Search - How to Make a Monster/Blood of Dracula on DVD

Nicholson/Arkoff fans rejoice!

R. Gawlitta | Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA | 02/07/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Two of the cheesier films from AIP vaults are presented well on a really good DVD transfer. Herbert L. Strock directed both, and "Blood of Dracula" is really the better one. A girl vampire? What fun! Jerry Blaine singing "Puppy Love", and some crazy Lesbian overtones make this loads of fun. If it was released today, politically-correct idiots would be protesting. "How to Make a Monster" is also tacky, a sort of toned-up version of Ed Wood, but not as entertaining as Wood's films. If Ed Wood had studio backing, he might've had a chance. Mr. Strock had that support. Ed Wood was around at the wrong time; the drive-in crowd came only a bit later, and Nicholson & Arkoff cashed in. I absolutely love this stuff for its tackiness, bad acting, bad attempts at musical interludes... I was around for that drive-in crowd back when, and words can't express how fun it was. Even if the films were garbage, we were entertained, and, despite what critics say, I believe entertainment is what it's all about. I was entertained, and never forgot how much I enjoyed these tacky films."

Arkoff/AIP legacy revived

joseph Corey | Raleigh, NC United States | 12/02/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Another double dip into the drive-in glory that is AIP. A double dip into the career of director Herbert L. Strock. How to Make a Monster (1958 - 73m). A madman is loose on a movie set. And it's hard to tell what killing is prepaid. Don't be shocked at the color part of the black and white film. Blood of Dracula (1957 - 68m) A woman is turned into a vampire by more than getting her neck bit.

If you grew up a fan of the Creature Double Feature or have bought up MGM's Midnite Movies, this is perfect for your collection."

Great series: Lion's Gate, please keep it going

Brucifer | Boston, MA | 08/15/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Great start on this series (despite the apect ratio problems), but Lion's Gate seems to have given up, which is unfortunate, as there are a number of Arkoff titles that haven't yet seen the light of day on DVD. While I'm not 100% sure if Lion's Gate owns the rights to the films I list below, I would venture to guess they do. So how about a pairing of I Was a Teenage Frankenstein/I Was a Teenage Werewolf, Invasion of the Saucer Men/Attack of the Crab Monsters, Voodoo Woman/The Undead, Not of This Earth/It Conquered the World (two of the best AIP titles), and The Amazing Colossal Man (whose sequel, War of the Colossal Beast, is part of this line). I think this accounts for the rest of the Arkoff 1950s horror/sci-fi library, maybe there is something else that could be paired with Amazing Colossal Man."