Bug [Blu-ray]

Director: Jeannot Szwarc Jeannot Szwarc

Overview

The last gasp of gimmick-horror auteur William Castle (who produced and co-wrote), Bug is an entertaining throwback to the mutant-monsters-amok theme of the 1950s (themselves throwbacks of another kind) that he found so profitable. The film stars Bradford Dillman as a kinder, gentler mad scientist who discovers the presence of a bizarre strain of mutant cockroach emerging from the earth after a severe earthquake. Although larger than the average beetle, the most disturbing aspect of the critters is their innate ability to ignite fires with their bodies -- a talent dramatically revealed after a few of the bugs crawl up a vehicle's tailpipe. When Dillman discovers that the creatures possess a group intelligence, he attempts to train and breed them -- which proves to be less than a good idea. In Castle's heyday, this would have proven an ideal theme for one of his patented gimmicks (perhaps having little rubber bugs drop from the ceiling onto unsuspecting patrons at appropriate moments), but director Jeannot Szwarc (who later helmed Jaws 2 and the hankie-fest Somewhere in Time) plays the story straight, with remarkably chilling results. This is also remarkably violent for a mainstream PG film (particularly in the scene where Bad Seed Patty McCormack's hair is ignited by the six-legged arsonists) with a downbeat ending typical of many horror movies of the '70s.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/10/2020
UPC:	0826663207491
Original Release:	1975
Rating:	PG
Source:	Shout Factory
Region Code:	A
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	1:39:00
Sales rank:	17,704

Special Features

New audio commentary with film historian Troy Howarth; Theatrical trailer; 1080p High Definition; SDH subtitles

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Bradford Dillman	Prof. James Parmiter
Joanna Miles	Carrie Parmiter
Richard Gilliland	Gerald Metbaum
Jamie Smith Jackson	Norma Tacker
Alan Fudge	Mark Ross
Jesse Vint	Tom Tacker
Patty McCormack	Sylvia Ross,Sylvia Ross
Brenden Dilon	Charlie
Frederic Downs	Henry Tacker,Henry Tacker
James Greene	Rev. Kern
Jim Poyner	Kenny Tacker
Sam Jarvis	Taxi Driver
Bard Stevens	Guard
William Castle	Actor
Brendan Dillon	Charlie

Technical Credits

William Castle	Producer
Jeannot Szwarc	Director