Humanoids from the Deep [Blu-ray]

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

This gory, scary low-budget shocker from the Roger Corman stable concerns the battle over a salmon cannery in a Pacific Northwest town. Genetically treated salmon escape the plant and are eaten by coelacanths, who mutate into humanoid monsters with giant craniums and sharp claws. The creatures begin attacking teen couples, killing the boys and mating with the girls (in some pretty graphic monster-rape scenes). Eventually, a bunch of them create total pandemonium at the annual salmon festival. Barbara Peeters directs with flair, Rob Bottin's effects are nauseatingly effective, and the cast is good, especially Vic Morrow as a racist fisherman and Doug McClure as the stalwart hero. An uncompromising shockfest with enough gratuitous blood and nudity to keep fans happy, the film features an Alien-inspired shock ending which still makes viewers jump today. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: A
• Number of Discs: 1
• Screen: Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
• Features:
  • Never-before-seen deleted scenes
  • Trailers, tv & radio spots
  • Leonard Maltin interviews Roger Corman on the making of the film
  • "The making of Humanoids from the deep" featuring new interviews with Roger Corman, second unit/assistant director James Sbardellati, composer James Horner and Cindy Weintraub
  • New world trailers

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Doug McClure - Jim Hill
       Ann Turkel - Dr. Susan Drake
       Vic Morrow - Hank Slattery
       Cindy Weintraub - Carol Hill
       Anthony Penya - Johnny Eagle
       Denise Galik - Linda Beale
       Amy Barrett - Amy

• Director:

  Barbara Peeters

• Producer:

  Martin B. Cohen, Roger Corman, Hunt Lowry

• Screen Story:

  Frank Arnold

• Screenwriter:

  Martin B. Cohen, Frederick James

• Screen Story:

  Martin B. Cohen

• Cinematographer:

  Daniel Lacambre

• Composer (Music Score):

  James Horner

• Editor:

  Mark Goldblatt

• Art Director:

  Michael Erlere

• Costume Designer:

  Barbara Scott

• Special Effects:

  Rob Bottin, Roger George

• First Assistant Director:

  James Sbardellati

• Sound Mixer:

  Mark Harris

• Second Unit Director:

  James Sbardellati

REVIEW:

• This New World Pictures quickie essentially updates Creature From the Black Lagoon to fit 1980s standards of sex and violence. Humanoids From the Deep isn't a good choice for sensitive viewers because it is never passes up an opportunity for its mutated fish-men to rip apart (or molest) unwitting victims on camera. However, the story is so absurd in a comic-book manner that it never becomes serious enough to be truly offensive. Humanoids From the Deep also benefits from skillful work on both sides of the camera. Director Barbara Peters maintains a rapid-fire pace throughout that keeps the film from devolving into campiness and Doug McClure and Vic Morrow give solid, dignified performances that keep the viewer involved in the strange story line. The film is also blessed with surprisingly high-quality makeup effects by Rob Bottin and a nice orchestral score by a pre-Titanic James Horner. Ultimately, a viewer's feelings about Humanoids From the Deep will depend on their tolerance for low-budget sleaze, but it does offer up a tasty morsel of cinematic junk food for exploitation film addicts. ~ Donald Guarisco, Rovi