Monster from the Ocean Floor (Film Masters) Blu-ray Review + 1080p Screenshots + Packaging Shots

Roger Corman's first film as a producer, Monster from the Ocean Floor, comes to Blu-ray, from Film Masters, with a brand new 4K restoration and a lot of worthwhile special features.

Studio: Film Masters

Release Date: May 21st, 1954 (theatrical) / February 4th, 2025 (blu-ray)
Run Time: 1 hour 4 minutes 19 seconds
Region Code: FREE

Disc Count: 1 BD-50
Picture: 1080p (1.37:1 aspect ratio)
Sound: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, English Dolby Digital 2.0
Subtitles: English SDH (main feature), English (commentary track)
Slipcover: No
Digital Copy: No
Starring: Anne Kimbell, Stuart Wade, Dick Pinner, Wyott Ordung, Inez Palange, Jonathan Haze
Written by Bill Danch
Directed by Wyott Ordung
Rating: Not Rated

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Poster

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What's It About?

Up from the forbidden depths comes a Tidal Wave Of Terror! If that sounds like an ad for a Roger Corman production, it is! Julie, an American on vacation in Mexico, spots a giant, one-eyed amoeba rising from the ocean, but when she tries to tell the authorities, no one believes her. She finally teams up with a marine biologist in an attempt to destroy it.

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Video/Audio

Presented in the film's original aspect ratio of 1.37:1, and sourced from the original 35mm negative and restored in 4K, MONSTER FROM THE OCEAN FLOOR looks really good. Film grain is present but never all that heavy, except for the underwater scenes. In fact, the underwater stuff is the worst this transfer has to offer. It's not terrible but it is certainly rough. Still, I think this transfer is very fitting for the film.

The included DTS Master Audio track is great especially the awful ADR work. Doesn't get much better than this.

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Extras/Packaging

Commentary for Monster from the Ocean Floor (found in the "Set Up" menu) This is a very typical commentary track from Tom Weaver. If you have ever listened to any of his tracks, then you know what you are getting. This is a scripted, many times dry track that throws a ton of information at you in rapid succession. He includes some bits from a phone interview with producer Roger Corman along with some voice actors read quotes from various cast and crew members. This is a must listen for anyone who wants to know more about the film and the industry at the time.

Bob Baker: From Monsters to Marionettes documentary by Ballyhoo Motion Pictures (14m 1s, HD, 2.00:1) Justin Humphreys and gives us a history of monster maker Bob Baker. Of course, Ballyhoo brings history to fans in an interesting form. I didn't know very much about Baker so I was learning a ton.

Roger Corman: Becoming a B-Movie Maker interview (8m 42s, HD, 1.85:1) Corman sits down to talk about his early career. He covers MONSTER FROM THE OCEAN FLOOR in the first 30 seconds and then moves on to the films that follow. If you know anything about Corman and his films, then this is going to be very familiar territory.

Original Theatrical Trailer (1m 54s, HD, 1.37:1) This trailer is awesome but man is it dark. I watched this right after watching the film and this trailer looks awful. Still, I love it nonetheless.

re-Cut 2024 Trailer (1m 54s, HD, 1.37:1) I love that Film Masters remakes a film's original theatrical trailer with the newly restored footage from the main feature.

Gallery of stills (2m 12, HD) This gallery autoplays in silence or you can use the remote to advance the stills at your own leisure.

The artwork used for this release is the film's original poster art. Inside the case you will find 14-page, full color booklet with an essay by Tom Weaver, stills from the film, and some advertisements. The disc features the same art as the cover.

The film is split up into 8 chapters and there is a chapter selection menu on the main menu.

The disc is REGION FREE

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Overall

MONSTER FROM THE OCEAN FLOOR is a very dull film. We get a lot of talking and very little monster. The monster that we do end up getting is pretty cool but the story that surrounds it is lackluster. This was the first film Corman produced and you can tell he was very green here. He definitely learned a lot from this film and would use that knowledge to make much better films later on.

As usual, Film Masters has given us a blu-ray worthy of the film. While the film was lackluster, the blu-ray is not. Picture and audio quality are excellent and the special features are a lot of fun. I learned a ton of information from the commentary track and interviews. Information I hope I can call on in the future. I can not recommend this release enough.

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Extras/Menus