Arrow Video gives another forgotten film a chance with Blood Tide, a film that not very many have heard of, but is given special treatment with this blu-ray release.
Studio: Arrow Video
Release Date: September 24th, 1982 (theatrical) / May 26th, 2020 (blu-ray)
Run Time: 87 mins
Region Code: A
Picture: 1080p (1.85:1 aspect ratio)
Sound: English LPCM 1.0
Subtitles: English SDH
Slipcover: No
Digital Copy: No
Starring: James Earl Jones, José Ferrer, Lila Kedrova, Mary Louise Weller, Martin Kove, and Lydia Cornell
Written by Richard Jefferies and Nico Mastorakis
Directed by Richard Jefferies
Rating: R (some disturbing images, horror violence, and language)
THE FILM
An adventurer hunting for treasure in Greece accidentally frees a monster that forces local villagers to sacrifice virgins.
What do you get when you put James Earl Jones in a film produced by Nico Mastorakis and Brain Trenchard-Smith? If you thought a kickass horror flick, then you were wrong. What you get is a film that is not worth the time despite the talent involved.
BLOOD TIDE is a monster film that barely has a monster. I know that it is supposed to be more about the people who fear the monster, but if you are going to have a monster, you might as well show it more than a time or two. I am not kidding when I say that either as we barely see the monster. It is so bad that if you happen to look away for the brief seconds that this monster is shown, then you will have never known that they showed the monster at all. The film is surprisingly low on gore. You would think that they would show the gore if they are not going to show the monster, but other than shots of the monster’s first victim, we see nothing else.
All of this bad, there has to be some good. There is. The film looks really great. It was shot in Greece and the filmmakers use the location of the small coastal town to their advantage. We get some gorgeous shots of the town and the ocean. James Earl Jones is also a highlight, which isn’t saying much as the man is the highlight of damn every film he has ever made. It is kind of weird seeing him here, though, as he has always played a man with more importance than he does here. Here, he is definitely slumming it, but you would never know it because he still gives a great performance.
I really wish that this film was worth the watch. I had some high hopes when I saw all the names I mentioned earlier, but the film had no chance of delivering. Had they shown the monster more or had some good gore, it might have had a chance, but the filmmakers fail at doing even the most simple things. Sure, the film looks great, but the film just didn’t hold my interest and I actually found it pretty dull. This is a curiosity at best.
THE PICTURE AND THE SOUND
Presented in the film’s original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, BLOOD TIDE looks really great. Detail is high especially in close ups, colors and skin tones look accurate, and film grain is consistent which helps with that detail. There is also no print damage and blacks are inky.
The LPCM mono track does the job. The film’s score sounds really great when it is given time to shine, which is mostly during the opening and closing credits, and dialogue sounds crisp and clear.
THE MENUS
THE FEATURES
Swept by the Tide (28m 58s, HD) This is a brand new interview with producer Nico Mastorakis and is a weird interview. Mastorakis gives some really insightful information about his early career, but the interviewer asks the questions in an over-the-top way, sometimes even being dubbed. There are some weird questions too, like how Mastorakis would handle people bootlegging the new restoration of BLOOD TIDE and Mastorakis answers with some threats. It’s all so weird that I can’t really say whether to watch it or not. It is full of cringe.
Trailer (2m 19s, HD)
2020 Trailer (1m 50s, HD)
Audio Commentary with director/co-writer Richard Jefferies
THE CONCLUSION
BLOOD TIDE is a slog of a film that barely qualifies as a horror film and deceptively calls itself a monster film. Arrow Video really gave the film more attention than it deserves. The transfer looks great and really shows off how great the film looked, to begin with. The special features are interesting, but I don’t know if I can call them good. This release is for fans of the film and those who must collect everything Arrow puts out.
THE SCREENSHOTS
 Blu-ray Review){kind=link}
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