Night of the Blood Beast

It was supposed to be the first manned space flight of the United States, but shortly after its launch, astronaut John Corcoran's rocket collides with an object, forcing John to make an emergency landing on Earth. Dave Randall and Donna Bixby of the nearby space agency quickly arrive at the crash site, but can only determine John's death. The outward curved hull of the spacecraft arouses their suspicion. John's body is taken to the nearby base, where John's fiancée Julie Benson also works. The doctor, Dr. Alex Wyman, is surprised that rigor mortis has not yet set in. In his blood, Wyman finds unusual cells that appear to be keeping John alive. When Dave tries to repair the broken radio connection, he is attacked by an unknown being. John regains consciousness unexpectedly and when Wyman examines him, he finds alien life forms growing inside John's body. John's character has changed, moreover he seems to have a connection with the unknown being. When Wyman is killed by the being, the others decide to attack it, but John insists on communicating with it first....

With its idea of alien life forms growing inside an astronaut, Night of the Blood Beast is counted as a source of ideas for Ridley Scott's Alien. The group of technicians and doctors, who are attacked by a monster in an area isolated from the outside world and fight it off, is also reminiscent of Alien in terms of content. Apart from that, we are dealing with a typical Roger Corman B-movie production, which has an interesting story, but was done very cheaply. The monster suit was recycled in Teenage Cave Man, the finale was shot in Bronson Canyon and the spaceship didn't seem like it would be able to fly through space or take off at all.

German Theatrical Version shortened and extended by scenes

In Germany, the film was released by Mercator Filmverleih, which specialized in buying US B-movies and adapting them for the German market. Since the runtime of the original versions was usually too short for a German theatrical release, Mercator had some new scenes reshot. One example is Daughter of Dr. Jekyll, which was given a prologue and epilogue in the German version. In Night of the Blood Beast, they were particularly creative by cutting scenes from Attack of the Giant Leeches into the film. Since Michael Emmet, who plays the astronaut coming back to life, also plays a role in Attack of the Giant Leeches, a few scenes of those giant leeches were unceremoniously packed into the film and the dubbing was adjusted accordingly. When John talks about trying to communicate with the monster, he explains that 10 years ago he lived on a tributary of the Amazon and was attacked by monsters there. In order for these scenes to fit halfway into the film, other plot parts of the original versions had to be removed. All scenes where the clocks stop or start working again because of the magnetic field were removed, as well as the explanation that there must be a connection between John and the monster. Any scenes or references to the alien creatures growing inside John were also removed. In the German version, the monster came to Earth with John and based on his past experiences, he pleads to find out what the monster wants first.

The German cut is an interesting curiosity in that two films, which in themselves have nothing to do with each other, have been cut together and their content altered. The version is just as much, if not a bit more fun than the original version.

Anolis' German DVD features both the German and US versions of the film. Most of the transfer is based on a German theatrical print, the missing parts of which had to be filled in using a US DVD and an 8mm version. Missing portions of dialogue from the German version were supplemented from other films. For the scenes in the US version for which there is no German audio or the dubbing deviates too much from the original, the audio jumps to English with optional German subtitles. Anolis has put a lot of effort into this release.

Runtimes:

US version: 60:18 min.
German version: 67:18 min.

Comparison between the US version and the German Theatrical Version.

[00:00:00][00:00:00]

The US version starts with the AIP logo.

A rocket takes off, with the titles fading in.

The German version has redesigned German opening credits.

US: 1:46 min
German version: 1:42 min.


[00:18:23][00:18:20]

Wyman goes on to say in the US that the highly sensitive devices work better in a cooler environment. Julie says the blood sample will be ready in a few minutes. Steve asks Wyman how long it will take to realize they haven't made contact yet. Wyman estimates 12 hours, which means they will be here another day.

US: 19 sec.


[00:21:45][00:21:23]

Dave runs to Wyman and looks at his watch, which has stopped. He runs back outside.

US: 14 sec.


[00:22:32][00:21:56]

Steve says that the magnetic field reverses the direction of flow of all electrical energy. He asks Wyman how far away the satellite capsule is from them. Wyman estimates one or two kilometers.

US: 9 sec.


[00:22:50][00:22:05]

Steve notes that the rockets were heavily magnetized when they returned to Earth. Wyman says that there is a mountain range between them and the rocket. Steve says that this does not make much sense.

US: 9 secs.


[00:24:24][00:23:30]

The US version has a scene where Wyman tries to comfort the distraught Julie. She says that it's hard enough to lose the man you love, but now add insecurity to the mix. Wyman says they may never know what happened to John. Julie wonders if John is really dead. Wyman says they will know more when they take him to the hospital tomorrow. Julie says goodbye. In the next shot, Wyman is seen earlier.

In the German version, the black screen is longer instead.

US: 1:42 min.
German version: 1 sec.


[00:31:42][00:29:08]

John passes out. Steve asks if he is okay. Steve comes to Julie and says that the blood cells are gone. Together with John, they go to the microscope and Julie confirms that the blood looks normal. John is told to stand in the fluroscope. There they discover the foreign cells. John doesn't want the foreign cells to get hurt or he will get hurt too. John gets out of the machine and says that they can't destroy the foreign matter.

US: 1:40 min.


[00:36:00][00:31:45]

Steve asks Julie if the drug will calm him down until they get back. Julie is not sure, since John is no longer a normal person. However, Julie believes that John is not a danger to her. In the next shot, Julie and Steve are seen earlier.

US: 27 sec.


[00:37:38][00:32:57]

Dave notes that his watch is working again. Steve says that his clock is also working again. Dave concludes that the magnetic field has dissipated.

The German version instead shows a camera pan across the field.

US: 11 sec.
German version: 5 sec.


[00:39:49][00:35:03]

At the rocket, Steve notices that his clock has stopped again.

US: 4 secs.


[00:44:23][00:39:32]

John says that if his colleagues were in a strange place trying to make themselves heard but were only ever attacked, the only option would be to take a hostage. The monster acts out of fear.

In the German version, John tells us that 10 years ago he lived on a tributary of the Amazon River, where something terrible happened to him. A flashback follows. John is lying on the riverbank with his girlfriend Brigitte. She tells him that she has had enough of Filipo and would love to leave. To do so, she needs a man to take her away. Filipo catches the two as they are kissing. He threatens John with a shotgun and John says that it wasn't serious with Brigitte at all. Filipo shoots into the river and tells them to run for their lives. John and Brigitte run through the swamps, pursued by Filipo. Filipo eventually manages to corner the two. John says that he was seduced by Brigitte and blames Brigitte for everything. Filipo demands that the two go into the swamp. When they are up to their necks in water, John promises to keep his hands off Brigitte. Filipo says that the two of them can get out of the water again. All of a sudden, John and Brigitte are dragged into the water by two monsters. Then it fades to Julie and Steve.

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US: 9 sec.
German version: 6:55 min.


[00:44:39][00:46:34]

John says that the creature will return to him and he suggests leading the others to the creature.

US: 7 secs.



[00:44:50][00:46:38]

Dave notes in the US that the clocks stopped when they encountered the monster. He concludes that the magnetic field is coming from the creature and from John. Steve suspects that this magnetic field is keeping John alive.

In the German version, a flashback again follows. Two men are paddling a canoe and are suddenly attacked by the monster.

In the next scene, a man discovers the creature at night. He shoots it and it disappears. Then it fades to John.

US: 32 sec.
German version: 1:23 min.


[00:45:35][00:48:14]

John says that it is important to understand the monster first before they act. Dave says that they need to make preparations if they are going to implement John's plan.

In the German version, John tells them that Ben alerted the authorities and one day two combat swimmers arrived. John, Brigitte and two other men are held captive in a cave by the monsters. One of the two combat swimmers dive in the river. When the monster approaches from a cave, he reappears after shooting the monster with a harpoon. With a new harpoon, he dives under again. Brigitte falls unconsciously into the water and is pulled into the boat. Another shot is fired at the monster and the second diver goes after it with a knife. The monster floats up and is blown up by an explosive charge. More monsters appear. John and another man also come to the surface. Then it fades to John and Dave.

US: 14 sec.
German version: 5:03 min.


[00:57:18][01:04:46]

After the monster says that Earth is most like their planet, they cut to John. He says that it is true and that he can feel the beings inside him.

US: 6 sec.


[00:57:33][01:04:56]

John goes on to say that the sacrifice of humanity is to prevent the demise of the monsters. It has always been about dominance, not salvation.

US: 8 sec.


[00:57:53][01:05:08]

John says that if he is not killed, that a new civilization will then grow within him that will wipe out humanity. The future of the human race is in the hands of Steve and Dave.

US: 15 sec.