The Thirsty Dead (1974)

User Rating:

2.9/10   

Director:

Terry Becker

Writers:

Terry Becker (story)
Charles Dennis (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

6 September 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Horror | Action

Tagline:

They need a special liquid to stay young. It is red, thick and warm!

Plot:

Beautiful young girls are kidnapped off the streets of Manila by a death cult that needs their blood to remain immortal. |

Plot Keywords:

Jeep | Helicopter | Human Sacrifice | Chosen One | Independent Film

Cast

Jennifer Billingsley	...	Laura
Judith McConnell	...	Claire
John Considine	...	Baru
Tani Guthrie	...	Ranu
Fredricka Meyers	...	Ann
Chiqui da Rosa	...	Bonnie
Mary Walters	...	Eva
Elena Sampson	...	Hala
Vic Diaz	...	Police lieutenant
Rod Navarro	...	Francisco
Rick Rhorke	...	Sailor

Directed by
Terry Becker

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Terry Becker		story
Charles Dennis		writer
Lou Whitehill		story

Produced by
Wesley E. De Pue	....	producer
Carlos H. Reyes	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Richard LaSalle

Cinematography by
Nonong Rasca

Film Editing by
Anthony DiMarco

Production Design by
Robert Formoso

Makeup Department
Cecille Baun	....	makeup artist
Mely Sioson	....	hair stylist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jose Velasco	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Levy Principe	....	sound mixer

Other crew
Vic Diaz	....	production coordinator

Production Companies

• de & be Productions

Distributors

• International Amusements Corp. (1974) (USA) (theatrical)
• Mitam Productions (????) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• K & C Video (????) (Australia) (VHS)
• Reel Media International (2005) (USA) (all media)
• Something Weird Video (SWV) (2002) (USA) (DVD-R)
• Something Weird Video (SWV) (2002) (USA) (VHS)
• Something Weird Video (SWV) (2003) (USA) (DVD) (special edition)
• St. Clair Vision (2004) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Blood Hunt (video title)
The Blood Cult of Shangri-La

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA | Philippines

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Philippines

Company:

de & be Productions

Quotes:

Baru: Friends? It was understood that you were unknown to each other.
Laura: You make friends quickly when you share a cell!

Is there a story here? Maybe, if you can stop laughing at the clothes....

This is a film about young women being kidnapped from Manila in order to satisfy the blood-drinking requirements of some cult out in the jungle that must drink blood to stay young. Now, that's about the whole story line but most of my time was spent wondering about the clothes and sets. The clothes are rather amazing, except for a small group of men with shaved heads that wear loincloths, all the rest of the cast have these pastel Roman Empire "sword and sandal epic" sort of clothes that look like they may have also been suitable for Star Trek, and John Considine sports a high collar that reminds me of the type of collar that vets use to prevent dogs from licking themselves after surgery. On the women these clothes look fine, on the men, well, these little shorty robes don't quite cut it. The sets are rather interesting too, are all the rocks painted a shade of pastel blue? And the caves that they live in? Seem to be. Anyway, this is a movie with lots of ceremonies and preparations and stupid hand gestures and all kinds of other decorum that one usually associates with women getting their blood sucked out to keep some wacko cult young and pretty. There's also a bunch of old women that are being detained, I'm assuming that they used to be young and pretty before they got most of their blood sucked and they're locked away in cells and not particularly happy with their situation, as is evidenced when they're cut loose finally. This is not a film that ends gracefully either, it just kind of goes on and on long after you think it's finally ending. It's not terrible and definitely has something for someone who watches movies for unintentional entertainment value like myself. 6 out of 10.