Brides of Blood (1968)

Brides of Blood (1968)

[xrr rating=4/5]

Brides of Blood is the first film in what is referred to as the Blood Island trilogy, which is followed by Mad Doctor of Blood Island and Beast of Blood (all three directed by Eddie Romero).  Several other films have been placed in series with these, however complete lists tend to differ.  One film that is most frequently placed directly after the trilogy is Brain of Blood, an American emulation of the Blood Island films that had a very similar feel to it.  Regardless, Brides of Blood is a Filipino film about an island that is riddled with plant and animal mutations as a result of exposure to nuclear radiation.  A particularly menacing beast haunts the natives and seems to require virgin sacrifices to appease it.  When a group of Americans travel to the island, they attempt to put a stop to the madness.

John Ashley and Kent Taylor lead the cast in this campy 60’s horrorfest, and they do so quite well.  The rest of the acting is not as good, but still fun, in particular Beverly Powers’ (formerly Beverly Hills) character is hilarious.  As with a majority of Filipino horror films in the 60’s and 70’s, what makes this one so entertaining is its campy nature.  Brides of Blood manages to carry the feel of a 50’s monster movie (like Blood Waters of Dr. Z), the creativity of an 70’s nature-revenge film (like Frogs), and the exploitation elements that would become so popular in the later ‘women-in-prison’ films, many of which were also shot in the Philippines.

As cheesy as the effects are, and as absurd as the dialogue is; Brides of Blood is the intro to a gem of Filipino horror: the Blood Island films.  Though several elements carry over into the later films, this one has a different feel to it.  On its own merit alone, it isn’t a spectacular film.  However, it is a hell of a lot of fun, and when combined with the follow-up Blood Island films, it is a must-see for fellow lovers of camp.