(1965, Upgraded 10/25/21) Robert Winston, Yvonne Nielson, Vic Silayan, Katherine Henryk, Vic Diaz. A schlocky but fun horror thriller set in the Philippines. Winston is a special agent from Manhatten who travels to Manila to help a local homicide detective solve a series of grotesque murders. They are being committed by a really cool-looking monster (obviously inspired by a monster from a classic episode of THE OUTER LIMITS). What no one knows is that the bad guys are part of a blood cult that has survived for hundreds of years by drinking the blood of young women. Winston, as the hero, is kind of a cross between James Bond and Jerry Cotton. His character is a little over the top and he'd definitely be considered politically incorrect by today's ludicrous standards, but that's what makes the film so much fun. This has the look and feel of a late '50s-early '60s B&W horror film, so it's a little bit of a throwback in that regard. One of the most enticing things about the film is its dark, creepy, seemingly film-noirish settings, which really add to the overall atmosphere. BLOOD THIRST is a film that's been badly maligned by a number of IMDB reviewers, and admittedly it's no classic, but a comfy spot on the couch and a bowl of hot, buttered popcorn will help you enjoy the wonderfully schlocky quality of this film. Great transfer, from 35mm.
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