Monster From The Ocean Floor Film Masters Special Edition Blu-Ray Review - How Does it Hold Up?

[PopGeeks]

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Film Masters is back with an important entry in their Special Edition blu-ray series, remastering the works of Roger Corman. Monster From The Ocean Floor is the first film produced by Roger Corman and released here in a wonderful presentation. My personal viewing of the film took pace at 2am, the perfect time to experience a black and white monster movie of this style. After all, that’s the hour at which it got the most play on broadcast TV over the years since it’s brief theatrical run in the 1950’s. A Classic Resurfaces in Stunning Quality Just as with their previous release of Corman classics, Night of the Blood Beast and Attack of the Giant Leeches (which I reviewed for PopGeeks here), this blu-ray package is more than a bare bones disc for an old film, it’s packed with extras that provide fantastic context for this 1954 b-movie by one of the masters of the genre. Two documentaries from Ballyhoo Motion Pictures are included as Bonus features. The first, “Bob Baker: From Monsters To Marionettes” provides an overview of the puppetry work of the monster maker for this movie. I was fascinated to learn about the many high profile TV and film productions that Baker contributed to over the years for the likes of Walt Disney, Steven Spielberg and more. It’s mentioned that this low budget creature feature was far from his most celebrated work, but the historian interviewed provided fascinating behind the scenes stories from Baker’s life and helped me as a fan of the band The Misfits realize that a creature on one of their album covers was signed by this master puppeteer. The second documentary, “Roger Corman: Becoming A B-Movie Maker” is an interview with Corman tells the story of how the clever filmmaker used the money he made from this feature to finance the launch of his b-movie film empire. It’s an informative, quickly paced overview of how it all began and what an amazing business mind Roger Corman was throughout his career. Monster From The Ocean Floor Extras from a Film Historian Also included with the disc is a booklet of liner notes by film historian, Tom Weaver containing photos and stories about the casting, filming, promotion and legacy of Monster From The Ocean Floor. Weaver also provides a full length commentary for the movie, which elaborates on these stories with audio interviews with Corman himself, cast members and others involved in the production. Also included are the original theatrical trailer and production stills. A
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Monster From The Ocean Floor Film Masters Special Edition Blu-Ray Review

Roger Corman’s Monster From The Ocean Floor gets a stunning restoration from Film Masters, packed with extras that celebrate the cult classic.

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[Fearful Nick]

Honestly, I appreciate the effort Film Masters puts into these releases. It's not just about slapping a movie on a disc; they really dig into the history. The Bob Baker documentary? That was a surprise. I knew his work, but I had no idea of the breadth of his contributions. And Corman's story, of course, is always interesting. I've always admired how he made something out of practically nothing. The film itself? Well, it's a 50s creature feature. You know what you're getting. But the restoration is impressive, and the extras make it worthwhile. I think it's important to keep these films alive, even the ones that aren't masterpieces. They're a part of film history.

 

[descendo233432]

While I respect the restoration effort, and the historical context provided by the extras, I have to be honest: the film itself... it didn't age well. I understand it was 1954, and special effects were limited, but what they considered a terrifying monster then, well, it looks rather silly now. The 'scary' underwater scenes, with the wiggling puppet and those filters, just made me chuckle. I mean, I can appreciate the camp value, and the effort put into the underwater photography for the time, but the supposed 'terror' just isn't there for a modern viewer. The dialogue, too, is incredibly stilted, and those long, drawn-out science lectures? I get that they were trying to add some 'scientific' credibility, but it just comes across as padding. So, while I can appreciate the historical significance, and the dedication Film Masters put into this release, if you're looking for genuine scares, you're not going to find them here. It's more of a curiosity, a glimpse into a bygone era of low-budget monster movies, than a truly frightening experience.

 

[Mama Cathy]

I'm a big fan of these old monster movies, so this review definitely caught my eye. I think it's great that Film Masters is giving these films the attention they deserve. The extras sound really interesting, especially the documentaries. I'm definitely going to have to check this out.

 

[Mr.Bridges]

I watched this film years ago, and I have to say, the new blu-ray is a massive improvement. The black and white transfer is stunning. I was particularly interested in the details about the monster puppet. It is a testament to the skill of the craftsman. It is fascinating to learn how much these movies influenced later films. The commentary and documentaries are a great addition, and I feel like I learn a lot about filmmaking history. I think that it is a very good release.