The Fiend

Starring:Magee, Todd
Studio: Image Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

The six-film Herzog/Kinski boxed set is a sleek compilation of a visionary cinematic collaboration. The history of cinema is dotted with great directors who have found an actor whose face, voice, and style capture that director's point of view: Josef Von Sternberg and Marlene Dietrich; John Ford and John Wayne; Martin Scorsese and Robert DeNiro. In 1972, the German director Werner Herzog cast Polish actor Klaus Kinski in Aguirre, the Wrath of God--the result was perhaps the definitive film for both. Kinski had previously made almost 100 films, but his malevolent role--as a Spanish conquistador obsessed with finding gold--shot him into international stardom. Though Herzog and the volatile Kinski were at each other's throats through much of the filming, seven years later the director cast Kinski as the tortured vampire of Nosferatu, Phantom of the Night (a color remake of the silent horror classic) and the title character of Woyzeck, based on the classic expressionistic German play about a jealous, unstable soldier who murders his lover. Both films continued the Herzog-Kinski trademark of intense unflinching emotion and the palpable presence of the raw physical world.

In 1982, Fitzcarraldo carried this ethos to new heights as Kinski portrayed a man who, in order to bring grand opera to the depths of Peru, has a huge steamship hauled over a mountainside using ropes, pulleys, and human endurance. The mad ambition of the film matched that of its hero as Herzog repeatedly placed crew and actors at risk of their lives. Nonetheless, the love-hate relationship between the director and his star carried them into one last film, the uneven but still remarkable Cobra Verde, about a Brazilian bandit sent to Africa to reopen the slave trade. After Kinski's death in 1991, Herzog made a documentary, My Best Fiend, about their decades of collaboration; the result rivals their previous work as a testament to human extremity. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

WOW!.......2007-05-18

The quality of the DVDs is among the best. Picture and sound is great. I had only ever seen "Nosferatu" before getting the set. "Fitzcaraldo" has become one of my favorite all time movies since getting the set. The documentary "My Best Fiend" is wonderful.

Good Value.......2007-02-23

I already had two of the films in this set, "Nosferatu" and "Aguirre", so I looked into buying the others separately. Buying the set was less expensive, so that's what I did and gave the duplicates to the local library. I compared the disks before giving them away, and the ones in set were the same as the individual editions. Highly recommended for Herzog and Kinski fans.

BUY THIS!.......2006-03-03

I can't help but add my voice to the chorus of positive reviews for this set. It is without a doubt the most well put together dvd box set I have ever seen. Even the packaging is awesome. Whoever is responsible for the physical look of this collection should win a product design award or something. All the movies (except Woyzeck) have very entertaining and insightful herzog commentary and most of the movies have english tracks aswell. I'm not sure what restoration was done on these movies but they all look great! I would say that if you are thinking of buying any of these movies alone on DVD just go ahead and opt for the box set. Chances are, if you like and understand the Herzog aesthetic, you will love all of these movies! Cobra Verde, which I once thought was the weakest of the Herzog/Kinski efforts, has become my favorite upon multiple viewings. Could not have a higher possible recommendation!

Kinski, One Of The Greatest Actors Of His Generation?.......2006-03-03

I think that he is, his on screen presence is as powerful as any actor I have ever seen. From the dark ferocity, burning evil of Kinskis portrayal of 'Nosferatu'; without question he is the greatest 'vampire' to have ever graced cinema. To the manic depressive/shockingly haunting eyes of his portrayal of 'Woyzeck' his character in the films name-sake; indeed one of the most troubled yet somehow believeable characters seen on film.

Woyzeck versus Travis Bickle?....that would be an interesting answer.

Outstanding.

A Match Made In Hell.......2005-09-14

It is said that all drama stems from conflict and there was certainly no shortage of it between Werner Herzog and Klaus Kinski. Their relationship reminds me of a troubled romance that is doomed to eventually fall apart, but ignites with such passion when the two are together that it's more than worth the grief. One would expect an arrangement of this nature to result in one or two films before the rift became so great between director and actor that they could no longer tolerate one another. Yet, there exists an undeniable sense of brotherhood between these cinematic legends that underlies their artistic struggle.

I can't tell you how pleased I am to have this set after all these years. Including "My Best Fiend" in this set is absolutely essential for a complete appreciation of the unique relationship Herzog and Kinski shared. As has been mentioned before regarding the documentary, there is a sense of one-sided storytelling as Herzog lays out Kinski's many flaws. And, yes, one has to wonder just which man had the larger ego after hearing some of Herzog's rather polished explanations. While it would have been nice to have Kinski there to argue his side of the story, it's still a unique and fascinating look into the creative lives of two very different sort of men.

Of the films themselves, I'm most fond of Nosferatu and Woyzeck, but Aguirre, the Wrath of God and Fitzcarraldo are truly magnificent epics. I just have to find myself in a particular mood to watch the latter, where the former always hold my attention. In my opinion, Woyzeck is the most overlooked of the Herzog/Kinski collaborations. Certainly Cobra Verde is an inferior film, but it at least has a reputation. Considering Woyzeck was finished in just 18 days with only 27 cuts, I like to think of it as a little miracle.

I've seen Kinski in other films and I've seen works by Herzog without Kinski and it's clear to me that, with a few exceptions, their best work came when they worked together. So, do yourself a favor and pick up this set, then settle in for some intense viewing. And, whatever you do, don't pass on the documentary!

Average customer rating:

Werner Herzog: Every grey hair on my head, I call Kinski.
Calling it a love-hate relationship doesn't do it justice
'People like Brando are just kindergarden compared to Kinski'.
"Impulsive. Unpredictable. Half-mad. He wasn't quite normal"
The kid stays in the picture despite the psychotic outbreaks

Kinski: My Best Fiend
Starring: Isabelle Adjani , Claudia Cardinale , Justo González , Mick Jagger , and Klaus Kinski
Manufacturer: Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Fitzcarraldo
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Grizzly Man
Cobra Verde

ASIN: 6305970955
Release Date: 2000-08-15

Amazon.com

Most people associate the director Werner Herzog with the actor Klaus Kinski--but few know how twisted and enmeshed their relationship was. Though Kinski has made dozens of movies, he probably remains best known for the five he made with Herzog: Aguirre: The Wrath of God, Woyzeck, Nosferatu the Vampyre, Cobra Verde, and Fitzcarraldo. In this documentary/cinematic memoir, Herzog uses clips from these remarkable films, on-the-set footage, and personal recollections to create a portrait of Kinski as both a deeply passionate actor and a raving lunatic; it's hard to say whether he's defaming Kinski or being generous to this mercurial, erratic actor. There's no question that their relationship is fascinating; after their first movie (Aguirre, probably the best of their collaborations) they both described moments of wanting to kill each other--in fact, both agree that Herzog threatened to shoot Kinski at one point, though they differ on the details. Yet they went on to make four more movies, almost all of them under circumstances that would be difficult for the most serene personalities. My Best Fiend was inspired by Kinski's death, and probably the movie's weakest aspect is that we don't get Kinski's side of their friendship. But even though it's one-sided, it's still a remarkable portrait of two artists who were willing to go to extremes to capture their visions. Any fan of either will find this unique documentary indispensable. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

Werner Herzog: Every grey hair on my head, I call Kinski. .......2007-03-03

The documentary made by Werner Herzog tells about the legendary love-hate relationship between the director who was ready to climb to Hell for his every movie and border-line insane genius actor Klaus Kinski who might have been one of the creatures from Hell that Herzog had to face. It is hard to imagine two people more different than Herzog and Kinski: "...stone and waves, the coldest ice and hottest flames have more in common, differ less" but they both were driven and obsessed artists. Famous for his wild and ferocious talent and temperament to match, Kinski was incredibly difficult to work with. He wrote about himself, "I am a wild animal born in captivity, in a zoo but where beast would have claws, I have talent". Kinski's talent was fully realized in five films that he made with Werner Herzog over a fifteen-year working period, starting with astounding "Aguirre, the Wrath of God" (1973), and then following with "Fitzcarraldo," "Nosferatu" (1979), inspired by Murnau's silent vampire classic; "Woyzeck" (1979), about a 19th century army private who seems mad to others because he looks and acts so differently from them, and "Cobra Verde" (1988). It is impossible to imagine any other actor starring in these films and they are without doubt the best Kinski ever made (and he made hundreds of films). Thanks to the Herzog's documentary we are able to learn what exactly went on behind the stunning images and unforgettable performances. According to Herzog, "people like Marlon Brando are just kindergarden comparing to Kinski. He is mad and unpredictable." They liked each other, they hated each other, and they respected each other at the same time making plans to murder each other. Kinski, who respected Herzog, and valued his friendship, confessed to the director that in his autobiography he would describe their relationship in not very flattering terms - otherwise, the crowd would not read it. Herzog recalls how they both would sit together at the bench after the shooting and discuss what Kinski would write in his book. I am curious if they discussed and agreed upon the following passage and if Herzog helped Kinski with some of the colorful metaphors: "I absolutely despise this murderous Herzog! Huge red ants should p**s into his lying eyes, gobble up his balls, penetrate his a**hole and eat his guts."

Even after watching the fascinating documentary, it is difficult to fully understand the relationship between two giants but as Herzog admits, the only thing that counts is what we see on the screen and what we see is amazing.

Calling it a love-hate relationship doesn't do it justice.......2007-02-27

Far from being a character assissination & chop job on Kinski (as some reviewers would claim), Herzog's film is as much as an examination of his own obssessive drive and (albeit, much lower key) madness as it is a look back at his relationship with one of the most (by general consensus) difficult & brilliant actors in the business.

Obviously, Herzog regards Kinski as being a nut...but he all but concedes that one would have to be crazy in one's own right to continue to work with such a man, again & again. It would be nice if Herzog would discuss, in a less oblique fashion, his own driving commitment (as evidenced in "Aguirre" and "Fitzcarraldo") which helped to cause this clash of megalomaniacs, but nonetheless, the examination is there for those discerning viewers who choose to see it.

Yes, it would be nice if Kinski could have returned fire, so to speak. It also would have been less frustrating if Herzog had discussed the reasons that he finally decided to end their collaboration after "Cobra Verde." However, in the end, we have to be satisfied with what we got. It is a fascinating little slice of film history worth watching.

'People like Brando are just kindergarden compared to Kinski'. .......2005-11-24

This above quote from Werner Herzog may shock a lot of film buffs, but it goes to show you just how extraordinary of an actor Klaus Kinski was. 'Kinski: My Best Fiend' is a eye-opening and touching look at two visionary artists. The German director Werner Herzog looks back on his experiences with Klaus Kinski. From the time Herzog was 13 years old, when he first met Kinski, to the time of the filming of their last film together, 'Cobra Verde', this documentary is often as haunting and eerie as Herzog's films themselves. They both had a love-hate relationship that carried on until Kinski's death. At the same time, both artist were in awe of each other. Both realized they had exceptional talent and knew they could not create meaningful, artistic work without each other.

"Impulsive. Unpredictable. Half-mad. He wasn't quite normal".......2005-04-23

This brilliant and compelling documentary was directed (and narrated) by Werner Herzog, one of the most creative and original directors of all time. The documentary focuses on one of the best actor/director teams in the history of cinema: Werner Herzog and Klaus Kinski. They had an ofen violent love-hate "friendship", each one fueled by inner passions...and demons.

This documentary goes behind-the-scenes with some of Herzog's greatest masterpieces, like "Aguirre: the Wrath of God", "Fitzcarraldo", and "Nosferatu the Vampire", to tell how Herzog and Kinski fought and argued yet somehow managed to complete each of their films together. At one point Herzog threatened to shoot his "best friend" Kinski, and another time he contemplated firebombing Kinski's home. During the filming of "Fitzcarraldo", the native extras actually offered to kill Kinski, who was having many tantrums (one which was actually filmed and is shown in this documentary!), as a favor to Herzog. Herzog was surprised by the offer, and the native chief who made the offer was totally serious.

Yet despite their many violent confrontations, Herzog and Kinski were connected by their deep love of making meaningful movies. Although Klaus Kinski was undoubtably one of the toughest actors to work with, he was always capable (under Herzog's direction) of giving outstanding performances. Yes, Kinski was a little crazy, but so was Herzog (just was "Fitzcarraldo" for proof of that!), yet they were both artistic geniuses. This film also has interesting interviews with women who co-starred with Kinski, Claudia Cardinale and Eva Mattes that show how Kinski usually treated women much better than men.

With clips from his greatest movies accompanied by the beautiful music of Popol Vuh, this is an excellent tribute, if I can call it that, to Klaus Kinski. It is sometimes humorous, sometimes tragic, but always powerful. The final scene shows a kinder, more gentle side of Kinski that fans rarely get to see. This documentary is awesome, but I suggest you view the Herzog/Kinski films before watching this so that you'll have a better appreciation for this fine film. This is an absolute must for any fan of Werner Herzog and Klaus Kinski!

The kid stays in the picture despite the psychotic outbreaks.......2005-03-29

A grandly entertaining documentary that manages to be savagely funny, nail-bitingly harrowing and oddly moving all at once. Director Werner Herzog does a bit of self-absorbed navel-gazing and a lot of tall tale-spinning in this retrospective of his love-hate artistic partnership with actor Klaus Kinski (Urban legend puts both men literally plotting the other's murder at one time or another). Of course, we all know that "dead men tell no tales", (uh-Kinski did die of natural causes, far as we know) so we have to acknowledge the point-of-view as a bit lopsided from the outset; although to his credit Herzog does consult a couple of Kinski's leading ladies, who seem more willing to recall examples of Kinski's kinder, gentler (and lucid) moments (Most backstage footage of Kinski included shows the actor in "screaming tantrum" mode, which can paint a somewhat one-dimensional portrait.) As some reviewers have said, it does help if you have previously viewed the pair's more mercurial collaborations first, namely "Fitzcarraldo" and "Aguirre, The Wrath Of God", as both projects mirror the pathos and bathos of the real life relationship. Ultimately, the film begs the question: Are any great artists ever "normal" people anyway? From Mozart to Brando, history seems to bear out that when it comes to the creative arts, there is frequently a fine line between "being a genius" and "needing to be locked up". Final scene is an unexpectedly loving and beautiful coda which brought tears to this viewer's eyes. Essential viewing for fans of the director and his muse.

Fiend without a Face - Criterion Collection

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Fiend Without a Face
GOOD MOVIE BUT 35 BUCKS YOUR CRAZY
Criterion premium
"Colonel, I've lived in these backwoods all my life, and I can assure you there's no animal in these parts that could do that."
FIRST THERE WAS THE BLOB - - - THEN CRITERION BROUGHT US "FIEND WITHOUT A FACE"

Fiend without a Face - Criterion Collection
Starring: Marshall Thompson , Kynaston Reeves , Michael Balfour , Kim Parker , and Stanley Maxted
Director: Arthur Crabtree
Manufacturer: Criterion
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00004Z1FN
Release Date: 2001-01-30

Amazon.com

Fiend Without a Face contains one of the most indelible images to emerge from sci-fi/horror movies of the atomic age: malevolent human brains, creeping like caterpillars on spinal-cord tails, choking the life out of their helpless victims! If that weren't enough to make any genre enthusiast drool with sick delight, the movie's also got an above-average plot (as B-movies go) and made genre history as an international success, independently produced in England, set in Canada, starring an American (Marshall Thompson), with magnificently grotesque special effects created in Germany!

The mystery begins near an American Air Force base in Manitoba, where unexplainable deaths are somehow connected to the base's atomic reactor, which is being used to power an experiment in advanced long-distance radar. Thompson (who later starred in the TV series Daktari) plays Major Cummings, who discovers that the lethal monsters--slurping, unseen "mental vampires"--are actually the horrific byproduct of thought-control experiments conducted by hapless, retired professor (echoes of Forbidden Planet's "monster from the Id"). Once visible, the fiendish brains are everywhere, attacking our heroes from every angle (in a scene that may have inspired Night of the Living Dead), and sputtering puddles of blood when riddled by bullets. This climactic scene--a triumph of latex rubber fiends, eerie sound effects, and stop-motion animation--was a gory breakthrough in 1958, and it's still a worthy precursor to every gross-out monster movie that followed in its trendsetting wake. Beware the faceless fiends! --Jeff Shannon

Description

A scientist's thoughts materialize as an army of invisible brain-shaped monsters (complete with spinal-cord tails!) who terrorize an American military base in this nightmarish chiller, directed by Arthur Crabtree (Horrors of the Black Museum). This outstanding sci-fi/horror hybrid is a special effects bonanza, and a high-water mark in British genre filmmaking.

Customer Reviews:

Fiend Without a Face.......2007-06-25

"Fiend" succeeds admirably as a campy, diverting skin-crawler that channels the prevailing atomic anxieties of the 1950s. Crabtree's "Fiend" has a neat twist, though--the creatures are actually materializations of their creator's thoughts. Though decidedly gory for the time, this inventive, well-executed nail-biter proves you can indeed have too much brains.

GOOD MOVIE BUT 35 BUCKS YOUR CRAZY.......2006-12-08

THIS IS A GOOD MOVIE FOR SCIFI FANS BUT WHO IS THE GENIOUS WHO PRICES AT 35 BUCKS.GIVE ME A BREAK SHOULD BE 11.99 THANK YOU.

Criterion premium.......2006-11-01

"Fiend" was one of my favorite movies as a kid though I can now see that it is mostly boring, but with a pretty big payoff (for back then) of muck oozing brain monsters at the end.

I am writing this though as a complaint about Criterion securing the rights to films and then jacking up the price to $35. Given that other studios are producing DVD prints just as clean as Criterion is and charging - at most - $19, I can never bring myself to pay Criterion prices. All the more unfortunate for me as they have a # of titles that I would like to own.

To the reviewer that said "no one does it like Criterion", quality-wise, that is flat out wrong, price-wise, entirely true.

And a price tag of $35 on a movie like "Fiend" is truly absurd.

"Colonel, I've lived in these backwoods all my life, and I can assure you there's no animal in these parts that could do that.".......2006-07-27

I gotta figure doing PR for the gooberment's atomic energy program in the 1950s must have been one hell of an uphill battle as it seemed every other horror or science fiction thriller released in the day involved something either getting embiggened, shrunken, or just plain mutated and messed up in general, as depicted in this classic British made feature Fiend without a Face (1958), due to radiation derived from our relatively new found ability to smash them atoms. Directed by Arthur Crabtree (Horrors of the Black Museum), the film stars Marshall Thompson (It! The Terror from Beyond Space, First Man Into Space, "Daktari"), Kynaston Reeves (RX for Murder), and Kim Parker (Fire Maidens from Outer Space). Also appearing is Terry Kilburn (Swiss Family Robinson), Peter Madden (Dr. Terror's House of Horrors), and Stanley Maxted (Strange Awakening).

As the film begins we're at a U.S. Air Force base in Canada and we see a lone guard at night on the perimeter. After hearing some strange noises from the nearby woods followed by a blood curdling scream, the guard investigates and finds a corpse of a local man with a terror-stricken expression on his face. Major Jeff Cummings (Thompson) wants an autopsy performed on the deceased, but the man's sister, Barbara Griselle (Parker), is unwilling which causes problems as the local population isn't too keen on having an atomic powered military instillation in the area (there's quite a bit of fear about radiation). If that wasn't enough, there's also an issue with the experiments being performed at the base, those involving boosting radar capacity (to spy on those evil Reds) through the use of atomic energy in that every time they juice things up, there's a mysterious power drain...hmmm...anyway, after a couple more deaths, the rubes get even more antsy, and an autopsy reveals the victims perished as a result of being de-brained, i.e. having their brains sucked out of their heads. Eventually Jeff's investigation leads him to a reclusive, eccentric scientist in the area, one Barbara works for named Professor Walgate (Reeves), who's an authority on psychic phenomena with his current research involving thought materialization. Turns out the professor is involved with not only the bizarre deaths but also the mysterious power fades at the base's reactor, eventually spilling the beans and warning those in charge they must shut down the atomic plant immediately, as he's accidentally unleashed an invisible menace straight from a nightmare, one that feeds on atomic energy and apparently gray matter, and also has the ability to multiply and become more intelligent...crikey! Soon the town and the base are under siege, threatening not only the lives of everyone in the area, but also Jeff's chances to pitch woo at Barbara...

I enjoyed this film a lot as it has a tight story and wastes little time on extraneous material (the film runs about 74 minutes). One aspect of the story I really liked was how the creatures weren't actually a direct result of radiation, but more so a nasty by product of someone using atomic energy within his own fantastic experiments...it might sound like I'm splitting hairs here, but to better understand what I mean you really need to see the movie. We don't actually get to see the creatures until about an hour in, but when we do, it's worth the wait. I won't go too much into what they actually were or look like, but they're pretty hideous along with being very agile. The characters are fairly cut and dry, as are the performances. I thought most all the actors did well, and Marshall Thompson, who's got about the biggest forehead I've ever seen, seemed a suitable choice for the lead along with the beautiful Kim Parker, who left the biz not too long after the release of this film. I was kind of annoyed with the character of Professor Walgate, the guy ultimately responsible for the `ghastly business'...first off he steals power from the atomic reactor and subsequently screws up their experiments, then he creates something which escapes his control, ends up killing a whole mess of people and allows the blame to be directed elsewhere, and finally he himself nearly kills someone (inadvertently, so he later claims) who gets too close to his secret...once the beans are spilt, through an extensive expository sequence, he does seem to show remorse for his actions, but it seems like the remorse of someone who's only remorseful after being caught. Nice guy, huh? I suppose one could argue he eventually paid the price for his folly into the unknown, but for me his penalty was hardly equal to that which he wrought...my favorite scene in the film comes near the end, as a small group fortify themselves in the professor's home against an onslaught of creatures, one of those among the group the deputy mayor, who has a most excellent freak out one the creatures manage to get in...there was one aspect of the story that felt really screwy...near the end it's decided the only way to stop the horror is to shut down the atomic reactor. The problem I had was the method in which they decided to do so, which involved using high explosives. Now I'm no expert in atomic sciences, but it seemed to me they were taking a mighty big chance in doing what they did...if something like that was tried in real life I'd expect catastrophic results (does anyone remember a little thing called Chernobyl?). Ah well, the 1950s were a much simpler time in that things were generally more cut and dry, or so I'm assuming since I wasn't even alive back then. All in all this is a fun, better than average 1950s sci-fi horror flick, one that I'm glad I own and watch on a fairly regular basis.

This fully restored and remastered Criterion Collection DVD release of Fiend Without a Face features a very clean and sharp widescreen (1.66:1) transfer, one that exhibits the occasional minor flaw. The Dolby Digital mono audio comes through very well, with no complaints. There's a slew of extras including an audio commentary track with an informative interview between executive producer Richard Gordon and writer Tom Weaver, along with an illustrated essay on British science fiction and horror by film historian Bruce Eder, still photographs w/commentary, vintage advertisements and lobby cards, liner notes by Bruce Kerwin, and English subtitles. Also included are theatrical trailers for this film, along with others for The Haunted Strangler (1958), Corridors of Blood (1958), First Man into Space (1959), and The Atomic Submarine (1959).

Cookieman108

I feel I should mention things do get pretty gooey once the action really kicks in, so if you're squeamish, you've been warned...

FIRST THERE WAS THE BLOB - - - THEN CRITERION BROUGHT US "FIEND WITHOUT A FACE".......2006-03-12

FIRST THOUGHTS: FRIEND WITHOUT A FACE -- NO MISPRINT!

When I first saw the ad posters in the lobby of our neighborhood theatre in 1958 [or 59] at first glance I thought the posters read, "Friend Without A Face"! I was, in fact, just learning to read, but the grotesque images on the poster needed no words. Naturally, I returned to the theatre, and to my shock, surprise, and delight, found a little gem, very similar to "The Crawling Eye", that I had seen and enjoyed the year before.

IN A NUTSHELL:

Some invisible force is sucking the brains out of the local citizens who live near a secret air-force base. What they are doing is a secret, but it is no secret that a nuclear reactor is located on the base. The locals think that nuclear energy is somehow to blame.

THEN THE PLOT THICKENS: [warning- plot spoilers below]

First it's just one man, and no autopsy is permitted due to the family's wishes. Then it's a married farm couple, and the mayor too. Now the townspeople want the air force out of their town and pronto.

The second popular theory, that it's some "crazed soldier" from the base, yields nothing but still another casualty: this time it's the rugged loudmouth constable who returns to the town hall during an emergency meeting as a wailing zombie with a crazed-psycho look to him. His brains had been sucked out.

Finally, we get to closer to the truth as we discover what the retired professor Wingate has been up to. This is where the story starts to distinguish itself, and the special-effects are used to excellent effect when the creatures began to become visible!

Very similar in motives and appearances to "The Crawling Eye", these monsters are, but their source is not outer space. They are some kind of brain-sucking vampires that have been created by a combination of Dr. Wingate's experiments in materializing human thoughts, and the availablility of vast quantities of nuclear energy for them to tap, and thus become physically tangible, and fiendishly menacing to the human race.

AND LIKE ALL GREAT CULT CREATURE FEATURES:

We have a climax, where the creatures become visible, and attack the few remaining living people so that they [the creatures] can multiply. The ammunition for the few handguns is limited, and the options are few and risky. In the last 12 minutes of this film, an epic stop-action animation attack that is truly incredible, pushes this film to the top of the 1950s creature feature heap, right alongside "The Blob" and "The Crawling Eye".

-----*- THE CAST:

Kynaston Reeves - Prof. Walgate
Marshall Thompson - Maj. Jeff Cummings
Terry Kilburn - Capt. Chester
Michael Balfour - Sgt. Kasper
Gil Winfield - Dr. Warren
Shane Cordell - Nurse
James Dyrenforth - Mayor Hawkins
Kim Parker - Barbara Grizell
Peter Madden - Dr. Bradley
R. Meadows White - Ben Adams
Robert MacKenzie - Const. Gibbons

ABOUT THE DVD:

This Criterion Collection DVD is a huge improvement on the VHS that we all have had to endure prior to this release. Digitally remastered, and put into a semi-Widescreen format, this film looks about as good as it did when I first saw it 48 years ago and includes all the scenes in their entirety.

SPECIAL FEATURES: LESS THAN USUAL FOR CRITERION COLLECTION DVDs

--*- The commentary was OK, but not specific to the film, however, though somewhat relevant to the genre.

--*- The slide show was the "reel" treat among the features, and included alot of interesting, and educational [for interested parties] material about the "Fiend without a Face", and also many other British sci-fi/horror genre films of the 1950s. I believe it is referred to as, the "Illustrated essay on British sci-fi/horror filmmaking by film historian Bruce Eder".

--*- There was also a short interview/conversion about the film.

--*- Neat trailers of this film as well as some other popular cult films of the genre and era, such as, "The Atomic Submarine"!

--*- English subtitles are available and may be selected from the menu.

BOTTOM LINE: THIS IS A FUN FILM!

The early creature feature genre that melded sci-fi with horror reached its zenith with "Fiend Without A Face". Unlike most of Criterion's other DVD releases, this is not a great film. However, it is a classic representation of an artistically, and thematically superior creature feature genre film whose sole purpose was light entertainment. In this respect, there is greatness in this old B-film for many of us to again enjoy.

ALSO CONSIDER SEEING:

-----*- THE BLOB, 1958, Irvin Shortess Yeaworth, Jr. - Director
-----*- THE CRAWLING EYE, 1958, Quentin Lawrence - Director
-----*- THE TINGLER, 1959, William Castle - Director
-----*- THE KILLER SHREWS, 1959, Ray Kellogg
-----*- THE GIANT BEHEMOTH, 1959, Eugene Lourie - Director
-----*- THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS, 1953, Eugène Lourié - Director

Average customer rating:

Cult does not = clever
...Just the newest the latest & greatest by the King of Trash!
Tracey Ullman is a goddess!
More Fun with John Waters
PLEASE MAKE IT END!!!

A Dirty Shame (R Rated Version)
Starring: Tracey Ullman , Johnny Knoxville , Selma Blair , Chris Isaak , and Suzanne Shepherd
Director: John Waters
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

Inside Deep Throat - Theatrical NC-17 Edition
Pecker
Cry Baby (Director's Cut)
Desperate Living
Cecil B. Demented

ASIN: B000929UP0
Release Date: 2005-06-14

Amazon.com

When prissy, prickly Sylvia Stickles (Tracey Ullman) suffers a head injury during a traffic altercation, she's, er, revived by self-appointed sexual missionary Ray-Ray Perkins (Johnny Knoxville) and is transformed into an insatiable, take-no-prisoners sex maniac. Yes, it's a John Waters film. Yes, it's filthy. No, it's not as hilarious and sustained as you'd like it to be. It works for a while, though: Ullman, never a stingy comedienne, does everything Waters dares her to do without hesitation; words cannot describe the perversely sporting delight with which she mounts a water bottle during a round of "The Hokey Pokey" at an old folks' home. And there's some fun to be had when Sylvia's emancipation leads her Baltimore 'burb to new heights of ecstasy, freeing her large-breasted daughter Caprice (Selma Blair) while horrifying husband Vaughn (Chris Isaak) and her hardline mother Big Ethel (Suzanne Shepherd, hysterical) in the process. It's also packed with the standard cameos, the most satisfying of which is good old Patty Hearst at a Sex Addicts Anonymous encounter. But, for all the nasty, necessary glee, the movie feels inescapably been-there-done-that, and you can't help but wish this was 1972 and Divine was on hand to prowl for dog droppings. The most shocking thing about A Dirty Shame is how desperate and tiresome its anarchy becomes.--Steve Wiecking

Description

Are you ready for a movie that puts filth right where it belongs? Then get ready to laugh with A Dirty Shame--the latest raunchy riot from director John Waters (Hairspray). When a concussion awakens the carnal urges of Sylvia (Tracey Ullman), the people of Pinewood become pitted against each other in a battle of decency versus depravity.

Customer Reviews:

Cult does not = clever.......2007-05-10

For some reason the appellation of "cult" is meant to be synonymous with intelligence, insight or distinction. Certain reviewers have been convinced that this film is something of value. Look, I'm not claiming to be a seer, but judged on ALL criteria, there are no redeeming features in this film. It is horrible, base, juvenile and tedious. For some reason, cretin reviewers believe that objections are based on the sexual content of the film. NOT SO! Full-on porn would redeem this film, seriously. It is one of the low points for anyone with an "artistic" expectation or one in which they hope to be entertained. Vile and hideous. Dumb and several rungs lower than any other of Knoxville's efforts. And that's saying something.

...Just the newest the latest & greatest by the King of Trash!.......2007-02-23

This movie embodies all that is typical of a John Waters' film. It's campy, kitschy, tacky, and just darn downright funny--AWESOME! Naturally, as any fan would know, it takes place in the teamin' metropolis known as Baltimore--as virtually all his films do. Fans can expect appearances from some of the old Waters' crew including Mink Stole (my personal favorite) and a cameo by Patricia Hearst. The highly entertaining movie is backed up by a line of stars including the outrageously insane Johnny Knoxville, Tracey Ullman, Selma Blair and Chris Isaak. Suzanne Shepherd's character "Big Ethel" is also noteworthy. This has been the funniest John Waters movie in a while. I am a huge fan, and this movie just reiterates how great John Waters is! Rent or Buy it today for non-stop laughs! You won't be disappointed.

Tracey Ullman is a goddess!.......2007-02-20

Okay, if you don't know what John Waters' films are like, you'll probably hate this and think it's repulsive filth. If you're familar with his movies, and like them, then you'll enjoy this one as well. In my opinion, Tracey Ullman steals the show. There is one scene in particular where I was laughing so hard I was crying. It's at the old folks home...that's the extent of what I'll say about it. You just have to see it for yourself!

More Fun with John Waters.......2007-01-20

Like many John Waters fans, I enjoy his 1970s movies the most. But this one is a lot of fun, and not to be missed. Some say that the last part is overdone, but that's one of his trademarks. Others say that his brand of humor is 30 years out-of-date, but if you like it anyway then see this one.

PLEASE MAKE IT END!!!.......2006-07-22

There are no words to describe how AWFUL (!!!) this "movie" was from beginning to end, but let me try anyway so as to give people a fair chance to avoid it and thus try and prevent their day/evening from being ruined: the film supposedly deals with a woman who has an accident and is "touched" by a sex angel only to discover she is a sex addict and the twelfth sex apostle... Need I say more?
The plot, the "humor," the dialogues, and the music are way beyond "below average."
There is next to no nudity and there are no, I mean 0 as in ZERO beautiful girls, in this film!
As for the acting-oh my- the acting is beyond words...
School plays (and pre-school for that matter) have better actors! It is truly sad...
Rent or buy (ha ha ha) at your own risk. You have been warned!

Average customer rating:

Sick stuff!
Vulgar, Disgusting, and Disturbing.
what goes on behind closed doors
Gloomy and Grimy
Must be seen to be believed

Schramm
Starring: Florian Koerner von Gustorf , Monika M. , Micha Brendel , Carolina Harnisch , and Xaver Schwarzenberger
Director: Jörg Buttgereit
Manufacturer: Barrel
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Nekromantik 2
Splatter: Naked Blood
The Untold Story
I Stand Alone
Men Behind The Sun

ASIN: B000HXDWO6
Release Date: 2006-10-31

Customer Reviews:

Sick stuff!.......2007-03-09

Well now I think I've seen everything!This 1 hour film from Jorg Buttgeriet is just as sick as "Nekro" stuff and done on a more professional level.There are a couple of scenes that go further then anything I've ever seen and that I wont spoil for you but if you like his other flicks you will not be disappointed.

Vulgar, Disgusting, and Disturbing........2006-11-20

"Schramm" is a movie that got my attention in a video store, both with the cover and the back cover that exclaimed that it was similar to Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, one of my favorite horror films. If you've seen Henry, you realize that there's actually a pretty big restraint on blood and gore. It's existent, but it's not that bad. The movie used atmosphere and Michael Rooker's performance to creep you out. Schramm goes up another level on that. In Schramm you get a no holds barred look at the life of a serial killer... And it's all done in 64 minutes, which makes it kind of impressive. This movie also is probably the truest account of what goes on behind a serial killers' door. Movies about serial killers show that they kill and, sometimes, why. But few films show the really dirty things about serial killers. This film gives us the self-mutilation, necrophilia, and sexual deviancy. The movie is in German and I got to praise the Germans for making a movie like this. I don't think an American director would touch this kind of material with a ten-foot pole. And if he did, he'd tone it down a lot. I, regrettably, don't remember the main characters name...But I know this. The movie begins with a newspaper headline that explains that the Lipstick Killer has died. He is, of course, our aforementioned killer. The movie works its way back from that. The prostitute that lives across the hall from him, whom he's actually good friends with, sets something off in his head that makes him begin to kill. In the movie, the body count is pretty low...But this is still very gory. One scene which is bound to make men who watch this cringe, involve the guy taking his d**k and pounding nails through it. There's also one of the most interesting and unique ideas I've seen. A disembodied vag**a with teeth. The movie suffers from a disjointed timeline. The movie's about an insane serial killer...But the look of the movie implies it's about a schizophrenic serial killer. The grainy, old movieish look the film has, however, also helps with the creepiness. This is not a "good" movie, but it's effective and does something that other movies about serial killers should do (instead of crap like Dahmer, Ted Bundy, Gacy, etc.). If you want to see a movie that frequently has you asking yourself "What the f**k?" This is a good movie for you.

GRADE: B-

what goes on behind closed doors.......2005-10-23

This is the best film of its kind since John McNaughton's 1986 art-film disguised as a slasher flick HENRY:PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER. The director, obviously working with a very small budget, shows complete mastery of his craft. This is a stunningly realized vision of murder and madness. Unlike American films (save for SCRAPBOOK) which ALWAYS de-sexualize serial killers, this film holds nothing back. It depicts the secret, ugly, sick acts that most serial killer films ignore or gloss over; i am talking necrophilia, ghastly self-mutilation and rape,among other things. This is most certainly NOT a film for anyone under 17 or anyone older with a sensitive disposition. But for those of you willing to take the trip, SCHRAMM is well-worth the time.

Gloomy and Grimy.......2005-02-06

Not much plot, not much supposed insight into the mind of the serial killer. It's not based on any true case. My impression was that the gory scenes were thought up first and the film was written around them. Perhaps Mr Buttgereit felt he had to deliver what his hardcore fans wanted after the mixed response to Nekromantik 2. This could have been an intriguing short film. It's sluggishly paced, and feels too long even at a mere 60 minutes. The "Making of" documentary is in German, with no subtitles. I would instead recommend "I Stand Alone", somewhat similar subject matter, but more characterisation.

Must be seen to be believed.......2005-01-14

*Please note this low budget German art house film is just over an hour long.*
SCHRAAM is a quiet young man who lives alone in his apartment - his neighbour is a prostitute who accidentally helps fixates his fantasies (a pension for obscene sexual allure to inanimate objects) who decides to go on a violent killing spree. The film plays backwards in that in the opening sequence we learn that the `Lipstick Killer', Schraam, has been found dead in his home and everything plays backwards out from there.

SCHRAAM has to be probably one of the most upsetting experiences you will have watching an art house film. To be honest "Irreversible" made me cringe, "Last House on the Left" uncut was pretty heavy going, "Man Bites Dog" was a contemporary media play on snuff and even the awful "I Spit on Your Grave" had its shocking moments, but SCHRAAM manages to surpass them all by just delivering on your most hair raising nightmares at the worse possible time by cutting in minutes of slow tracking bliss suddenly followed up on by an unprecedented in your face sledgehammer of a horrific sequence, but never seems sleazy or gratuitous or goes outside of its art house appeal.

SCHRAAM is like "Begotten", the director's own "Nekromantik 1 + 2", Michael Haneke's "Funny Games" or Gaspar Noé "I Stand Alone" in that the concept of Hollywood horror is as far away as you can likely get and the budget so restricted that you could ultimately make a film like this if you had some fake blood and a nice 16mm camera. What makes SCHRAAM interesting is that there are a number of highly imaginative sequences done in this 1993 production that have been used in more modern productions, like Schraam's workout rotating camera sequence or the jump cuts that are now all too common in art house cinema.

SCHRAAM is actually banned in most places around the globe, although to be honest you have seen much more objectionable than this and it is arguable that films such as "Last House on the Left" and the awful "I Spit on Your Grave" are much more sinister in their presentation of the subject matter. SCHRAAM never deviates from trying to show this killer for what he is, sad, never glorifying what he does, murder, but filming it in such a way that it cuts you like a knife. The hammer and nails scene with a genital is certainly going to fling a lot of hands up to the eyes.

A very interesting art house serial killer movie than beats the pants off most offerings.

Average customer rating:

Even Meat Weed wouldn't help this Madness
Highly original
The craziest movie in the world!

Meat Weed Madness
Starring: Aiden Dillard
Manufacturer: Troma
ProductGroup: DVD
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Zombiegeddon
Potheads The Movie
The Magic Weed: The Truth About Cannabis Sativa
Tales From the Crapper
Slaughter Party

ASIN: B000EMGF76
Release Date: 2006-05-02

Description

Welcome to Meatweed Manor, where the farmers cultivate the most powerful ganja on the planet, made from human flesh. When smoked, this wacko tobacco drives men mad and women mad with lust. On one fateful day, four lovely Southern belles find themselves drawn to Meatweed Manor, where they must confront the evil minotaur Bullpucky, who is determined to smoke them one by one!

Customer Reviews:

Even Meat Weed wouldn't help this Madness.......2006-08-16

There is Good bad and there is BAD bad. This BAD bad.

Highly original.......2006-07-06

For those of you who don't like the fact that low budget filmmakers
resort to obvious low-budget special effects, be advised that director
Aiden Dillard got the idea for this film from his wish to create a
moving image of a papier mache cow, which is indeed one of the most
important scenes in the opening of the film. No cheap effects caused by
a lack of budget, but made intentionally the way they look. How I would
love to see Aiden Dillard making a film on a huge budget, he would
probably hand in the film under budget, like that other maestro Mario
Bava. No need to spend huge amounts of money if a fantastic imagination
is at hand! The rest of this film is just as imaginative, one of the
most original films from the last few years for those who (like me) get
sick of the ridiculously expensive but ever-so-uninteresting so-called
entertainment that Hollywood keeps vomiting out over us. It is
impossible to explain in a few lines what is going on in MEAT WEED
MADNESS, but if you are even remotely interested in film-making that is
a bit different you cannot afford not to buy this one. The DVD is also
loaded with extra's, amongst which is one of the most entertaining
audio-commentaries I have heard in a long time.

The craziest movie in the world!.......2006-04-27

I've seen a lot of erotic horror comedy movies in my day and this one takes the cake. This Aiden Dillard guy who directed the movie must have been smoking a lot of meatweed when he wrote the script. I haven't seen such an amazing piece of trash filmmaking since Pink Flamingos. The nude scenes in this movie are worth the price alone. I'm not talking about normal nude scenes. The female stars of this movie are rarely dressed and when they are covered they're covered in blood. This movie makes me sick. I'm choking back the vomit right now. I loved it.

Average customer rating:

MOVIE BAD, GIRLS GOOD!
Unscariest. Curse. Ever.
If Only The Focus Had Been on the Comedy
So bad it's bad

Curse of the Erotic Tiki
Starring: Curse of the Erotic Tiki
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
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The Erotic Dreams of Jeannie
The Erotic Escort Company
Bikini Chain Gang
The Witches of Breastwick
Ghost in a Teeny Bikini

ASIN: B0001UZZOA
Release Date: 2004-05-11

Description

When the Mystic Tiki of Weyamoa turns up at the little shop known as the Bikini A Go-Go, all sorts of mayhem breaks loose! It seems whoever wears the necklace loses their sexual inhibitions and literally loses control! Meanwhile an evil villainess unleashes her robot henchman to bring back the tiki at any cost, resulting in a riotous free-for-all!

Customer Reviews:

MOVIE BAD, GIRLS GOOD!.......2006-04-20

This movie about a tiki making people horny in a "1950's" sort of atmosphere is not that great, it involves two girls who own a beach wear shop,a geeky guy & girl(Beverly Lynne) a horny business woman(Nikki Fritz) and a guy who seems to be an...android? Beverly finds a tiki idol and from there the sex ensues.And some of a sex scenes are worth a peek.Especially the one where Beverly Lynne is getting humped on a desk while she's sporting a "Peggy Bundy" hairstyle.Nikki Fritz is not at her hottest in this one, i liked her better in the Bare Wench movies.

Unscariest. Curse. Ever........2005-03-22

Retromedia was firing on all cylinders with this one. This is a great cross between 1950's horror schlock parody and 21st century late night cable softcore. Brad's bikini shop mistakenly receives a tiki necklace that he decides to give to his girlfriend Janet (Beverly Lynne). When she wears the necklace though, she becomes so sex crazed that she has to jump whatever's readily available, be it male, female or herself. The intended recipients of the necklace want it back though because it's crucial to their plans to take over the world. I have no idea how they were planning on doing this though since its only power ever displayed is the one that I mentioned above.

There are seven sex scenes. Four are boy/girl, one is girl/girl, one is girl/girl/girl, and one is girl solo. All of them are of the quality that Retromedia usually delivers... good and explicit. In addition to Beverly, the cast includes Stacy Burke, Cailey Taylor, and Nikki Fritz.

I recommend this one.

If Only The Focus Had Been on the Comedy.......2004-07-10

This movie could have been a very funny comedy. I mean, yes, there would have to be some "adult" scenes, mainly because it is a late night film, but this movie over does it just a bit.

Lets start with the good. The scenes where the characters are actually talking, wearing clothes, and hamming it up, are great! They really are. All the actors seem to have fun with the comedy, and try to do what they can. The only problem is that those scenes tend to be... oh... about TWO MINUTES LONG! Then they are interupted by a ten minute fake fest of fleshy fun. The problem is though, the fleshy stuff isn't fun. Instead it just gets dull, because you want to get to the comedy stuff. Another good thing is the acting. No, it isn't good. Far from it! It's terrible. But that's just what the doctor ordered for this fantasy flop.

Now to the bad... the bad... hmm... oh yeah, the "adult" elements. Let me just say, they take up WAY to much screen time. The actors are attractive enough, but they would be put to much better use if they were given a scene instead of a "scene". That, and Nikki Fritz is totally wasted here. She is hilarious when she's actually acting, but they give her the fewest lines, but the most scenes. It disappoints me, since, like I said, this movie had potential. Oh well.

If you want a good adult comedy check out Lord of the G-Strings or Sexy American Idle. They balance the comedy and the "entertainment" a little better.

Oh, and just a note. This film is also known as Bikini A Go-Go. The title was changed when it was played on cable, that, and the "hooter honk" is not present when it's under that title. I think it may be a DVD only thing.

So bad it's bad.......2004-05-12

I'm a huge fan of campy, cheesy, lame movies. Some skin and Island breezes just add to the allure in what promised to be a throwback to the films of yesteryear. Unfortunately this is just plain bad. It's essentially an x-rated implant-fest with nothing else going on. It completely misses all of the trademarks of a good bad movie.

Description

Fiend of Dope Island (1961, 76 min.) - Former screen Tarzan Bruce Bennett is the Fiend of Dope Island, a sadistic maniac named Charlie Davis who lords over a tiny Caribbean isle with his trusty bullwhip. Not content with smuggling guns and growing marijuana, Charlie also hires sexy dancer Glory La Verne to "entertain him" at his flea-shack of a cantina. Instead, Glory zeroes in on Charlie's main man, Davey, and the two lead a native uprising against Charlie who retaliates by going... well, completely berserk. "Pagan Island" (1960, 58 min.) - Shipwrecked sailor William Stanton finds himself the only man among a tribe of semi-naked man-hating women when he washes up on Pagan Island! Falling in love with Nani Maki, "the bride of the Sea God," he soon discovers that his rival for her affection is...a giant clam.

Customer Reviews:

The wildest scenery-chewing you will EVER see!.......2002-08-15

OK, this one takes the all-time prize for over-the-top, pure wild-man scenery chewing. In fact, as the case itself claims, Bennet doesn't just CHEW the scenery, he swallows it whole! It begins with our "fiend" pulling out his whip (any more obvious Freudian symbolism would be pointless) and dealing a few lashes to someone because......hey, he don't NEEEED no steeeekin' reason! As he proudly proclaims, he owns EVERYthing on the island! And since his "staff" is about the most lame-brained crew this side of the Three Stooges, he's a busy man, whippin' everyone and everyTHING in sight. But that's before the girl arrrives, and then he REALLY goes berzerk! Great fun - I can't recall EVER seeing such vein-popping, chest-thumping, rip-roaring hyper-machoism. And that's just the FIRST flick! Minor, very brief flashes of toplessness, but this isn't one for the kiddos anyway. Sets a new standard - makes John Agar in "Brain From Planet Arous" look as if he were on Thorazine. You HAVE to see it!

Hams and giant clams.......2002-07-31

A good, rather unusual double-feature from Something Weird. The theme of this disc is "tropicana," and its contents, geographically speaking, span from the Caribbean to the South Seas.

The main features are artistically unambitious but entertaining. FIEND is a fast-moving melodrama about the spectacular self-destruction of a small Caribbean island's whip-cracking tyrant, played by Bruce Bennett. Tania Velia, aka "the Yugoslavian bombshell," is imported to dance for The Fiend, but she's repelled by him and hooks up with an undercover narcotics agent, played by Robert Bray. Velia is gorgeous, and the director of FIEND made the most of her assets. Bennett gives a very vigorous performance, coming off like a psychotic who's been knocked on the head many, many times. The script is lousy, though, and the film suffers from a weak storyline. Arguably the sensationalism of all the brawls and whippings, and the presence of Tania Velia, make up for the film's most serious flaws. It's basically a fun but dumb movie.

PAGAN ISLAND, directed by Barry Mahon, is a 58-minute endurance test. A bevy of beautiful girls wear garlands of flowers and grass skirts. Into their feminine island paradise stumbles a shipwrecked sailor, who becomes infatuated with one of the locals. There's some ceremonial dancing and an underwater battle with a giant clam, and a very bizarre closing scene suggesting that the hero has succumbed to, or been tempted by, necrophilia.

The acting is generally terrible. The island girls speak "pidgin English," supposedly learned from a previous visitor. Their grammar is terrible, but they never fail to make sense, and their vocabularies are incredibly huge. Basically they talk like normal adult Americans who've chosen to eliminate unnecessary articles and tenses from their speech. It's impossible to take these "island girls" seriously. But they are fun to see and hear. The Queen of the island speaks every line as if she's reading from a cue card, and her lack of enthusiasm is incredible. She seems almost suicidal. The "plot" of PAGAN ISLAND involves a proposed marriage between the shipwrecked guy and his chosen girl, whose religion makes the marriage problematic.

More valuable are the "Goona Goona" short features, most dating from the 1930s. They look like tame National Geographic documentaries today, but 60 years ago the topless female was a rare cinematic commodity, and these films of Balinese women going about their chores au natural were marketed with less innocent "exploitation" films. There's also a really dirty short with simulated sex in a bamboo hut and narration loaded with double-entendre jokes.

Overall this is an entertaining and very unusual collection of films from Something Weird. If you buy it, or already own it, look for the "Easter egg," a trailer for Zorita the stripper's exciting film "I Married A Savage"! It's sobering to learn that Zorita was a native of Youngstown, Ohio.

The movie stands up to it's title!.......2002-06-22

A 1960 black & white that actually plays just like it's title suggests. Right from the start there is a fiend of a dope-island with brooding natives and a torch of a woman not accustomed to the sandy confines of a...dope-island.

The script was exceptionally good (in that it was bad and full of one-liners) and the acting was over-done with competence.

Easily one of the best b-movies in the collection. Keeps your attention and doesn't drag.

The movie stands up to it's title!.......2002-06-22

A 1961 black & white that actually plays just like it's title suggests. Right from the start there is a fiend of a dope-island with brooding natives and a torch of a woman not accustomed to the sandy confines of a...dope-island.

The script was exceptionally good (in that it was bad and full of one-liners) and the acting was over-done with competence.

Description

Science fiction meets gothic horror as the body count climbs to an incredible high!

Customer Reviews:

AMAZING, no kidding........2006-06-15

Alien Factor has this amazing story about aliens crashing on earth, terrorizing people, getting people to act stupid about handling the problem, and the ending is a huge unexpected twist that got me giggling for days. There were awesome primitive lazer beam effects and a silly yet amusing explanation for many of the bizzare happenings. The best part about the movie was this freakishly tall alien walking on carpet covered stilts. It looked like he was going to tip over any second too. He also had this weird thing with swinging his right hand in a rhythm. Watch as people run in fear at this thing they probably had to help up after filming the scene.

Fiend was awesome too. A simple story about this neighborhood jerk that chokes people to death in order to gain energy to live longer. Nobody suspects him though (even if his murders are done in broad daylight) The one man to stop him is his next door neighbor that hates his loud music. Plenty of trademark Don Dohler cheesy lazer/light effects.

Don Dohler is a genius filmmaker, Nightbeast was rad too and even had some gore. Get familiar with his work, he has his own style (which I can't say about all these replaceable hacks these days) and most of his movies have the same lovable dork actors that use the same names from their previous movies even!

"Lawrence of Arabia" it isn't. But it's good film.......2006-04-02

I originally saw Alien Factor on late night movie and cut off the final monster. Then I was lucky that my local video store had a copy on VHS. It's a low budget picture, the acting rates from really bad to passbale. The specail effects are passable considering the budget. The movie has a lot of energy that makes up for bad effects. This DVD has extra lost ending of Alien Factor Bloopers and a commentary which is interesting.
The second film is just okay, the Alien Factor is the main meal and Fiend is just dessert. It is just okay

don leifert truly shines.......2006-03-24

thank lord this film was finally rereleased. don leifert's acting is unmatched in any genre, from any time period, ever.

How can anyone review this seriously????.......2002-07-02

If you haven't seen this "movie" (and that's a generous description for this particular title), ONLY see it if you're into some low-budget laughs. The Alien Factor is the stuff of Mystery Science Theater - and I'm amazed those guys never got hold of this one. Horrendous acting, cheap EVERYTHING and an outrageously (and unintentionally) funny stilt-walking monster. The mere fact this has made it to DVD amazes and mystifies me.

Do yourself a favor - order this ONLY if you're wanting to host your own MST3K party.

5 Stars Bad + 1 Star Bad = 3 Stars Bad.......2002-07-01

When I was a kid, my brother and I tuned into this movie on TV late one night when we had nothing better to do. After about 15 minutes of it, the VCR began to roll, along with our tears of laughter. I don't know if it was that night in particular, or the actual charms of this particular piece of drek, but it still holds a warm place in my heart as possibly THE funniest bad movie I'll ever see.

Not one thing about this movie is well done...the only good thing about it is the sincerity and love with which it was assembled. The actors are the worst community theatre types, but they go about their "work" with no apologies, as though they believe that they are creating the finest Ray Harryhausen epic. That helps a lot when the "monsters" flinch at the gunshots, or stumble on their prosthetic stilts. If there is a ghost of Ed Wood, he inhabits this film.