Night Creatures [Blu-ray]

Director: Peter Graham Scott Peter Graham Scott

Overview

Royal investigators are sent from London to probe into the mysterious events in a small town. They travel into an eerie fog covered swamp amidst rumors of phantoms and piracy. Dr. Blyss (Peter Cushing) is a former pirate turned village vicar who preaches by day and leads a plunderous pirate smuggling operation at night. The official investigation is hampered when the men experience disturbing hallucinations in the seemingly haunted swamp.

Product Details

Release Date:	04/19/2022
UPC:	0826663223156
Original Release:	1962
Rating:	NR
Source:	Shout Factory
Language:	English
Time:	1:22:00
Sales rank:	14,814

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Peter Cushing	Dr. Blyss
Yvonne Romain	Imogene
Oliver Reed	Harry Crabtree
Michael Ripper	Jeremiah Mipps
Patrick Allen	Capt. Collier
Martin Benson	Rash
David Lodge	Bosun
Derek Francis	Squire
Daphne Anderson	Mrs. Rash
Milton Reid	Mulatto
Jack MacGowran	Frightened Man
Peter Halliday	Jack Pott
Terry Scully	Dick Tate
Sydney Bromley	Tom Ketch
Rupert Osborn	Gerry
Gordon Rollings	Wurzel
Bob Head	Peg-Leg
Colin Douglas	Pirate Bosun
Don Banks	Composer

Technical Credits

Anthony Hinds

Barbara S. Harper

John Elder

Les Bowie	Special Effects
Peter Graham Scott	Director
John Temple-Smith	Producer
Anthony Hinds	Screenwriter
Barbara S. Harper	Screenwriter
John Elder	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

Night Creatures is one of the best Hammer Films productions. It also happens to be one of the most unique. The imaginative script mixes historical adventure, mystery and some light horror elements to impressive, genre-busting effect. Characterizations are colorful throughout and there is also a political angle to the story, with the plot allowing the film to critique how the heavy rule of royalty can work against instead of for a community. Peter Cushing delivers what some fans consider his best performance as Dr. Blyss, offsetting the character's wily and mysterious bent with a warm-hearted kindness and wisdom that allows Cushing to show off his rarely tapped ability to charm an audience. There is also ace support from Oliver Reed as a brave young townsman and Michael Ripper, who has a blast playing the town's dryly humorous coffin-maker. Most importantly, Night Creatures is directed with considerable flair by Peter Graham Scott. He balances the complex needs of the narrative with skill while giving it all an impressive sense of forward momentum. In terms of thrills, he handles the action scenes with visceral flair and also brings much atmosphere to the film's macabre elements: some of the film's best moments are the scenes with the ghostly "horsemen" riding through the marsh in the dead of night. All in all, Night Creatures is a grand, old-fashioned adventure film and a must for anyone interested in Hammer's classic productions.