1970's "Blood Mania" was, like its companion feature "Point of Terror," a showcase for writer-producer-star beefcake Peter Carpenter, who always made sure that he'd score with every beautiful babe within reach (sort of a poor man's Paul Naschy, minus talent). Despite the titles and ad campaigns, neither film remotely qualifies as horror, although those who consider each to be 'horrible' shall receive no argument from me. This film seems to have the more notorious reputation, but features far more nudity than the other feature, particularly from the stunning Maria de Aragon, who effortlessly steals it as Victoria Waterman, dutiful daughter of a wealthy invalid (Eric Sinclair) whose will leaves all his money to her younger sister Gail (Apr 1972 Playboy Playmate Vicky Peters), despite the fact she'd been away for seven years. A major plot point easily missed is that the reason she left was because she'd had an incestuous affair with Daddy, eerily depicted in the nonsensical dreamlike sequence behind the opening credits. There is of course Daddy's doctor, Craig Cooper (Peter Carpenter), being blackmailed by a scumbag who won't even be put off by the naked advances of the buxom Mrs. Cooper (Oct 1967 Playboy Playmate Reagan Wilson), who is abruptly dropped after being raped. Little is made of Gail's older lesbian companion, played by Jacqueline Dalya, busy 1940s actress and veteran of "Charlie Chan in Rio" (Joel Marston, of the 1949 Charlie Chan finale "The Sky Dragon," appears in "Point of Terror"). Both Maria and Jacqueline had worked with Carpenter before in "Love Me Like I Do," which, unlike the others, was not misleadingly advertised as a horror film. The lighthearted nurse is played by Leslie Simms, who received the bulk of the new footage shot for the TV version of this film, 24 excruciating minutes altogether. In for two brief scenes is Alex Rocco, soon to graduate from low budget affairs like "Blood Mania" and "Stanley" to Coppola's "The Godfather" (Eric Allison is actually Eric Sinclair, from Roger Corman's "War of the Satellites," using this pseudonym on three very low budget occasions). The nudity is frequent and gratuitous, but frankly that's all this feature has to offer; still, no one can dim the luster of the luscious Maria de Aragon (who again worked for director Robert Vincent O'Neil on 1973's "Wonder Women"). "Blood Mania" debuted on Pittsburgh's Chiller Theater on Nov 27 1976, paired with second feature "Gargoyles" (1972), appearing as a solo feature three additional times through 1982 (like the rest of the Crown International TV package, "Point of Terror" followed closely, in Feb 1977).
Review of Blood Mania
