The Flesh Eaters (film)
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| The Flesh Eaters | |
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 Theatrical Poster |
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| Directed by | Jack Curtis |
| Produced by | Jack Curtis Terry Curtis Arnold Drake |
| Written by | Arnold Drake |
| Starring | Martin Kosleck |
| Music by | Julian Stein |
| Cinematography | Carson Davidson |
| Editing by | Radley Metzger |
| Distributed by | Cinema Distributors of America |
| Release date(s) | March 18, 1964 |
| Running time | 87 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Allmovie profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
The Flesh Eaters is a 1964 American horror/science fiction thriller, directed on a low budget by Jack Curtis and edited by future filmmaker Radley Metzger. The film contains moments of violence much more graphic and extreme than many other movies of its time, making it one of the first ever gore films.[1]
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[edit] Plot
An over-the-hill actress (Rita Morely) hires a pilot (Byron Sanders) to fly her and her assistant (Barbara Wilkin) to Providence, but a storm forces them to land on a small island. They soon meet a marine biologist (Martin Kosleck) with a German accent who is living in seclusion on the isle.
After a series of strange skeletons wash ashore (human, then fish) it turns out the water has become inhabited by some sort of glowing microbe which apparently devours flesh rapaciously. The biologist is a former Nazi scientist performing forbidden experiments that have resulted in the production of monstrous "flesh eaters" that can devour the skin off a screaming victim in mere seconds. A beatnik (Ray Tudor) joins the group after becoming shipwrecked on their shore. Tensions mount after the plane drifts off into the ocean, leaving the castaways and the mad scientist as potential meals for the ravenous monsters.
High-voltage electrification (from a battery system devised by the mad scientist) is utilized in an attempt to slay the monsters. Instead, this only increases their powers. By accident, the survivors stumble upon the solution, which also leads to the demise of the evil scientist.
[edit] Background
The film has developed a cult following due to its gruesome, if primitive, special effects, including some memorably bloody death scenes.[2] One character is eaten from the inside out by the titular monsters, resulting in a gushing fountain of intestinal matter. Another victim is stabbed with a wooden stake, then shot twice in the face, with resultant gaping bullet holes. These scenes, as well as some occasional unintentionally campy moments, have helped to make the film a favorite for late night TV fanatics for decades.
The deep focus cinematography was the work of director Jack Curtis (working under a pseudonym, Carson Davidson), who shot every scene outdoors under the sun of Long Island.[citation needed] The film was scripted by comic book writer Arnold Drake (The Doom Patrol, Marvel's Captain Marvel, et al). [3] Drake storyboarded the film, so every shot has the careful, formalized composition of a well-drawn comic strip.[citation needed] One shot, for example is a shot in deep focus: the right profile of the hero dominates the left-side foreground of the frame; in a moment, two or three tiny figures at the far-removed shoreline move left to right, from behind the actor's head, and in focus.
[edit] Remake
In 2001, a remake of The Flesh Eaters was completed by co-directors Shane M. Dallman and Christo Roppolo for their own production company, Labcoat Productions.[4]
To date, the film has not been picked up for distribution, reportedly due to rights clearance problems.
[edit] Cast
- Martin Kosleck as Prof. Peter Bartell
- Byron Sanders as Grant Murdoch
- Barbara Wilkin as Jan Letterman
- Rita Morley as Laura Winters
- Ray Tudor as Omar
- Christopher Drake as Matt
- Darby Nelson as Jim
- Rita Floyd as Radio Operator
- Warren Houston as Cab Driver
- Barbara Wilson as Ann
- Ira Lewis as Freddy
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Corupe, Paul. The Flesh Eaters. DVD Verdict. Retrieved on 2007-11-08.
- ^ Reis, George R.. The Flesh Eaters. DVD Drive-In. Retrieved on 2007-11-07.
- ^ Arnold Drake at the Internet Movie Database.
- ^ The Return of the Flesh Eaters by Shane M. Dallman, 2001.
[edit] External links
- The Flesh Eaters at "The Bad Movie Report."
- The Flesh Eaters at the "Horrorwood."
- The Flesh Eaters DVD review.
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