Customer Reviews

Leech Woman [VHS]

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

With a title like this, what would you expect? Please don't take it too seriously. It's just a real good "B" melodrama typical of the l950's. A rejuvenation secret prompts a desperate quest into darkest Africa to find a bizarre youth serum and something else...The realities and hurt of a bitter love story and the perils and unfairness of aging are presented in an entertaining few minutes. The old African lady, played to the hilt by Estelle Hemley,declares, "You are the one in my dreams of blood." And she delivers under the most horrendous circumstances. Take it for the fun of it.The star, Colleen Gray, is exceptionally good in a most unattractive and beautiful role, and this fine veteran actress delivers it with sympathy and great energy. No small feat.All women should cheer; there is substance here.

Instead of remaking good movies, Hollywood really needs to take B-movies that are filled with great ideas but fail to live up to their potential because of time and money. There's just a goldmine of movies out there waiting to be tapped, and THE LEECH WOMAN is one such movie. Think about it. With the advent of the usually anorexic supermodels, this movie seems to apply to our society now more than ever. LEECH WOMAN could've made for some dead-on social commentary, and to a certain extent, it does. All of the characters, however, become completely unlikable, taking away from its impact. Instead, the message comes out as "Everyone is a scumbag or psychotic." The relationships between the two couples (doctor and Leech Woman, their layer and his girlfriend) aren't fleshed out enough, so you don't really see how the two women are driven to violence. I mean, it's easy enough when you see how they are treated to sympathize with them, but their reactions are too extreme and absolutely unnecessary, which makes them look psychotic. And of course, all of the men in this movie are scumbags. The movie does hit the right beats on occasion, and it certainly is memorable (e.g., the pineal ring). In short, a great premise turned into a depressing movie due to missed potential and likable characters made so unlikable then given pretty terrible fates.

A good 50's thriller, a great movie for those who love old thrillers or "B" movies. The effects aren't very good, but hey, it's the 50's! The acting isn't half bad.

This is the type of movie that was never meant to be big, unless by big, you mean big dud. Though I must confess, my friends and I absolutely love to make fun of this video by making commentaries through-out the movie. Don't watch the movie with seriousness. It's one of those movies that is made to make fun of. I give my own commentaries to the movie five stars. Perhaps you can do better...

those of us who grew up watching these grade-b horror flicks from the 50's can appreciate this one for its uniqueness, and really not so bad acting. it does have some social commentary, and the exotic locale--whether stock footage or not--lends a great deal of creepiness to the whole experience. no, folks, it aint gone with the wind, but for a grade-b horror flick from 1960, it is one of the very best----ever!!!

Yes, I am happy with the quick shipment of the video. It is in great condition and I would order additional videos or DVD's from this vendor again. Thank you.

Like many of the 50's horror sci-fi films this one is "done in" by silliness and cheap production. The premise is interesting but, the results are unintentionally funny at times. I read a review on this film from someone who stated that Hollywood needs to remake pictures like this instead of really good films. I think he or she has a valid point. These films would be welcome to remakes with so much room for improvement. This film is one of five on volume 2 of The Ultimate Sci-Fi classic collection. The DVD transfer is very good. I would not hesitate to buy this set as the first set is OOP already and fetching a hefty sum on the secondary market.

The MST3K episode was great, as we all know, but the movie itself is actually (and I don't say this often) not too bad. It does have some good messages, but doesn't make full use of them.

The idea that society finds middle aged women to be hateful and deserving of death because of their lack of beauty is a good observation, but the movie also seems to support this idea by making the titular Leech Woman a villain, along with Mala, who also attains youth through killing. Old women are evil, as Mike says at the very end.

I thought that Coleen Gray was quite good in her middle-aged role, she brought a real heaviness to her role. Rare in an MST3K movie, I actually enjoy her performance up till the point when she gets young. After that she loses something. She becomes a different character, just as Mala does, somebody less compelling. I didn't like Ms. Gray at all in Phantom Planet, for the same reason. She doesn't make a good temptress. Perhaps she tries too hard. But she seems very natural in her role here as a very lonely and self-loathing middle aged wife whose husband never loved her.

This highly under-rated film is one of my old favorites, an item which turned up on TV horror host shows in the 1970s. It's interesting for several reasons:

"The Leech Woman" was absolutely the last of the horror films of old Universal or Universal-International. After a string of popular '50s films like "Creature From the Black Lagoon," "This Island Earth" and many others, the sci-fi/horror cycle was perceived as over by 1960.

The film features an outstanding performance by Colleen Gray, who was an ingenue in the 1940s and continued acting into the 1970s. Ms. Gray was expert and playing either sympathetic or bitchy types and she combines both aspects in her role here. Another 1940s veteran, Phillip Terry (Joan Crawford's ex), plays her rotten, heartless hubby. Few actors can pull this off without being either scary or laughable. Gray and Terry's hilariously mean-spirited scenes together are clearly played for tongue in cheek fun and both skillfully avoid overdoing it.

Estelle Hemsley as "Old Malla", Gloria Talbott as the nurse and Grant Williams as the lawyer each turn in excellent performances as well. There are other pleasures, including scenes filmed in a gorgeous and rare 1958/59 Chrysler convertible.

High point: Artificially aged June must make herself young and gorgeous again for her big date with her lawyer boyfriend. Needing a pineal donor, she puts on her best furs & jewels, then goes slumming in search of a gigolo. She finds one (Arthur Batanides) and goes for a drive with him, knowing he'll try to rob her or worse. Their dialogue, as he ogles her expensive accessories and prepares to kill her, is absolutely priceless.

The charcoal cinematography is clear and rich, the music is good and the plot, though grim, is interesting and original. The special effects makeup for "aging" June are quite good and when I first saw the film as a child I gasped at the big reveal of just how much June had aged...just as the producers intended.

Highly recommended for lovers of offbeat vintage sci fi and horror; or lovers of attractive hairstyles, clothes and cars. Two thumbs up.

Great movie if you like the genre. Unique concept & plot line. I'd like to see someone remake it.