Per Matt
In 1957, a black-and-white cinematic cult classic was released featuring a giant, floating, megalomaniacal, sex-crazed brain from outer space. Audiences may not have crowned the indie film a blockbuster back in the day, but 65 years later, The Brain from Planet Arous finally gets its due with a Special Edition Blu-ray release by The Film Detective!

When two adventurous young scientists detect mysterious gamma rays emitting from Mystery Mountain nearby, they venture into the desert to discover the find of a lifetime. Armed only with weapons — but not any protective gear — they’re confronted by Gor, the living, talking brain (with eyes) who decides to use Steve’s (played by John Agar) body as a dwelling place while on Earth. What kind of destruction will this extraterrestrial terrorist bring to the planet, and will it be the end of the world for humanity?

Pick up The Brain from Planet Arous Special Edition Blu-ray and DVD on June 21st to find out!

The storyline here treads lightly upon local mad scientists but relies more upon women’s intuition. Nothing can stop a woman who knows something’s wrong with her man, and Sally (Joyce Meadows) may be the only person who can save the human race. It’s kinda crazy that humanity’s last stand relies so much on the fissure of Rolando…

So, space invaders with killer mind power? You’ve already got me hooked!

There are definitely vibes of Invasion of the Body Snatchers — I’ve seen just about every big-screen adaptation known to man and loved every single one of them! I enjoyed watching this one, too. With 4K transfer, including two versions of the film, presented in its original 1.85 theatrically released format and in 1.33:1 full frame format, it definitely looks good.

The inclusion of Joyce Meadows is a definite bonus!

“The Film Detective’s magnificent restoration of The Brain from Planet Arous reminds me of when I saw the movie on the big screen back in 1957,” said the film’s star. “An amazing achievement, and I’m so pleased this picture is getting the respect it deserves.”

In addition to a full-color booklet with original essay by author/historian Tom Weaver and full commentary track by film historians Tom Weaver, David Schecter and Larry Blamire, a highlight of the bonus features includes exclusive commentary by Joyce Meadows, herself!

The reenactment of her character so many years later is pretty great, as she visits the former filming location while effortlessly slipping back into character. “Not the Same Old Brain” is pretty great, but Ballyhoo Motion Pictures’ “The Man Before the Brain: Director Nathan Juran” and “The Man Behind the Brain: The World of Nathan Juran” are outstanding!!!

As the former architect and art director eventually becomes an efficient filmmaker who worked in just about every genre of film, he helmed quite a few classics, including The Deadly Mantis (1957), Attack of the 50-Foot Woman (1958) and The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958). At some point, I hope each of these releases receives a similar love-letter release.

These two featurettes highlight the filmmaker’s background and work ethic. He was not afraid of working quickly through B-movies, but he slowed the pace whenever he felt the story dictated an explanation. He was not afraid of special effects (teaming up with Ray Harryhausen in a number of projects) and creating bonds with his stars (including a lifelong friendship with Ronald Reagan).

I have quickly become a huge fan of The Film Detective! With each new release, the company surpasses previous expectations. Their restoration process to older movies is incredibly important if the art (and its format) is to survive another millennium. And that leads us to their latest venture: streaming. While I’ve only sampled their Blu-ray releases, I’ve got to mention how much I’ve enjoyed the nostalgia of each film, but even more from the included featurettes!

The Brain from Planet Arous is Not Rated, with a running time of 71 minutes. Fans can purchase the Blu-ray ($29.95) and DVD ($19.95) on June 21 or order online at: https://www.thefilmdetective.com/arous

The Film Detective is also available live with a 24/7 linear channel available on Sling TV, STIRR, Plex, Local Now, Rakuten TV and DistroTV. For more information, visit www.thefilmdetective.com