Beasts of Terror
by Alfredo B. Crevenna
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Ángel Nadal, Carlos Suárez, Flores Del Campo, Ismael Ramirez, Quintín BulnesDirector: Alfredo B. Crevenna
Brand: BCI ECLIPSE LLC
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: Spanish (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 83 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2002-12-03
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Bci / Eclipse
Movie Reviews of Beasts of Terror
Movie Review: Terror is an Overstatement
Summary: 4 Stars
All four films in this collection have very good quality pictures. Although going by average quality of the films themselves this is one of Brentwood's less strong 4-movie collections, there isn't one single movie that I outright hated. And at this price, you only need one good film you are not likely to find elsewhere to make it worthwhile. Going from the weakest film to the best:SNOW BEAST, a TV movie, takes the then-recent film Jaws, turns the shark into an abominable snowman, and the beach resort into a ski resort, and throws out everything that was good about that film, including any suspense or interesting characters. There are some things worth slight amusement. For example, when the camper (replacing the fishing boat in Jaws) is knocked over by a bunch of rolling logs, somehow the camper winds up filled with the large logs although the whole thing, including the side on which it was hit, is still completely intact! Everyone involved in the film must have failed physics.
MOON OF THE WOLF is a TV movie about a local cop investigating brutal murders which may or may not have been committed by an animal (of course we all know it is a werewolf). Since it is a TV movie it is quite tame and the budget is low, which is not necessarily an impediment to a good film, but it is all too predictable and fails to build suspense. It even completely fails to make any use of potentially interesting local flavour (Cajuns, bayous or local legends) except for the presence of one bed-ridden francophone. Even the fine performances fail to make this film anything more than an adequate time waster.
WOLF MAN is a low budget 1970s movie which was released theatrically only in the southern states. Like most rural films it has a certain charm (local playhouse quality acting and all). It isn't really a copy of the original film, but pretty well everything in it had been done countless times before (in the original, in dozens of Hammer films, etc.) Therefore, since the film has little action, but depends upon building suspense, it doesn't work as well as it should. With such nice touches as the devil-whorshipping southern preacher this film could be a classic if it had come out before most of the things in it became cliched.
In contrast, SCREAM OF THE WOLF, which is the best entry in this collection, is very original. WHICH is why it will actually disappoint viewers who WANT it to follow expectations. Intelligently scripted by Richard Matheson (who scripted the best of Roger Corman's Poe films), competently directed by Dan (Dark Shadows) Curtis, and filled with excellent performances, this film easily surpasses the limitations imposed upon it by nature of being an old TV movie (including by hinting at some things not mentioned on TV in those days). I don't want to risk spoiling anything by describing this movie in more detail.
With 3 out of 4 of the movies being 1970s made-for-TV horror films, this collection does have some nostalgia value for those of us who grew up on such things, and there are many familiar faces and bit players you rarely see anymore. Other than for that reason, and for "Scream of the Wolf", I can't give this collection a very high recommendation. Younger viewers who have no attention spans as a result of growing up on splatter films might want to give this one a pass.
Summary of Beasts of Terror
Moon of the Wolf The body of a young girl is found on the property of a wealthy family in a small cajun town in the Louisiana bayou. Sheriff Whitaker played by David Janssen (The Fugitive) tries to solve the mystery of the brutal murder. The suspense builds as potential murderers are everywhere. Was it her brother Lawrence (Geoffrey Lewis - Every Which Way But Loose) or Dr. Drutten (John Beradino - General Hospital) or the owners of the property Andrew and Louise Rodance? The townspeople believe a pack of wild dogs who can be heard howling at night are to blame. But soon more murders occur and it becomes clear there is more at work here than meets the eye. While searching for clues with Sheriff Whitaker Andrew Rodance (Bradford Dillman) becomes deathly ill while at the back woods house of the girl who was killed. Does this old and respected family have a horrible secret that has been passed down through generations or is there a vicious pack of killer dogs on the prowl? All questions will be answered tonight with the rising of the MOON!Scream of the WolfAdventure writer John Weatherby played by Peter Graves (Mission Impossible) is called in to investigate a series of brutal murders that has investigators confused. The clues are not clear and leave no clear trail. The tracks left at the murder site appear to be that of a wolf a man or both! Lost in his search for answers Weatherby contacts his old friend Bryon played by Clint Walker a mysterious hunter and a recluse to help him track this unknown killer. His friend is not much help but may know more than he's willing to say. The suspense and terror builds as danger lurks in the shadows of the night. SCREAM OF THE WOLF will keep you on the edge of your seat and remind you to stay in at night and lock your doors because you never know what could be lurking in the shadows of the night! Snowbeast A deadly mystery hangs over the Rill Ski Resort in Colorado after a young skier is found dead killed by