood Island films was more in the distribution angle, so his tracks on those discs are thin at times, but he makes up for it with this session. Sherman recalls how things were done to keep the texture of the previous installments, as well as assorted behind the scenes anecdotes and such. This disc also includes some still photos, video interviews with Eddie Romero & Beverly Powers, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
