Queen Of Blood

Released in March of 1966 by American International Pictures as the second half of a unique double bill that included BLOOD BATH (see my earlier review of that), QUEEN OF BLOOD aka PLANET OF BLOOD retains its power to amuse and astonish as it manages to create its own unique atmosphere. It remains an excellent example of science fiction as fantasy as opposed to the ultra realism that would come about 2 years later with 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY. Taking its inspiration from 1958's IT, THE TERROR FROM BEYOND SPACE!, QUEEN is part IT, part FLASH GORDON, and part Mario Bava's PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES which AIP released the year before. Like BLOOD BATH which preceeded it, QUEEN is also an excellent example of the Roger Corman school of hybrid cinema.As he often did in the 1960s, Corman bought the distribution rights to a foreign film (in this case two Soviet era sci-fi flicks) and then turned it over to one of his proteges to see what they could do with it. You could do anything you wanted as long as you didn't exceed the miniscule budget or the tight shooting schedule. Director Curtis Harrington (GAMES, RUBY) seamlessly blends the Russian footage with his American scenes and negates the cheapness of the studio sets with strong performances from John Saxon, a young Dennis Hopper and an aging Basil Rathbone. The shipboard sequences use primary colors to create a visual look that lingers long afterwards. Florence Marly with her green skin, Faberge egg helmet, beehive hair, and especially her glowing eyes makes an unforgettable impression as the titular character.For years this film was available only on VHS in a poor print with washed out colors and in the wrong screen ratio. The early budget DVD copies weren't much better. But now MGM (who owns the rights to the AIP back catalogue) has issued a Limited Edition DVD-R version which is made-to-order. They have gone back and used the original release print which captures the rich hallucinatory color scheme and the wide screen aspect ratio that made this film so effective when it first played the drive-in circuit. If you are one of the many who first saw it on TV and remember it fondly than this disc will be a revelation. If you get the chance, be sure and see the companion piece BLOOD BATH which makes effective use of its hybrid nature with strong performances and stunning black & white photography.

MGM has reached into its library of rarities and has released Writer/Director Curtis Harrington's great Sci-Fi guilty pleasure from the mid sixties 'QUEEN OF BLOOD' aka 'PLANET OF BLOOD'-1966 for the modern day digital audience. Based on a short story called 'The Veiled Woman', Harrington utilized footage from a Russian movie called "MESHTE NASTRESHU'- 1965 and filmed a vampiric storyline around it creating a low budget classic of menace and dread. After 35 minutes of build up, our space travelers headed by John Saxon, a young Dennis Hopper and hot babe Judi Meredith encounter a beautifully seductive space alien played by Florence Marley rescued from a derelict spaceship. Veteran actor Basil Rathbone is earthbound throughout the proceedings and you'll spot a silent Forrest J. Akkerman in some scenes. Very soon our brave crew is eliminated one by one as our alien happens to need human blood for nourishment. The film has the same claustrophobic look and story of Edward L. Cahn's classic 'IT-THE TERROR FROM BEYOND SPACE'- 1958 as a monster from Mars winds up hitch hiking aboard a ship returning to Earth and sucking them dry. Writer Dan O'Bannon would take liberties with the concept 13 years later with Director Ridley Scott's 'ALIEN'- 1979. However , Harrington directs with a great understanding of the horror genre utilizing an incredibly horrific atmosphere throughout the films final minutes. He is no slouch for this type of film. No matter what budget he had , he always had some classic horror set pieces within such films as 'NIGHT TIDE' also starring Hopper, 'GAMES' , and the cult TV hoot' THE CAT CREATURE'. But the true chills are delivered by its eccentric foreign actress, Florence Marley with her feline looks and silent performance which gives the role a Max Shreck-like feel where you really can believe that she is extraterrestrial and a true monster. The film is co-produced by Stephanie Rothman who 5 years later would make a vampire film of her own, the underrated 'THE VELVET VAMPIRE' with Celeste Yarnall dosing out the blood sucking. The only thorn in the production is the supposed music score by Leonard Morand. Morand does not seem to do anything but rip off various passages from the scores of Ronald Stein. Fans will definitely hear parts of 'NOT OF THIS EARTH' and 'ATTACK OF THE 50FT. WOMAN' and gives a new meaning to the word blatant. All in all, the film delivers the goods in its 78 minute running time better than the over bloated genre films which are passing for SciFi/Horror released today . MGM releases the film in a beautiful, widescreen transfer and take it from this viewer who was used to seeing it in poor, reddish color, its a revelation. Recommended for all lovers of vintage Sci/Fi Horror films, you know who you are.

Yes, it was a rescue mission…but who needed rescuing, the bloodsucker or her food source. She looked anemic and they looked good enough to eat. And, naturally, the powers that be decided to protect the alien at all cost, despite the potential cost in human lives. To the scientific community everyone is just food. And when you’re on a spaceship, it’s tinned.This shoddy little masterpiece is very colorful, very. And it’s almost exciting, almost. But I did love the villainous alien, a vision in green. She wasn’t evil, she was just hungry.

I can't be too hard on classic sci-fi, because to some extent I know what to expect. Low budget effects that didn't age well. Acting reminiscent of Leave It To Beaver, with the exception of John Saxon, but even he phones in a few scenes. Basic writing that's been imitated, and improved upon over the years. Queen of Blood has all of this in abundance. Even in the more specific subgenre of classic sci-fi about space vampires, I enjoyed Planet of the Vampires far more.If you're desperate for sci-fi movies to watch, this isn't a terrible choice. Turn out the lights, pop some popcorn, and enjoy some good old science fiction. Just don't expect to be blown away.

Grafted together using the special effects from not one but two soviet Sci Fi movies, Queen of Blood is actually not that bad, set it the distant future, 1990 how time flies. Earth receives a message from an Alien civilisation, they're interested in making contact and are sending a ship. Unfortunately it crashes and humanity dashes off to Mars to save them. A single survivor is found, a strange green silent woman and they start to ship her back to earth. Unfortunately she's a vampire and eats two of the crew including a very young looking Dennis Hopper. While chowing down on her third victim John Saxon she's attacked by his fiancé, slightly scratched she shrieks and runs off where she bleeds to death, apparently she's a haemophiliac vampire. Just as they get back the crew discover she was a haemophiliac vampire Queen and has filled the ship with pulsating slimy eggs, apparently the evil alien plan was to colonise the earth using humanity as a food source.Sci Fi buffs may find this interesting as I think elements of this were incorporated into later movies like Lifeforce and the Species series.On the technical side the film could have done with a bit of remastering as the film stock used on this transfer is a bit blurred and marked in places, but I doubt it would be economically viable on such a low volume niche release.Dated, entertaining, in parts silly but not a bad value purchase. Not however I suspect one with much repeat view potential.

I'm pleased to have added this film to my collection, but the quality is dreadful. It was obviously transferred from a poor quality dupe print, as the focus is very soft and lacking in detail.

Why do most of the reviews here seem to be the Traci Lords remake of NOT OF THIS EARTH and not QUEEN OF BLOOD? Was the Lords film retitled in the U.K.?

This is a great movie! I remember seeing it for the first time at the drive-in when I was just a kid; like ten or twelve years old. Left quite an impression. Great to see it again now. Thx so much. Great transaction as always with amazon. Have just purchased the original movie poster as well for the tv room. As a horror sci fi guy it was really cool to see forest ackerman have a cameo at movies end. Have been a Famous Monster of Filmland fan forever.

Outstanding Science fiction film which combines outer space with the horror genre featuring a compelling soundtrack and vivid colors, Starring John Saxon.