They keep putting us in the same trivial, bad roles!
Bloodlust! (1961) brings forth Dr. Balleau, perhaps damaged by “the war,” unspecified, who has a passion for hunting. To this end, he has bought an island and populated it with various wild animals, the taxidermied specimens of which adorn the walls of his spacious homes.
And so do some rather more exotic critters, if you know where to look.
Four young people, two lasses and their courters, go out on a boat tour, and the boat’s captain drinks himself into oblivion. They take a dinghy to an island they sight and wander around a bit, until one of them falls into a traditional man-trap. Soon enough, Dr. Balleau shows up, and they are conveyed to his palatial estate.
One thing leads to another, and the good bad Doctor decides he has uses for all of his new guests: the ladies, the usual, while the gentlemen are to be … hunted. The young people have put their spare time to good use, and discovered the lab where he preserves his exotic prey.
It’s not a pretty sight. But they get a hint as to what’s coming.
Well, mediocre acting and a distinctly vicious temperament lead to the usual dashing about in the dark, double crossing, and … well … it should be exciting.
It’s boring.
Repetitious and stilted dialog, marching stereotypes, and a generally sleazy atmosphere offset the psychological flaws and scenery chewing on offer, and in the end it feels a bit like a waste of time.
But your mileage may vary.
