Die, Monster, Die! aka Monster of Terror (1965)

 

It's time for a UK Blu-ray release of the feature directorial debut of AIP art director Daniel Haller, and the second of AIP's HP Lovecraft adaptations (after 1963's THE HAUNTED PALACE). It may seem a bit odd for the BFI to be releasing an American horror picture but given that DIE, MONSTER, DIE! aka MONSTER OF TERROR (it was obviously 'lack of inspired titles' day at the AIP offices) was shot in the UK and features both some familiar locations and actors it actually fits very nicely into their 'Flipside' series.

Whereas THE HAUNTED PALACE was an adaptation of The Case of Charles Dexter Ward and starred Vincent Price, here we have Boris Karloff, Freda Jackson, Suzan Farmer and Nick Adams all rather shoehorned into a 'bares bones and before its time' version of The Colour Out of Space, a story that recently received a much better adaptation from writer-director Richard Stanley. But that doesn't mean DIE, MONSTER, DIE doesn't have its points of interest. In fact any fan of 1960s BritHorror will want it in their collection.

Because - this is the only time you get to see mid-1960 Surrey doubling as Lovecraft's Arkham, and Oakley Court as the home of Lovecraftian horrors. Then there's that still disquieting shot of those weird rubbery monsters that live in the greenhouse, familiar faces like Patrick Magee, Sydney Bromley, Leslie Dwyer, Harold Goodwin and Terence De Marnay all doing their bit in their only Lovecraft adaptation and a music score by Don Banks (Hammer's THE MUMMY'S SHROUD, Lippert's WITCHCRAFT). The BFI's print isn't a restoration but does represent a considerable upgrade from the DVD. 

A release like this, which will appeal most to those who already know the film inside out, is going to stand or fall on its extras and as always, the BFI has gone the extra mile to provide some fascinating stuff. First off is an excellent, lively commentary track from Flipside standbys Vic Pratt and William Fowler where they discuss not just the film but its literary basis, managing to get in a couple of mentions of the works of Arthur Machen and Algernon Blackwood as well. Stay till the end for Vic's list of 25 Gothic Tropes you can see in this film.

Other extras include a couple of scene reads from the as-yet unfilmed picture about LET ME DIE A MONSTER. The 14 minute piece also features an introduction by co-writer Ken Hollings and an outro by co-writer David McGillivray. The two also return to talk about Nick Adams and DIE MONSTER DIE! for a seven minute featurette. A Karloff Konversation is 20 minutes of chat about all things Boris between Vic Pratt and Stephen Jacobs. Otherwise there's 12 minutes of unit publicist Tony Tweedale's memories of working on the film, an image gallery and trailer, and a curious 16 minute black and white short entitled THE PEACHES. Finally, there's a booklet with new writing on the film, LET ME DIE A MONSTER, and H P Lovecraft.

DIE, MONSTER, DIE! is out on Blu-ray from the BFI on Monday 22nd July 2024