CORMAN'S MUTANT FISH FEEL THE NEED TO BREED!

Shout! Factory has unleashed an invasion of Roger Corman Cult Classic titles this month, many appearing on DVD and Blu-ray for the first time and loaded with all-new bonus features. Corman built his career directing 50 films and producing over 350 on the foundation of truly independent filmmaking, sidestepping the restrictions of Hollywood's studio system to promote the creative talents of many leading directors, actors and writers. Making the most out of low-budget sensational films spanning a wide array of action-packed, titilating genres and concepts, Corman and his legacy of talented proteges made an indelible mark on filmmaking history of the latter 20th century and continue blazing trails today.

The latest library of Roger Corman Cult Classics include six new DVD/Blu-ray titles which fans of indie cinema and rare releases will definitely want to add to their collection.

Two years after PIRANHA, Roger Corman cast into the horor waters again and raised HUMANOIDS FROM THE DEEP, another terror tale about the genetic engineering of fish as a food source which turns nearly extinct sea creatures into predators devouring humanity. Corman enlisted director Barbara Peeters to film a raucous horror tale which ended up resembling more tame 1950s monster flicks like CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON but multiplied by several carnivorous mutants.

The quiet fishing village of Noyo faces increasing economic and racial tensions as their fish-harvesting industry fails, with the prospect of a local salmon cannery causing a town crisis. Increasingly violent confrontations between pro-cannery bigot Hank Slattery (Vic Morrow) and the Native American fishermen boil over as blood begins to spill, disguising the terrible fact that mutant sea creatures are now invading the village with murderous intent to mate! Genetic scientist (Ann Turkel) teams up with local fisher (Doug McClure) to uncover the mysterious killings and quickly must fight for their own survival as the mutant creatures kill the men and impregnate their female victims to increase their horrific new species. A fiery final battle to stop the hordes of murderous fish-men finally unites all the townfolk to save themselves and bring the battle to the mutants. The cataclysmic finale can only be topped by the genesis of a new terror unleashed upon humanity.

Corman's reputation for generating a project, pointing it in a creative direction restrained only by its limited budget, then letting the filmmaker work freely to realize the project came back to bite the indie producer on this film. Director Barbara Peeters' vision was far more cerebral in depicting the town's increasing paranoia and racial tensions, straying far from Corman's exploitational and successful formula. Validating the dramatic content of the story but largely ignoring the more sensational aspects of its improbably plot, Corman ordered second unit reshoots to increase the nudity, sexual titilation and gory creature kills.

When Peters refused, Corman fired her and Peeters (actually named Peters) had her name changed in the credits to distance herself from the film. While the strong female heroine that Turkel and Peeters created still led the story in Roger Corman fashion, his trademark boobs-and-blood approach is what drove cheap-thrillseeking audiences into theaters for more New World monster mayhem. James Horner's evocative score helped bridge the gap between budget and bravado. Once again Rob Bottin's elaborate gore makeup and creature prosthetics put the teeth into these mutant maters from the sea, delivering plenty of Corman bang for your buck.

Released under the alternate title MONSTER, Shout! Factory's HUMANOIDS OF THE DEEP Special Edition DVD/Blu-ray offers the film completely uncut international version for the first time in home video history. A new high-definition transfer was struck for this debut disc release, restoring the image and audio quality as well as missing scenes of violence cut from domestic US prints and only seen in early UK and Japanese VHS/DVD editions. Also included in the copious bonus features are: The Making of Humanoids from the Deep, a 23-minute featurette reuniting Corman, second unit/assistant director James Sbardellati, Horner and actress Cindy Weintraub who recollect the controversial production; a segment from film critic Leonard Maltin's interview with Corman focusing on HUMANOIDS; seven minutes of Deleted Scenes which include some cut sequences and alternate shots with sound missing on a couple clips which are shown for their rarity; trailers, TV and radio spots for the film; a poster and still photo gallery, and additional New World library trailers. The reversible cover art displaying both the HUMANOIDS and MONSTER poster designs add collectible value for fans to choose their favorite iconography of the film's sensational publicity.

Not quite as focused or appealing as PIRANHA but earning points for the HD restoration of this rare cult film plussed by a good catch of rare newly-produced bonus features, FilmEdge rates HUMANOIDS OF THE DEEP: 3 STARS.

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