Blood Thirst is a 1965 horror film about an American detective investigating a series of murders linked to a Manila nightclub. The killings are carried out by a monster so that a beautiful blonde woman, who is actually hundreds of years old, can use the victim’s blood to stay forever young. Also known as Blood Seekers and The Horror from Beyond.
The movie was directed by Newt [aka Newton] Arnold (Hands of a Stranger) from a screenplay by N.I.P. Dennis (his only listed credit).
Plot [contains spoilers]:
New York City detective Adam Rourke has gone to Manila to help his friend, Inspector Miguel Ramos, investigate the murders of several young women. All have had their blood drained through identical 10 cm incisions on the inside of each forearm. Miguel suspects a homicidal maniac but has heard rumours that a “strange blood cult” is to blame. Adam goes undercover as a writer seeking the story of the latest victim, Maria Cortez, a hostess at the Barrio Club, owned by Mr Calderone.
Adam goes to the club. He brushes off a pretty hostess, Theresa, and instead watches beautiful blonde Serena dance. He and Calderone discuss the article about Maria.
That night, Adam kills a man who attacked him in his hotel room. Afterwards, he is stopped by a seemingly homeless man who in reality is Herrera, an undercover officer with a prosthetic leg who is Adam’s police liaison.
Sylvia, Miguel’s adopted sister, drives Adam into the countryside and dumps him there, accusing him of not taking the case seriously. As he walks to his hotel, he sees a drunken Theresa arrive home. Out of sight of Adam, she is jumped by a humanoid monster. At the club, Serena suddenly clutches her face and runs off the dance floor. She looks older than she had earlier.
Miguel contacts the police in Lima and learns that Calderone and Serena fled Peru two years earlier, after Calderone was implicated in the murders of several young women. Elena, another club hostess, is then kidnapped by the monster.
Adam is unaware of the monster but suspects that Calderone is the murderer. Serena disingenuously tells Adam that Calderone “is a maniac and he’ll kill to protect his secret.” She introduces Adam to Louisa, a new hostess. Louisa is actually Sylvia. She has fallen in love with Adam and wants to help him. She points out that Serena’s wrist-to-elbow armbands are of Aztec or Inca origin.
The monster kills Elena in a secret chamber beneath the Barrio Club. He moves a bowl of her blood in front of Sylvia, who is seated in a chair with a brightly lit box behind her head. She throws powder into the blood. Smoke rises and when it clears Serena is young again.
Serena asks Adam to her home and tells him lies. She says that Calderone killed his wife and made it look like suicide, and that he forces her to dance at the club. Adam passes out from the drugged drink that Serena gave him. As this happens, Sylvia discovers the secret chamber and is grabbed by the monster.
Adam awakens tied to a tree. Serena explains that she was chosen “by her people” to become one of the “golden goddesses” but she must have the blood of other women to maintain her eternal beauty. The blood is mixed with the powdered roots of ancient trees and the “electrical energy of the sun harnessed in a small container.” Serena removes an armband to show Adam her scar, identical to those of the murder victims. But just as she is about to stab Adam, she begins ageing rapidly and runs for the chamber.
Adam is freed by one of Calderone’s men and calls the police. Adam takes Miguel to the chamber, where the monster is about to kill Sylvia. Instead, he attacks the men, inadvertently moving the bowl of Elena’s blood in front of Serena. Miguel shoots the monster four times to little effect. The monster begins strangling both men, but Herrera hits him with his artificial leg. The monster falls and strikes his head. Adam and Miguel save Sylvia.
Serena throws powder into Elena’s blood. When the smoke clears, she is a very old woman. She throws another handful and after the smoke dissipates only her clothing and armbands remain. The monster dies, revealing himself to be Calderone.
The case solved, Adam kisses Sylvia goodbye and heads home to New York.
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Cast and characters:
Katherine Heryk … Sylvia Ramos’ Yvonne Nielson … Serena; Vic Diaz … Miguel – The Thirsty Dead; Daughters of Satan; The Blood Drinkers; John Soberano … Soberano; Bruno Punzalan … Moreno; Judy Dennis … Theresa; Max Roio … Max
Filming locations:
Philippines
Countries of origin:
Philippines
United States
Release:
Blood Thirst was belatedly released in the USA in 1971 by Chevron Pictures (and is often mistakenly credited as a 1971 production whe it was clearly made in the mid-60s) on a double-feature with British vampire film Bloodsuckers (aka Incense for the Damned). The US poster for the films carries a warning which reads “Notice: We are not responsible for your nightmares when you see this blood-curdling gruesome twosome!” Free “vampire rings,” were given to movie patrons.
Film Facts:
Director Newt Arnold went on to be assistant director on many big-budget Hollywood movies. As regards genre entries, he worked on The Guardian and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2.
Trailer:
Free online on YouTube [1080p and 1080p Premium HD:
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