Blu ray review: Sci-Fi Chillers collection

Kino Lorber has released a two-disc, three-film set of science fiction dramas of the 1950s and 1960s.  This period was very strong for outrageous science fiction films, mostly indie productions that found release support from major studios.  The three films in this set are among the most far-fetched and in all the best ways.

The Unknown Terror (1957) has a team of explorers investigating a missing scientist by searching a cave where monsters lurk.  These monsters are covered by a fungus that manifests as a lathery, foamy substance.  The dwell in what is known as The Cave of the Dead.  There are some veiled religious themes beneath the surface of this one, while it succeeds as a slow moving but compelling sci-fi drama with an exciting conclusion. 

Colossus of New York (1958) is a Paramount release in which a brilliant man is killed and his brain surgeon father comes up with an idea to retain his son’s potential gifts to humanity.  He transfers his brain into a large cyborg.  Conducting experiments in private, the creature eventually loses much of its human qualities and transforms into a monster.  The cast for this one is impressive, with Ross Martin, Mala Powers, Otto Krueger, and Robert Horton.  This may be the best film in the set, with a lot of creative ideas. 

Destination Inner Space (1966) has a different style, being of the mid 60s rather than the late 50s.  The culture had changed.  And, this is the only film in the set that is in color.  Pretty cool idea, though, when scientists working in an underwater laboratory encounter a flying saucer.  Yep, a flying saucer under the ocean.  There’s even the threat of an alien invasion.  Sheree North had been doing mostly stage and TV, this being her first film in 8 years.  She is now best known for playing Kramer’s mom on a few episodes of Seinfeld toward the end of her career although she had worked in movies with everyone from John Wayne and Charles Bronson to Elvis Presley and Jerry Lewis. Another Seinfeld connection: James Hong also appears. The creature in this one is truly inspired!

The films in this set are all 4K scans of high definition masters and contain the following special features:

Audio Commentary for THE UNKNOWN TERROR by Film Historian Stephen Bissette

Audio Commentary for THE COLOSSUS OF NEW YORK by Film Historians Tom Weaver, Larry Blamire and Ron Adams

Audio Commentary for DESTINATION INNER SPACE by Film Historians David Del Valle and Stan Shaffer

Sidebar on THE COLOSSUS OF  YORK: On-Camera with Tim Lucas and Steven Bissette

Sidebar on DESTINATION INNER SPACE: On-Camera with Tim Lucas and Steven Bissette

THE COLOSSUS OF NEW YORK - Theatrical Trailer

The set can be ordered at this link:  SCI-FI CHILLERS