PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Infamous Euro-sleaze director Jess Franco (Vampyros Lesbos) tried to capture that luscious Technicolor magic of Hammer Studios’ gothic horror films of the 50s and 60s on several occasions. Most notably with Count Dracula (also 1970), and even managed to lure fright legend Christopher Lee away from the fabled studio for several films. Now, thanks to the folks at Blue Underground, Night of the Blood Monster (aka The Bloody Judge—probably a more accurate title) is available as a beautiful new 4K Ultra release!
Synopsis
Unaware of the torture that takes place in the dungeons, Judge Jeffries condemns women as witches and rebels as traitors on a regular basis. A sister of one of the condemned prisoner approaches the judge for clemency but is rejected when she doesn’t give in to the lust of the judge. She joins the gang of the rebels to bring the judge to justice.
Loosely based on the real life career of Judge Jeffries, a Lord Chief Justice in 17th century England, Night of the Blood Monster is Jess Franco trying to do a gothic Hammer film, but he can’t help himself and has to “Franco-cize” it with copious gore and nudity.
Judge Jeffries (or Jeffreys depending on the source; Lee) is a dedicated, by-the-book witchfinder during a explosive time in English history. Threats to the throne, and rebel loyalists go arrogantly unheeded as the Judge navigates the delicate politics of the region, focused solely on ridding rural England of witches and traitors. When a local woman, Alicia Gray (Margaret Lee; Dorian Gray) is accused of being in league with Satan, her sister Mary (Maria Rohm; Eugenie) begs the Lord Judge for a pardon. Falling in lust with the young beauty, Judge Jeffries condemns Mary’s sister to death (burned at the…ladder?), and begins pursuing both Mary, her lover Harry Selton (Hans Hass Jr.; X312-Flight To Hell) and his rebel leader friend Barnaby (Peter Martell; Desert of Fire).
Attempting to first enlist, and then extort, Harry’s father, the Earl of Wessex (Leo Genn; The Snake Pit), Jeffries convinces turncoat Satchel (Milo Quesada; The 10th Victim) to help, while his executioner/torturer Jack Ketch (frequent Franco collaborator Howard Vernon; Faceless, who, if he wasn’t known as the “Boris Karloff of Euro-sleaze”, he damned well should have been) waits to apply his various painful procedures in the Judge’s dungeons. Helping the band of fugitives stay one step ahead is the blind seer/witch Mother Rosa (Maria Schell; Superman), the various rebel sympathizers and previous victims of the Judge’s brutal justice. A scorched Earth finale wraps up the film, with the Judge finally witnessing one of his barbaric sentences carried out.
Night of the Blood Monster is an uneven film, in regard to both story, and production value. Borrowing heavily, plot wise, from the 1968 Vincent Price/Michael Reeves Poe adaptation The Conqueror Worm (aka Witchfinder General), it nonetheless stands out due to a grim, pious performance from Lee, a great ensemble cast, some masterful direction from Franco, and enough sex and gore to sate most sleaze fans. When it comes to production value, however, there’s a weird juxtaposition at play—the sets go from really convincing, to “high school theater”, some costumes are excellent and lush, while Vernon capers around in the most comically wide belt in film history!
It’s this unevenness that takes the viewer from “Hell yeah” to “awwww man!” throughout the film. And who knew in 17th century England that heavy blue eye shadow was a thing? But, that’s not to say that this isn’t an excellent film, there’s impressive battle sequences, hairy legs, an amazing score (from Bruno Nicolai; Count Dracula), a truly bizarre necrophilia/lesbian licking set piece, and plenty of suspenseful chase scenes (someone is always running off with the women, you see…).
Blue Underground really went all out with this restoration, with a Dolby Vision HDR 4K scan, cleaned up audio, and restored scenes of nudity and gore (although in German, but the subtitles kick right in!). The colors look absolutely gorgeous, with crisp and vivid details, really impressive! The 4K disc features the film proper, with 3 separate commentary tracks, and the Blu-ray disc has archival interviews with the late Franco and Lee, as well as interview segments with author Stephen Thrower (among other contributors), deleted scenes and trailers! The packaging features an awesome embossed slipcover, and the snapcase has reversible art (The Bloody Judge version), all garishly presented in throwback poster art fashion.
Night of the Blood Monster is essential viewing of both fans of Lee and Franco, and it’s an important reminder that, yes, there were films being made that were every bit as gothic and visually stunning as those made at the storied Pinewood Studios. A suitably reverent release of a collaboration between two masters that were, arguably, peaking at the time. “Justice is a terrible thing—but justice must be done!”
Blue Underground’s 4K Ultra/Blu-ray release of Night of the Blood Monster is available now from fine retailers.
