Beast Of Hollow Mountain/The Neanderthal Man (Blu-ray/DVD Combo Review)
Rated: UR/Region A/1080p/Number of Discs 2
Available from Scream Factory
Beast Of Hollow Mountain (1956)
Directed By: Edward Nassour and Ismael Rodríguez
Starring: Guy Madison, Patricia Medina, Carlos Rivas
Rated: UR/Region A/2:35/1080p
An American cowboy living in Mexico discovers his cattle is being eaten by a giant prehistoric dinosaur. Here in this 1956 cult movie we get a combo of western and horror. We also get to see it in color and in high definition in this combo pack!
If there was ever a movie that could have been saved by much more T-Rex it would be this film here. We have much more of a western than we do a horror movie as we follow people on the path to running into the world’s last dinosaur. Things get spooky, but we are about an hour in before we first see our T-Rex in his claymation glory and by that time it might be a little too late to save this one. That is unless you just love westerns. I do, if they are more like Django and less like what we get here.
While I still give this movie credit for being what it was during the time period, I just can’t really back this one as a good film. It might make for a good late night watch, but that could be it. The film looks its age, but it is still cleaned up nice enough and the details are better than you might expect. The color really helps. I’m not saying there isn’t any fun to be had watching a T-red go after cowboys, I just wish it had been more exciting.
The Neanderthal Man (1953)
Directed By: Ewald André Dupont
Starring: Robert Shayne, Joyce Terry, Richard Crane
Rated: UR/Region A/4:3/1080p
A mad scientist transforms himself into a prehistoric caveman, his cat into a saber-toothed tiger, and his housekeeper into an ape person, which does not enhance his popularity. The HD is here for this one, but it comes to us in black and white in the old school 4:3 format!
This right here is kind of a near little creature feature that doesn’t blow your mind, but you won’t be bored either. It isn’t anything like the wolf man, still for what it is it isn’t really that bad. I think the movie has the typical pace of a film from 1953 and if you can deal with that or not is all a matter of your own personal taste. While color is nice for a film, I think this one of those situations where the black and white actually helps with the vibe of the film.
The film looks strong and good for 1953. The transfer could appear a bit soft in spots, but what can you do? I think the movie looks strong and clear enough that nobody will be up in arms with what you get here. You have to think they did what they could do and the results aren’t perfect, but they aren’t bad. The movie isn’t half bad either. I think you will find it a nice creepy little watch, that again is perfect for late night viewing.
