This is as bad as it gets, folks. Three Americans go to an island where they encounter trees with limbs that grab people, ripping them to shreds, not to mention a mutated man monster who the islanders sacrifice virgins to. The butterfly scene is proof that BRIDES OF BLOOD belongs in the annals of wretched creature features, this time shot in the Phillipines with two of the worst white heroes(in the form of scientists Kent Taylor and John Ashley)you ever to come across. Beverly Powers(as Taylor's horny wife)spends most of her screen time lusting after one man or another(and not exactly hiding it from her impotent, non-caring husband who seems immune to her delicious voluptuous breasts). Eva Darren is a luscious island girl Ashley saves from being torn apart by the mutant beast terrorizing the island people. The mutant monster costume is side-splittingly hilarious. There's a celebratory jungle dance at the end which brings the film to a crashing halt(it has no reason for being other than to seal the deal on Ashley and Darren's blossoming romance)and is unnecessary. Handsome Filipino actor Mario Montenegro(whose bones Beverly wants to jump)is Esteban Powers, owner of a palatial estate on the island who provides refuge to the Americans. Esteban's security is a brute named Goro(Bruno Punzalan)who beats on his servant staff of little people! Andres Centenera is Arcadio, leader of the island villagers who fear the beast and feed it from their own people, choosing names on paper as to determine who will be tied to poles to await being eaten. I watched this under the title, DANGERS ON TIKI ISLAND.

Wow, does this flick make for one wild and woolly experience! "Brides of Blood" (1968), the first adventure in the Blood Island trilogy, must be deemed, along with 1959's "Terror Is A Man," one of the crown jewels of Filipino horror cinema. In it, 1950s star John Ashley plays Jim Farrell, a Peace Corps worker who comes to the eponymous Blood Island in the Philippines. He is accompanied by naturalist Dr. Henderson, who wants to study the effects of recent nearby nuke tests on the island's flora and fauna, as well as by Henderson's randy, bubble-bosomed wife, played by Beverly Hills (love that name!). This film is some kind of ultimate drive-in experience, and throws in much to ensure a memorable time. Thus, there are some scary, groping, mutated trees (still not as scary as the ones in "The Wizard Of Oz," though), sacrificed topless maidens, gaggles of scampering little people (that IS the PC expression at the moment, right?), battles with torches, bolos and flare guns, AND a roaring, woman-hungry monster that beggars my poor powers of description. Please don't get me wrong; this is certainly not anybody's idea of a quality film (even my beloved "Psychotronic Encyclopedia" calls it "terrible"). It is somewhat shoddily put together, and features God-awful dubbing and egregious day-for-night photography. Still, it does offer truly exotic Filipino atmosphere, interesting characters, decent-enough acting, and eerie native chants. Plus, the film culminates with a wild, celebratory native mating dance that must be seen to be believed; a most satisfactory windup. The bottom line is that I can't imagine any fan of sci-fi, horror or action films not enjoying this pulpy funhouse of a movie on some level. Recommended.

This is the second of the Blood Island films after Terror is a Man. Its not related to that film, only loosely to the two films that follow, Mad Doctor of Blood Island and Beast of Blood. All the films are nominally set on a remote island in the Pacific where strange experiments happen.Here a research team arrives at Blood Island to find that the natives have begun to return to their old superstitions. The reason is that the far off atomic testing has mutated some of the plants animals and people into killing machines. They have taken it so far that the natives sacrifice two virgins every night to the man beast that wanders the woods.Edgy and atmospheric this is a monster movie in the grand tradition. You have weird things going on, sexual tension between the cast members, and monsters running amok, what more could you ask for? This movie was a drive-in staple for years and its easy to see why since it gives you everything that a drive-in crowd would want sex blood and breasts. Its also lots of run, creepy and just a bit scary.The only place the movie falls down is the man beast. Its really silly. It looks like a drippy Michelin man with a stupid grin Until you get a really good long look at it towards the end of the movie it holds some ,ystery and fear, but once we see its face its all over. If you can get past that, knowing its gonna look dumb helps, you'll have a grand time with this movie. Lots of mindless fun.7 out of 10(FYI- This was the film picked by Cinematic Titanic, what Joel and friends are doing post MST3K, for their 2010 tour under the title Danger on Tiki Island)

Well about 2 years or so ago, I decided to use the world-wide web to try and trace an obscure film I only vaguely recall from the late night creature feature circuit around 1974 or '75. A blessed soul I found online recommended that the description sounded to him like "Mad Doctor of Blood Island", and the rest just fell into place. I was amused and quite frankly surprised that these rare low-budget films actually have at least a small following, and I thoroughly enjoy reading the comments! Ah...I can remember the local drive-in around 1968 or so, but I can almost imagine myself with that little family hiding in the backseat. Quite honestly, when I caught (Brides of Blood??) on late night it quite literally made my skin crawl, especially with those eerie reverberation like sounds emanating from deep within the jungle. Since I can remember, I have always loved jungle adventure/jungle horror films, so if anyone would like to respond and chat, I'm always open to new friends, especially if we could get up a drive-in chat! All hail the Mental Hygiene League!! If you are one of these from the Richmond/Danville area, PLEASE respond! We have mutual friends up here in the Shenandoah Valley!Any recommendations for lost/and or obscure jungle horror please respond...