Blood Tide was released on Blu-ray in Canada, the UK and USA by Arrow Video in May. Buy from Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk
Special Edition contents:
Brand new restoration from a 4K scan of the original camera negative
High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
Original uncompressed mono audio
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
Brand new audio commentary with director/co-writer Richard Jefferies
Newly-filmed interview with producer/co-writer Nico Mastorakis
Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Graham Humphreys
Collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Mike Gingold
Meanwhile, here is our previous coverage of the movie:
Blood Tide is a 1981 British-Greek horror film directed by Richard Jefferies (Cold Creek Manor; Living Hell aka Organizm; writer of The Vagrant; Scarecrows) from a screenplay co-written with co-producer Nico Mastorakis (Island of Death; Blind Date; Grandmother’s House; The Wind). Also known as Bloodtide (in the USA) and Demon Island (American TV title).
Plot:
A couple of newlyweds travel to the Greek Islands to look for a lost sister. They find her on an island where a monster kills people unless it is given a virgin woman for a sacrifice…
Reviews:
“Although lacking in production values, Blood Tide cannot be faulted for its actors, all of whom do their best with the material they are presented. As noted previously, the concepts sketched throughout the film are fascinating and stimulating to the imagination. Sadly, the execution of the film results in a talky, bland, and tensionless movie, one that few will be able to sit through to the lackluster conclusion.” Albuquerque Examiner
“Sundry killings ensue, but little tension or atmosphere is generated. Jones overplays alarmingly, while Ferrer and Kedrova have little to do as furrowed-browed locals, the latter a nun. The monster itself appears only briefly, which is perhaps just as well since it is all too obviously a rubber dummy.” The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Horror
“Truly a better film because of the performances, Blood Tide really could have been remembered in a greater light if the creature itself wasn’t so poorly constructed and conceived. Wait for the finale to really enjoy a great callback to the ending of Jaws.” Dread Central
” …while never boring, the film has a rather leaden pace at times, and as stated; the creature is woefully underused. Both of these keep this one from being the monsterpiece it could of been, but it’s a solid fright flick overall.” Horror Fuel
“The main focus of a sea monster movie should be the damn sea monster not a shirtless James Earl Jones […] Instead, the team behind this one offered up James Earl Jones, shiny bod and all, instead of giving us a great looking sea monster. The monster is the worst looking creature in cinema history…” Horror Society
“Bloodtide may be best to watch as a travelogue movie that allows you to look at some beautiful island and ocean footage, because it very rarely registers as a horror movie. The idea of an ancient monster being set loose in Greece seemed pretty cool, but most of this languidly paced film’s running time consists of characters boating and chatting.” Life Between Frames
“A lot of promise, but not a lot of results. This movie is a real shame to watch- it could have been great. The plot has a secretive cult, a sea monster and hot babes on an island. What could go wrong? Well, there is pretty much no monster.” Mondo Bizarro
“A pretty bad, but rather fun, old-fashioned monster movie. The monster itself might be The Return of the Giant Claw, and is, wisely, never seen very clearly (Clearly enough, however, once for camp purposes).” Donald C. Willis, Horror and Science Fiction Films III
“Quite obviously taking cues from H.P. Lovecraft, Bloodtide is a enjoyably creepy slowburn monster movie that sure doesn’t shy away from gruesomeness but takes more care in creating its mystery – which is of course greatly helped by the wonderful locations of the movie which are made perfect use of, great camerawork, as well as a colourful supporting cast that further attributes to the film’s eeriness.” Search My Trash
“It’s too bad the final heroic confrontation with the monster lacked sufficient budget for the monster to be shown as more than stirred water and it’s too bad Jones wasn’t lending his talent to something overall a bit more memorable. But for black heroes in vintage cinema, one takes what one can find.” Weird Wild Realm
Cast and characters:
James Earl Jones … Frye; José Ferrer … Nereus; Lila Kedrova … Sister Anna; Mary Louise Weller … Sherry Grice; Martin Kove … Neil Grice; Lydia Cornell … Barbara; Deborah Shelton … Madeline Grice; Sofia Seirli … Sister Elena; Despina Tomazani … Lethe’s Mother; Rania Photiou … Lethe; Spyros Papafrantzis … Dionysis; Irini Tripkou … Virgin; Annabel Schofield … Vikki
Film Facts:
Original pre-release titles were The Red Tide and Red Tide.
