Monster from the Ocean Floor DVD - Classic Sci-Fi Horror Movie - Perfect for Movie Nights & Halloween Collections

This review is for the Blu-Ray edition of 'Monster from the Ocean Floor' released by Film Masters on February 4, 2025BLU-RAY: The picture is very nice. It is basically free of imperfections such as dirt, dust, specks, lines, etc. I didn't focus on this throughout the film but I didn't notice anything. Judging by the original trailer and then the re-cut, it looks as if they raised the brightness level of the movie by quite a bit.EXTRA'S:- There is a 15 page booklet included that is attached to the inside cover of the Blu-Ray case.- Audio Commentary with Tom Weaver - Weaver uses a lot of interviews with the principals in this commentary- Featurette: 'Bob Baker: From Monsters to Marionettes' - This is a 14 minute documentary about Baker's career in Hollywood.- Featurette: Roger Corman: Becoming a B-Movie Maker - This is an interview with Roger Corman about the beginning of his career as a Producer. 'Monster from the Ocean Floor' is barely mentioned. (8:42)- Original Theatrical Trailer- Re-cut 2024 Trailer- Gallery of stills***** NOTE - LOTS OF SPOILERS BELOW THIS POINT *****PLOT/SYNOPSIS: Julie Blair is making a painting at a beach on Mexico when a young boy comes by and tells her that his father was killed by something in the ocean right at the beach they are at. When she goes swimming, an American man, Steve Dunning, a marine biologist, scares her in his submarine. Back on shore, he invites her to come to his boat to see what he is working on. Julie meets Steve's colleague, Dr. Baldwin and a crewman, Tommy.A short while later, a boat approaches claiming that a divers line snapped. Steve heads there in his submarine. Steve finds a diving outfit with no body in it. Julie learns of several other disappearances that have occurred recently and she is determined to investigate these disappearances.One evening, Julie sees a steer that has been left as a sacrifice. A one-eyed monster comes to the surface of the ocean near the beach and Julie passes out on the beach. Tula, a superstitious old lady tells Pablo, a drunkard, that a sacrifice of the 'fairest' must be made to the monster in the ocean. She orders Pablo to do her bidding. Pablo makes half-hearted attempts to kill Julie but ultimately he confesses to her. Julie dives in attempt to see the monster and ends up passing out. Steve comes back in the nick of time to rescue Julie and sends his submarine into the monster's eye and kills it.PRODUCTION/COMMENTS: 'Monster from the Ocean Floor' was released in 1954 as a part of a double bill with 'The Queen of Sheba'.- THE MONSTER: A giant one-eyed amoeba. I'm not sure how this think is one cell, but ok...- THE SUBMARINE: Roger Corman did not have to pay for the submarine as he convinced the maker that he would give them free advertising in his movie. The company, Aerojet General, gets mentioned in the credits as well as in the movie.- THE SHARK: The shark you see Julie fighting was an old shark with very few teeth left. Anne Kimball refused to do the scenes with the shark and a double was used.- PATHETIC END OF THE MONSTER: The 'Monster' meets it's end in a fairly pathetic way. I mean... how tough could it be if an unpowered 1-man submersible can kill it by basically floating it into the monster. This submersible was pedal-powered by the person manning it. How much speed could you possibly generate?- THE GREAT OUTDOORS: The entirety of 'Monster from the Ocean Floor' was filmed outdoors.JAWS RIPPED-OFF 'MONSTER FROM THE OCEAN FLOOR'?: Just listen to the music at about the 57 minute mark and tell me that Jaws didn't rip off this movie for it's main theme. At the least, it obviously inspired the music from 'Jaws'.- OTHER COMMENTS:- The original title of 'Monster from the Ocean Floor' was 'It Stalked the Ocean Floor'.- Roger Corman appears as 'the one man crew' on Steve Dunnings boat.- The director, Wyott Ordung, plays Pablo.- There have been estimates of anywhere from $12,000 to $35,000 for the actual cost to make the movie. Roger Corman says it cost $12,000 and took six days to shoot.RATINGS/CONCLUSIONS:Blu-Ray: 8/10 - It's not perfect but it's very goodExtra's: 8.5/10Plot: 4/10SFX: 7.5/10 - I'm obviously factoring in the budgetOverall: 9/10 - My rating is for the release, not the movie itself.IF YOU LIKE THIS, THEN WATCH...- Jaws (1975) - They say... what is 'Jaws' but a big budget Roger Corman movie...