Per Matt
Comparing a demonic, small-town shapeshifter to a team of seafaring monsters of different varieties on a deadly treasure hunt probably doesn’t sound like two similar movies, but all of the aforementioned characters are definitely bloodthirsty. Murder knows no boundaries in Film Masters’ new double-feature release, The Devil’s Partner Special Edition.

The Satanic Panic gets the spotlight first, as blood sacrifices shock Furnace Flats, New Mexico amid some supernatural activity. The unusual events are eventually pieced together by the town doctor and sheriff. But will the local yokels prevent any more bloodshed?

“I don’t know what’s come over this town… used to be a very nice place to live in…”

There’s a whole lotta circumstantial evidence crammed into this story, including illegal searches by the local law enforcement. And if this movie was released today, PETA would have a field day with the implied violence toward multiple animals (all of which takes place offscreen, thankfully). The moral of the story is, don’t mess with black magic, kids!

The finale features Cubans hunting gold, killers hunting Cubans and a monster that likes to eat them both! Creature from the Haunted Sea boils it all down to allegiances. On one hand, you’ve got a mobster’s life of crime, who’s asked to transport the stolen gold from Cuba’s treasury. Facing off against the mob is a group of Cuban militants who hope to use the loot to overthrow the revolutionaries. There’s also the dimwitted secret agent who’s trying to foil these criminals’ plans. And fighting them all is an unusual aquatic killer that rules these seas.

This tongue-in-cheek story of robbery, double cross and murder includes revolving love triangles and a little too much comedy relief, but it’s still pretty fun. Don’t forget the mossy-looking monster with ping-pong-ball bulging eyes and a taste for human blood! Its rake-like needles for claws appear as if they were the inspiration for a later-day Freddy Krueger, but it’s just as deadly.

Both films are presented with a theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1, as well as in a 1.37:1 television format. Also, the televised version of Creature from the Haunted Sea includes an additional 15 minutes of footage shot years later to extend the film for a sale to Allied Artists. Discs are region free and include English SDH. Audio is DTS-HD/Dolby AC3s.

Currently available to purchase on Blu-ray & DVD, this two-disc collection includes original and re-cut trailers, audio commentary for both films, liner notes, a full essay and an all-new interview with Roger Corman, who gives an oral history of his filmmaking career in his own words, which is great to hear. Also included in the set is a before-and-after restoration video that’s quite impressive.

Now, my favorite part of this Blu-ray series is “Hollywood Intruders: The Filmgroup Story.” Part Three of this documentary series, “A [Creeping] Open Door Policy,” focuses a little on the talented young filmmakers Roger Corman gave big breaks to, including Francis Ford Coppola very early on, but also including Martin Scorsese, Joe Dante, Peter Bogdanovich, John Sales, Jonathan Demme and Ron Howard. Many of these Corman acolytes owe their big breaks into Hollywood to the “Roger Corman film school,” as the up-and-coming filmmakers bring their funky, off-beat sense of style to smaller films which bigger, more commercial releases really couldn’t compete with.

I was especially interested in Dennis Hopper’s blacklisting troubles, as well as his return to Hollywood prominence, all of which happened under the leadership of Corman. Now, that feels like a coincidence…

“The Filmgroup existed because Roger Corman was not happy with the accounting on some of his other movies. It was economic necessity.”

With a suggested retail price of $29.95 (for the Blu-ray) and $19.95 (for the DVD), this is a bloody good deal! I’m really digging these Film Masters’ releases and can’t wait for my next lesson at the Roger Corman film school!