Humanoids from the Deep (Roger Corman Cult Classics) – DVD Review

The Film:

The Roger Corman-produced Monster, or as it’s better known – Humanoids from the Deep, is an exploitation version of one scene from Creature from the Black Lagoon. In that 1954 classic, Julia Adams dives off of the boat and goes for a swim. Underneath her, swimming along, is a creature. This sensual scene, with both swimming along with each other, has a classy subtext of sexual curiosity. Corman, in his B-movie genius, took this premise and dropped the classy and upped the raunchy. They’re not human. But they hunt human women. Not for killing…for mating.

It’s a super-charged effort by Corman’s mind, who inserted more violence and nudity, much to the (seemingly) chagrin of director Barbara Peters (who is curiously not on the DVD in the extras, and no, we’re not related). She had a softer, subtle take on the script, which felt more like a semi-Creature sequel/remake, yet maybe Corman wasn’t the bullying producer she thought, as her version really didn’t cater to the crowd that was going to buy a ticket. Those drive-in movie-goers pay their dollar for three simple things: boobs, blood, and monsters. It’s always a matter of taste, but Humanoids from the Deep delivers on all three.

The film is now mostly noted for the awesome score by James Horner (Titanic and Braveheart amongst many, many others) and the creature design by the secluded Rob Bottin. Boy, are both awesome and carry the picture, but outside of the high levels of the boobs and blood quotient, the film focuses on the blue collar fishers of Noyo and the underlining racial tensions of the workforce between Native Americans and Whites. It gives the film an anchor, something for us to buy into, without making it a hollow experience of boobs and blood.

They really don’t make them like they used to anymore, as really evident by how much is packed into so little (82 minute running time). Shout! Factory releases the film for the first time in a complete and uncut version, making it even sweeter catching up with a film, they truly don’t know how to make anymore.

The DVD:

Audio/Video: While sharpness waivers from time to time, the overall picture is quite nice. Colors are the strong point, even on SD. The lone audio track is what you would expect from a stereo track for a 1980 film. No complaints and continued solid work by Shout! Factory.

The Making-of Humanoids from the Deep: Here’s a solid 23 minute featurette, running from the origin to the FX to the score and more, the one glaring aspect is the lack of any input by Rob Bottin or Barbara Peters. Regardless, it’s a thorough look at the film that fans will dig.

Never-Before-Seen Deleted Scenes: Seven minutes of some neat and some forgettable scenes, but worth a look for the novelty of their rarity.

Leonard Maltin interviews Roger Corman: I could listen to these two for hours, but sadly it’s too short (3 and a half minutes) and offers not too much info, especially after the making-of doc.

Rounding out the extras are more Trailers for upcoming (well, already released) Shout! Factory Roger Corman films and a nice booklet.

Conclusion: Monster movie bliss, thanks to Shout! Factory.

The Film: Rating:

The DVD: Rating:

Jon Peters

I love film. That is all.

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