Plot: What’s it about?
On a remote island, a most unique substance has been discovered, a strange ooze that functions as a sort of natural growth hormone. A farmer named Mr. Skinner (John McLiam) puts the goop to use on his homestead, which results in ten foot chickens. He thinks he has uncovered a miracle substance and of course, he wants to sell the ooze to make millions. A businessman named Jack Bensington (Ralph Meeker) comes to investigate and while the claims seemed outrageous, he soon believes and can’t wait to buy in and watch the cash roll in. But as it turns out, the chickens aren’t the only things to get super-sized, as the island’s worms, wasps, and and even rats have grown to epic proportions. As all hell breaks loose and the animals attack, will anyone be able to escape the island alive?
This is a perfect addition to the Midnite Movies line, a picture that is so bad, you have to love it. I am always down for movies with outlandish special effects, so The Food of the Gods is a blast. The special effects here are terrible for the most part, with see through giant wasps and hilarious miniatures, but some of the stuff looks good. The giant rats, chickens, and worms are well done for the time and really, how can any kind of giant chickens not be fun? If you’re like me, bad or dated special effects just add to the fun and The Food of the Gods is pure nostalgia. As far as storyline or performances, the plot here is thin and never explored much, while the acting is on par with the special effects. All of the elements seem to fall into place for a fun B movie, so if you’re a fan of schlock, then you’ll have fun here. MGM’s disc looks great, but no extras whatsoever have been included. Even so, the movie itself is the most important part and since it looks great, fans should be pleased.
Video: How does it look?
The Food of the Gods is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is a great looking transfer, considering the material and much better than I expected. The print is in good shape, with minimal concerns and I found detail to be solid, though on the soft side in some scenes. The colors look good, with no serious fades and contrast is on the mark, with stark black levels. The image does show some signs of wear, but given the film’s low budget roots, that is expected. I love to see B movies given great transfers and this one should delight fans.
Audio: How does it sound?
The track here is clean, but on the thin side at times, though I suppose it goes with the territory, since this is an older, low budget movie. I heard minimal hiss and distortion, while the thin elements were usually in dialogue and never to an extreme degree, so no need for panic there. On the whole, the vocals sound good enough, while sound effects are also solid, as far as older mono options go, that is. In the end, this track won’t dazzle anyone, but it more than does the material justice. This disc also includes Spanish and French language tracks, as well as subtitles in English and Spanish.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes no bonus materials.
