‘They planted the living and harvested the dead!’
Invasion of the Blood Farmers is a 1972 American horror film produced and directed by Ed Adlum from a screenplay co-written with Ed Kelleher (also associate director). It was edited by Michael Findlay (Flesh trilogy; Snuff). The latter directed Shriek of the Mutilated, which Adlum and Kelleher also penned. The movie stars Norman Kelley, Tanna Hunter, Bruce Detrick, Jack Neubeck and Paul Craig Jennings.
Although it contains some gore scenes, the film was originally rated ‘PG’ by the MPAA. The soundtrack is composed of library music, and the narrator does an obvious impression of British actor James Mason.
In the 1980s, filmmaker Fred Olen Ray (Super Shark; Evil Toons; Scalps) picked up the video rights and distributed the movie via his Retromedia label.
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Plot:
A group of druids living in Westchester County, New York, plan to resurrect their queen by draining the blood from unsuspecting civilians into her body…
Book reviews:
“It’s got ridiculous plotting, clunky pacing, awkward acting, canned music, you name it. It also has a sense of humour about itself and a sincere attempt to entertain the viewer. Odd and shafting camera angles are surprisingly effective … Despite slow stretches, a weak climax, and some missed opportunities to feature more of the farmers, it’s great for camp. The dialogue is lively, sometimes funny on purpose.” David Elroy Goldweber, Claws & Saucers
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“Looking and feeling like Andy Milligan’s cracked horror cheapies, but not as-turn-you-to-cement boring, Blood Farmers is hilariously confusing and actually quite watchable […] Cringe along and love it.” Mike “McBeardo” McFadden, Heavy Metal Movies
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“This is acknowledged as one of the great classics of schlock cinema … The Farmers was lauded by exploitation experts for its amateur acting, neanderthal direction, and phony gore effects. Everyone agreed that the exaggerated, sickening sound effects that blared on the soundtrack whenever the bodily fluid was pumped out of the victims was worth its weight in fool’s gold.” Richard Meyers, For One Week Only: The World of Exploitation Films
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Interviewed for Regional Horror Films, 1958 – 1990, director/co-writer Ed Adlum had this to say:
“It’s interesting that that picture is kind of like a cult thing today. I certainly didn’t start out to make a cult thing. You can’t create camp. That one worked. It was so bad it’s funny. It’s like Plan 9. It’s one of those great, bad picture
s. Shriek of the Mutilated is one of those bad bad pictures. It should be burned. But the Blood Farmers is a monument to ineptitude, and I love to watch it.”
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Choice dialogue:
“You’re just a pushover for pathologists.”
Cast and characters:
Norman Kelley … Doctor Roy Anderson
Tanna Hunter … Jenny Anderson
Bruce Detrick … Don Tucker
Paul Craig Jennings … Creton
Jack Neubeck … Egon
Richard Erickson … Sontag
Cynthia Fleming … Queen Onhorrid
Tom Edwards
Lucy Grant … Mrs Greenman
Frank Iovieno … Police Chief Frank Spano
Warren D’Oyly-Rhind … Ogmar
Radio ad:
Trailer:
Invasion of the Blood Farmers – free on YouTube:
