With Benedict Cumberbatch up for an Oscar this weekend, this seemed like an opportune moment to see his mother’s bid for posterity, pictured above playing a were-moth in this neglected horror classic. Also known as The Vampire Beast Craves Blood, Blood Beast From Hell and Deathshead Vampire, Vernon Sewell’s horror/thriller really couldn’t find the right title for this novel twist on traditional themes. But any film that features both Peter Cushing and special effects by a pre-Alien Roger Dicken deserves a fresh appraisal, and there’s quite a lot to suggest that Sewell’s film is a superior genre piece.
This is a Tony Tenser/Tigon production, made during the peak of Hammer’s success, and it’s clear that they hoped to find a few franchise-friendly monsters to rival the other studio. So what is the blood beast? Well, it’s a kind of moth, or perhaps a were-moth might be more accurate, since it can take human form; Curse of the Were-Moth presumably tested badly, so Blood Beast Terror it was.
Tigon also took cues from Hammer in terms of casting and approach. Peter Cushing is a name that will always draw genre fans. He was a distinguished and gentle soul who seems to glide around in these films, always polite, even when playing madmen; during the heat-wave scenes here, he never loosens his cravat. He’s ideally suited to Sewell’s production, which is big on drawing room conversations, entomology lectures and the details of coach and horse travel; the setting is the 19th century, but it could easily be the 14th. Cushing plays Detective Inspector Quennell of Scotland Yard, who is trying to solve the murders of several young men. Could Carl Mallinger (Robert Flemyng) and his flighty daughter hold the secret?
There’s some British comedy stalwarts in supporting roles, including Minder’s Glynn Edwards as a cop and Roy Hudd re-invigorating the cliché of the post-mortem medic who loves to eat on the job. And yes, the female were-moth is played by Benedict Cumberbatch’s mother, Wanda Ventham. It’s not easy for an actress playing a were-moth, but she sets a good example and gives it a spirited shot. Cushing reputedly wasn’t wowed by the results, but there’s quite a lot of fun here, notably the beast seen in a chrysalis form thanks to Dicken’s craftmanship. The Blood Beast Terror’s playful genre reconstruction is another nice find on the impressive Flick Vault channel.
“Were-Butterfly” might have stood a better chance. The French managed to sneak the word “Vampire” into the title. I remember when Tigon were challenging Hammer for the British horror crown. Saw this when it came out – it was on the lower half of a double bill headed by “Witchfinder General” on the ABC circuit in Britain so a Vincent Price/Peter Cushing double bill. Not to be confused of course with “Blood Beast from Outer Space” – alien moths I presume – starring John Saxon.
Blood Beast from Outer Space aka The Night Caller is another genre classic! Love that film; alien Mr Megra setting up his mail-order invasion by placing an ad in Bikini Girl magazine….classic stuff!
Haha looks like it was filmed up the Thames River somewhere and they interspersed wildlife shots – a saddlebill from South/Central Africa and a McCaw from North & Central America, made me laugh anyway. Good call by that guy wearing all white and trompsing through mud. What a hoot. Daren’t watch any longer than the first 3 minutes, my sides will hurt.
That is a rave review and I’m sure one that will be prized by the Cumberbatch family…
Yeah Comedy Central that family!
A were-moth eh? I can see why that never really took off. heheheehe….
Do not dare to diss the were moth!
or she’ll flutter her little were-moth wings at me?
It would explain why Cumberbatch chose to become Sherlock….
She plays his mum in that tv show. Fcat!
I’ve only watched up through season 3, so I wouldn’t know.