Beast from Haunted Cave/Ski Troop Attack – Film Masters (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Dates: USA, 1959 (Beast from Haunted Cave), USA, 1960 (Ski Troop Attack)
Directors: Monte Hellman (Beast from Haunted Cave), Roger Corman (Ski Troop Attack)
Cast: Michael Forest, Sheila Noonan, Frank Wolff, Wally Campo, Richard Sinatra, Linné Ahlstrand, Chris Robinson, Kay Jennings (Beast from Haunted Cave), Michael Forest, Frank Wolff, Wally Campo, Richard Sinatra, James Hoffman, Chan Biggs, Tom Staley, David Mackie, Skeeter Bayer, Wayne Lasher, Sheila Noonan (Ski Troop Attack)

Release Date: October 24th, 2023
Approximate Running Times: 65 Minutes 27 Seconds (Beast from Haunted Cave - Theatrical Version), 71 Minutes 56 Seconds (Beast from Haunted Cave - TV Version), 73 Minutes 43 Seconds (Ski Troop Attack)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Beast from Haunted Cave - Theatrical Version), 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Beast from Haunted Cave - TV Version, Ski Troop Attack)
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English (Both Films), Dolby Digtal Mono English (Both Films)
Subtitles: English SDH (Both Films)
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $29.95

"Get ready for a crash course in Corman! Acclaimed as the king of low budget movies, Roger Corman produced dozens of films that were both hilarious and thrilling, such as Beast from Haunted Cave (1959). Directed by cult favorite Monte Hellman (Two-Lane Blacktop, Cockfighter), Beast From Haunted Cave is a suspenseful tale of criminals being terrorized by a bloodsucking spider-like thing. Special Bonus: Ski Troop Attack (1960). Upon wrapping Beast from Haunted Cave, Corman directed this World War II drama using the same South Dakota location and much of the same cast and crew. For Corman, economy was key!" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5 (Beast from Haunted Cave - Theatrical Version), 3.5/5 (Beast from Haunted Cave - TV Version, Ski Troop Attack)

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "Newly restored 4K scan from 35mm archival materials".

Beast from Haunted Cave comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 41.3 GB

Feature: 18.7 GB (Theatrical Version), 19.4 GB (TV Version)

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "Restored HD print".

Ski Troop Attack comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 26.2 GB

Feature: 21.1 GB

The source used for Beast from Haunted Cave in the theatrical version is in great shape; any source-related debris is very minor. Image clarity, contrast, and black levels are strong; compression is very good; and there does not appear to be any egregious grain management.

The sources used for Beast from Haunted Cave, the TV version, and Ski Troop Attack are also in very good shape; any source imperfections are minor and never intrusive. And though these two film transfers are comparable in many areas to the source used for Beast from Haunted Cave, the theatrical version There are moments where contrast and black levels are not as strong. Also, there does not appear to be any egregious grain management.

Audio: 3.75/5 (DTS-HD Mono English - Beast from Haunted Cave Theatrical Version, DTS-HD Mono English - Beast from Haunted Cave TV Version, DTS-HD Mono English - Ski Troop Attack)

Beast from Haunted Cave and Ski Troop Attack each come with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in English and a Dolby Digital mono mix in English. For this review, I only listened to the DTS-HD mono tracks. Both films come with removable English SDH. Both films come with removable English SDH. Considering the low budgets of these two films, it is not surprising that range-wise, they are very limited. That said, they always sound clean, clear, and balanced.

Extras:

Extras for Beast from Haunted Cave include a behind the scenes stills gallery (51 images), original theatrical trailer (1 minute 38 seconds, DTS-HD mono English, no subtitles), 2023 recut trailer (1 minute 38 seconds, DTS-HD mono English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with Tom Weaver for the theatrical version with optional English SDH, and the extended TV version (71 minutes 56 seconds, 1.33:1 aspect ratio, DTS-HD mono English, Dolby Digital mono English with removable English SDH).

Extras for Ski Troop Attack include 2023 recut trailer (1 minute 56 seconds, DTS-HD mono English, no subtitles), a featurette titled Hollywood Insider: The Filmgroup Story Part One (16 minutes 22 seconds, DTS-HD stereo English with removable English SDH), and an audio commentary with C. Courtney Joyner and Howard S. Berger with optional English SDH.

Other extras include a 24-page booklet with Bantering With a Beast: Chris Robinson on Building and Being the Haunted Cave Creature as told by Tom Weaver and an essay titled Corman Goes to War written by C. Courtney Joyner.

Summary:

Beast from Haunted Cave was shot back to back with a ski troop attack. Both films were shot in Deadwood, South Dakota. Also, besides locations, these two films share most of the same cast, and both films were written by Charles B. Griffith (The Little Shop of Horrors).

Beast from Haunted Cave: A giant spider-like monster attacks thieves hiding in a remote cabin in the woods.

Directed by Monte Hellman, whose other notable films are Two-Lane Blacktop and Cockfighter.

Though the title Beast from Haunted Cave sets this film up to be a horror film, the result is a mishmash of genres that mixes crime and horror film genres. With the bulk of the narrative falling into the former. And the only connection to the latter is a few scenes with a giant spider-like monster.

The opening setup does a good job laying the foundation for what follows. And though things are slow-moving in this initial setup, which introduces characters, things pick up considerably once the giant spider-like monster arrives on screen. That said, the two most memorable moments are a heist sequence and a finale in the giant spider-like monster’s lair, where it feeds off of victims trapped in its web.

When it comes to the performances, they are surprisingly very good. The standout performance was Frank Wolff (Once Upon a Time in the West) in the role of Alexander Ward, in the role of the ringleader of the gold heist. Another actor of note is Chris Robinson (The Intruder) in the role of the spider-like monster.

From a production standpoint, despite there being many areas where Beast from Haunted Cave has a limited budget, the result is a film that is actually very effective. And though the practical special effects have dated, the way in which the film obscures the monster for most of its screentime is its greatest strength. Ultimately, Beast from Haunted Cave is a well-made low-budget crime/horror hybrid film that fans of B cinema should thoroughly enjoy.

Ski Troop Attack: American soldiers behind enemy lines in Germany were given the task of blowing up a railroad bridge.

Directed by Roger Corman, a maverick filmmaker who would direct 53 films in just under two decades. Notably, a series of films based on the writings of Edgar Allen Poe He is also a prolific producer who, over the years, has formed multiple film distribution companies.

Set in World War II, Ski Troop Attack is a very low-budget film that does a fantastic job exploiting the resources it has for all their worth. And nowhere is this clearer than how Roger Corman takes a minimalist narrative and makes it feel more expansive than it actually is. Another strength of the narrative is its ability to build momentum by maintaining tension.

Though the actors are not given that much to do since most of their screen time is spent traveling through snow-covered landscapes, The performances are more than adequate for the story at hand. Even director Roger Corman makes an appearance as a German soldier.

Ski Troop Attack is never going to be on anyone's list of the best films directed by Roger Corman. That is not to say that it is a bad film; it is actually a film that often far exceeds the sum of its parts. Notably, when it comes to the scene where the American soldiers plant explosives to blow up the railroad bridge, Ultimately, Ski Troop Attack is a low-budget war film that at times feels more epic than its resources.

Beast from Haunted Cave and Ski Troop Attack get a first-rate release from Film Masters that gives both films strong audio/video presentations and informative extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer