Blood Beach

This movie has an interesting story and you're not likely to predict what it is that is taking the lives of the characters in the film. The story takes place on a beach and when people begin to disappear it haves you wondering what it is. It will, however, keep you interested and the ending is not half bad either. To say that this is the best SCARY movie would be incorrect, however to say that it is the most unique is quite true. I really enjoyed this movie and I can honestly say that it had it's own unique style. See it if you haven't and if you can find it. It is a rare one and they don't make horror films like this anymore!!! This was a suspenseful film that caught me off guard on a few occasions and I hope I never have to experience that kind of terror. Released in 1980 to movie theatres and to video in 1982, this movie had a strange story, but a good story as well!!!

This movie has an interesting story and you're not likely to predict what it is that is taking the lives of the characters in the film. The story takes place on a beach and when people begin to disappear it haves you wondering what it is. It will, however, keep you interested and the ending is not half bad either. To say that this is the best SCARY movie would be incorrect, however to say that it is the most unique is quite true. I really enjoyed this movie and I can honestly say that it had it's own unique style. See it if you haven't and if you can find it. It is a rare one and they don't make horror films like this anymore!!! This was a suspenseful film that caught me off guard on a few occasions and I hope I never have to experience that kind of terror. Released in 1980 to movie theatres and to video in 1982, this movie had a strange story, but a good story as well!!!

'Blood Beach' is a fairly typical example of a B-grade horror film. The acting is just competent enough to keep the plot going, but no-one would scratch their heads wondering why these artistes aren't better known. There's the stoic male lead doing his best to look moody despite the early 80s low lighting. There's the predictable love interest, the sceptic, the comic relief, and the wise all-knowing scientist who no-one listens to. All the boxes have been checked here. The plot is straightforward and threadbare, and the budget would be equal to what Spielberg spends on a typical lunch.

However, I really enjoyed this thing as a kid, and watching it again recently reminded me why. For one thing, the film-makers know their financial limits, and the menace threatening the sleepy Southern Californian beach is wisely kept out of sight until the very end, and even then, you don't get a truly good look at it. This is a wise approach even when you do have money to play with, as it builds suspense, and avoids disappointment. Additionally, 'Blood Beach' is mostly filmed on-location, so there are few desperately cheap-looking sets. Finally, the film ends the way all good horror films do, though I just wish it hadn't been made so obvious earlier on.

I think the main reason 'Blood Beach' gets a low score is probably that it gets a little slow in places. This isn't helped by the two-dimensional characterisation, that if developed in a better script, could probably have alleviated the problem.

Nonetheless, it has its redeeming features as mentioned, and it's a good bit of late-night disposable viewing if you like horror and there's nothing better on.

Yeah, this is pretty bad. None of the characters here are interesting or engaging. Horror icon John Saxon gives off a great performance (as expected) but it's nowhere near enough to carry the rest of the film.

The problem with an idea like this is that, if none of your characters are engaging, then you're pretty much guaranteed to be making a dud because once you've seen the first kill, you've basically seen them all. You can almost feel the screenwriter wondering if they should keep writing this thing around the halfway point or scrap it and move onto something else with a more broad-canvas possibility. The fact that said screenwriter decided he'd go as far as to direct this thing is surprising and a little gutsy.

I do love movies that are set on a beach, so I'll give this a generous 5/10 and say it's, at the very least, watchable for fans of Z-grade horror. A little pulpy cheese thrown into the mix could've done wonders for this flick. That, or they could've cut back on some of the swearing and tried the TV movie route. Either way, this flick took itself way too seriously and, as a result, it turned out to be pretty damn boring.

This was a multi-task watch for me. If I'd sat down and given this film my full, unbridled attention, I'd imagine I would've rated it much lower, generosity be damned.

What a great poster, though. I'm considering buying a print of it. It's a shame the film couldn't match its intensity.

Something beneath the title area is grabbing people and pulling them underground to their grisly deaths! Harry (David Huffman), a local security guard, is desperately trying to work on his love life amidst the mysterious disappearances.

For a 1980's horror film, BLOOD BEACH has a lot going for it: #1- It's an original idea, straying from the typical slasher formula of the era. #2- Much of the mayhem occurs in broad daylight, in front of witnesses. #3- It has John Saxon and Burt Young as hard-boiled cops! #4- It contains many classic scenes, like the "rapist dis-MEMBER-ment" and "big hat retrieval" sequences! This movie is creepy, gruesome, and very entertaining. It deserves to be rediscovered...