Vulcan Productions [1964] 87′
country: United States
director: JACK CURTIS
cast: MARTIN KOSLECK, BYRON SANDERS,
cast: BARBARA WILKIN, RITA MORLEY
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Here’s an under-seen and under-appreciated little independent gem from the heyday of 60′s science fiction horrors. By the middle fifties Sci-fi and horror themed exploitationers were thrilling young audiences with their increasing levels of on-screen violence. While imports like X THE UNKNOWN [1956, US release 1957] featured a few brief effects shocks, it was Mario Bava’s CALTIKI THE IMMORTAL MONSTER [1959, released State-side in September of 1960] introduced Americans to their first real taste of modern gore by showing the gruesome physical effects of people devoured alive by its titular menace. Other films, domestic and otherwise, would soon be following suit, with H. G. Lewis’ BLOOD FEAST setting the high watermark for early 60′s carnogarphy in 1963.
THE FLESH EATERS never approaches the delirious excesses of Lewis’ creation, but it’s a fine example of truth in advertising. Produced in 1962 and released theatrically in 1964 [the ad campaigns famously promised that audiences would be "sterilized" with fear], the film is rather extreme given the time in which it was produced and has no shortage of effects payoffs relating to its namesake.
