Beast of the Yellow Night

Vic Diaz as the almost comedic Satan lends this Filippino horror film an eccentric flavour that saves it from total oblivion. Ashley isn't bad either as a damned murderer, inhabiting the body of an American businessman, forced by Satan to endure of life of evil, but when guilt gets the better of him, Satan resorts to dirty tricks in order to compel him to serve. The transformation he undergoes to that of a hairy beast with super-human strength causes the local police to suspect they have something out of the ordinary with which to contend.

Ashley plays the tortured soul well enough for the film's limited scope, and he's ably assisted by the statuesque beauty Mary Wilcox as his neglected, but loyal wife. Wilcox has a few risqué scenes in modest attire (although sometimes also clad in a zebra outfit), but it's debatable as to whether that's indeed her in the bizarrely photographed love-making scene. Fans will also recognise the prolific Eddie Garcia as a detective (he also directed), and American Ken Metcalfe ("Up From the Depths") in a minor supporting role playing Ashley's concerned brother.

There's not much horror, and what there is can often be too dark to discern, but the film does improve after a slow start at least achieving mediocre status, including the witty banter of Diaz's omnipotence, and equally, moronic dialogue from the sultry Wilcox. There's a couple of twists (e.g. the banished blind man with whom Ashley forms an alliance) that generate some interest and the climax in the tall grass lends some sympathy to Ashley's condemned character, but don't expect too much for your time.

"A man is saved from certain death by selling his soul to the devil, who charges him with recruiting others to his evil cause. As part of his terms for relinquishing control of his soul to Satan, the man is cursed to endure transformation into a hideous creature and stalk his victims by night. The local authorities want to find and destroy this murderous creature before it can take another victim, while the man looks to find a way to end his cursed existence," according to the DVD sleeve's synopsis.

Filmed in the Philippines, with director Eddie Romero. It's difficult to completely understand the story; approximately, it's Faust becoming the Werewolf with a touch of Frankenstein, after a time warp.

It's more interesting, at this point, to assess the career of star John Ashley. When he mysteriously appears in the present, doctors remove bandages from Mr. Ashley's said to be horribly disfigured face. Instead, a bearded Ashley looks better in 1971 than ever (in films since the 1950s). Ashley's characterization (as Joseph Langdon aka Philip Rogers) isn't terrific, but it's valiant; probably, his career lacked worth material. Vic Diaz (as Death aka Satan) is entertaining, in the tastiest role. And, Mary Wilcox (as Julia Rogers) is the blonde dish Ashley samples.

After recently finding a copy of this on DVD, I brought it home and was amazed to find this was everything I was looking for and a whole lot more. Filmed in the Philippines and directed by Eddie Romero, I was horrified/enlightened by its blasphemous blend of cannibalism, comedy, and deals with the devil gone bad. John Ashley is excellent as one of the most frightening, gruesome, and demented-looking monsters I've ever seen. Entertaining as can be. For me, the only thing scarier than this movie is the fact that I almost never got to see it! Great flick!

I remember seeing this title on the marquee at my home drive-in as a child. Watched it and finds it an interesting film, but curious as to why it's not in the Mad Doc series...or is it? The acting isn't bad at all, especially compared to original Mad Doc. I noted that the first scene of the monster's arms look like they were re-used from the Mad Doc flix. The Filipino back-drop of this film, as well as the Mad Doc films, provides something a little different and interesting that stands alone from movies that we're accustomed to viewing. The mono sound with the atmosphere, particularly in the opening scenes, gives the filmgoer the creeps. I do wish I could've talked my parents into taking me to see it way back then!

Well, you do not have to worry about a yellow night in this film. I was thinking that perhaps there would be a full moon or something giving the night a yellowish tint which unleashes the beast, but no, the only yellow is the smoke that sometimes accompanies Satan when he shows up. This is just one of those films that tries really hard to do something good, but ends up making a film that is a bit confusing as you begin to figure out it is supposed to be kind of like an evil Quantum Leap thing, but you never really know what Langdon the main character of the story is supposed to be doing when he assumes others identities.

The film starts out in a bit of confusing fashion as a man is apparently on the run and a woman is gunned down on the way of bringing him food. He is starving and makes the mistake of eating nearby grapes, which are not actually grapes as they are poisonous. Satan comes along and taunts the man and the man agrees to do Satan's bidding and Satan rewards the man with rotten meat. The man is apparently put into other people's bodies to do stuff and he randomly becomes a monster, but who knows why. The man he is through most of the film has a wife that totally loves him, apparently more than her actual husband and a blind man offers him aid, but can he get out of Satan's clutches!?!

Not all that great, thinking this film was made in the Philippines. The cast is mainly Asian; however, the man guy, his wife and brother are all English actors. The gore in the film is light and revolves around him turning into the monster which is sort of like a werewolf, but not really and there is never a real reason he turns into this beast. Though he is a beast in daytime too, so one of those titles that just does not fit with what is going on.

So, not totally horrible, but too much of the film is a bit lacking in the plot department. Why does the guy even turn into a monster? Has he turned into a monster in any of his other stops in his service to Satan and what exactly is he supposed to be doing in these other bodies? You get some kills and some cool scenes, but not enough to become a good film, just one worth watching to try and figure out what is going on.