A-Grade Treatment - MONSTER MAYHEM COLLECTION

With one of the most inspiring mission statements I’ve ever read, Film Masters, a relatively new label based in the United States, has curated a damn near perfect set of four movies from radioactive mutation to literal “big brain energy.”

Monster Mayhem Collection spans only two years, from 1957 to 1958, but it’s a snapshot of the decade’s most creative and outlandish offerings to the B-side of drive-in theatres, with Monster from Green Hell (1957), Frankenstein’s Daughter (1958), Giant from the Unknown (1958), and The Brain from Planet Arous (1957) – Available now on Blu-ray newly restored!

It would be easy to just write off Monster from Green Hell as “Them!”, but with giant wasps, however, this 71-minute product of the atomic age takes the trope of genetic mutation to the African jungle. While monsters to their unintentional creators, they’re soon regarded as the beasts of native superstition who have suddenly emerged to destroy all in their path. Despite being the weakest title, it moves at a fast pace, and some of the creature effects and a climactic final sequence in colour elevate this cult classic above its undeserved 3.7 IMDb rating. Look out for actress Barbara Turner, who is the mother of Jennifer Jason Leigh. There’s a noticeable resemblance.

Typically, when it comes to Frankenstein, it’s linked to a long-running franchise from the likes of Universal or Britain’s Hammer Films, so it’s unique that you get a standalone feature and one taking place in a modern L.A. setting, at least for the time, anyway. When it’s not promoting an up-and-coming teen pop sensation, Frankenstein’s Daughter is rather risqué with a central antagonist who is determined to remove the stain from his family name by creating a female monster in his image. It certainly aims for shock value with its level of grotesquery, mainly in the form of the titular daughter, an imposing figure but quite different in nature compared to Giant from the Unknown, which was my personal favourite. Perfectly random yet oddly specific, a Spanish conquistador from centuries ago awakens from suspended animation, and a subsequent rampage of murder ensues on the mountain above a small Californian town. I’m often drawn to horror movies with curiously minded characters, so I was instantly engaged by an archeologist hero coupled with talk of a local legend. I found this classic oddity to be a lot of fun, and in a strange coincidence, I had watched the Twilight Zone episode “The Rip Van Winkle Caper” earlier that day, so it seemed that suspended animation was the theme.

I had only recently heard about The Brain from Planet Arous while combing through Trailers from Hell on YouTube, so I was pretty psyched to see it, and I’m pleased to say that it didn’t disappoint. When a scientist is taken over by an alien brain, a plan for world domination unfolds with the threat of atomic annihilation from a concentrated, deathly stare. John Agar stars as both the hero and the human face of the feature’s cerebral villain. Agar was always a strong performer and the go-to guy for a hot minute when it came to creature features. He’s typically straitlaced, so to see him play against type as a maniacal and at times, sexually aggressive monster added a lot to the film’s unusually unhinged quality. I would say it stands out firmly as the best-made title from this collection.

SPECIAL FEATURES

DISC 1

Frankenstein’s Daughter full length commentary (Tom Weaver)
The Giant from the Unknown full length commentary (Tom Weaver)
The Giant from the Unknown archival full length commentary (Gary Crutcher)
Richard E. Cunha: Filmmaker of the Unknown documentary

DISC 2

Monster From Green Hell full length commentary (Stephen Bissette)
The Brain from Planet Arous full length commentary (Tom Weaver and Guests)
Missouri Born: Films of Jim Davis featurette
The Man Before the Brain: Director Nathan Juran: an original Ballyhoo Motion Pictures production
The Man Behind the Brain: The World of Nathan Juran: an original Ballyhoo Motion Pictures production

In the eighties, any response to fan mail would most likely come in the form of a short letter or simple autographed photo, not a lengthy video response recorded on VHS. Richard E. Cunha: Filmmaker of the Unknown is a polished version of such a response and is the gem among the surprising number of extras included in this 2-disc set. The deep dive into Nathan Jura’s backstory is a fascinating one, presenting a filmmaker who worked in proximity to some of the industry’s biggest talents, who then used the skills he obtained, which gave The Brain from Planet Arous its slight alternative edge.

Film Masters have certainly worked hard for fans, who I think would have been hard-pressed to find the amount of information about each film that’s housed in feature-length commentary tracks.

VIDEO AND AUDIO

All four features come from 4K scans of 35mm archival prints, and it certainly shows. Each movie is presented in 1.85:1 widescreen and displays a level of sharpness that you certainly won’t find on Tubi or via the various public domain uploads. Giant from the Unknown, however, is noticeably the darkest, but it by no means hinders the viewing experience. Monster Mayhem Collection is region-free for the world to enjoy, with optional audio tracks in DTS-HD and Dolby AC3s that measures up the impressive picture with the impressive picture quality. English subtitles are included.

Monster Mayhem Collection reminded me of being a kid learning about monsters, back when imagination hid the strings. I would highly recommend this set to anyone starting to collect movies on physical media, aiming for diversity among genres and time periods.

MONSTER MAYHEM COLLECTION
(1957-58, director: Various)