Although Tormented is very much a product of the times, a budget B-movie, there’s something to appreciate about this home video release as it looks into why Bert I. Gordon should be remembered.
The next hailed master of cult cinema the Film Masters are looking at is Bert I. Gordon, and to decide on which movie of his to remaster must have been tough. What’s examined is Tormented, a fairly standard ghost story. Although this filmmaker is best known for The Food of the Gods and other giant monster movies, which is better examined in this home video release’s bonus material, I thought what’s offered here is fitting enough to introduce newcomers to who this person is, and why he’s important.
This film was released back when ghost stories were making a comeback to cinema, and Robert Wise’s The Haunting helped motivate him, I suspect he read a certain story, namely the Tell Tale Heart, to help him know how to direct this work.
Everything you want to know about Roger Corman‘s The Terror but were afraid to ask regarding this latest Film Masters restoration is all nicely packed into a documentary and essay included in this home video release. It’s out just in time for this film’s anniversary! What’s presented is a very clean and upgraded colour pallette to highlight this gothic work.
And to complete the analysis, it includes a bonus HD print of The Little Shop of Horrors. As a fan of the musical, to watch it in its original form made me appreciate both works! There are moments of dialogue that laid the seeds to songs like “Suddenly Seymore,” and “Dentist!”
However, this latest is all about Corman’s homage to Edgar Allan Poe. Nearly every frame pays tribute to what defines this master of macabre’s tales, and to watch it restored didn’t present a lot of flaws as I thought. While those bits are more with the narrative element, the visual one looked quite concrete! From the set designs to the tropes, it’s easy to tell. The video essay does a great job as explaining how this movie came to be, the hurdles faced (which also includes getting Karloff to agree to star in this work) and why it should be remembered as a testing ground for the still young filmmaker–who happened to think that he should take advantage of what’s available for him to use before these contracts expire. Also included in this release is Ballyhoo Motion Pictures “Hollywood Intruders: The Filmgroup Story” (part two).
Although the movies of yesteryears are largely forgotten by today’s audiences, some movies like The Giant Gila Monster Special Edition (and Killer Shrews) are worth revisiting.
The B movies of the 50s almost always have a familiar formula to them: they’re often populated with rock n roll teens getting into crazy situations and feature giant monsters. It’s a formula that works and despite the bad acting or lacklustre direction. And whether fans of today can appreciate them, it depends more on getting introduced to the film. Thankfully Film Masters 4k restoration and release of The Giant Gila Monster Special Edition (and Killer Shrews) proves that we don’t need MST3K to discover them.
Sometimes we hear that at the theatre anyways when there’s a rowdy group attending. At home, we can avoid that and admire just why these two films have a modern cult following. It’s not so much about why they are reflective of the era and how teens and adults behave way back when. instead it’s about how they react is nothing like modern horror. I get amused when they’re more golly gee, and dare to take on the threats. Whether they die isn’t the question.
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