TERROR BENEATH THE SEA

Directed by Hajimi Sato
Written by Kohichi Ohtsu
Based on a book by Masami Fukushima
Music by Shunsuke Kikuchi
Cast: Shin-Ichi Chiba, Peggy Neal, Franz Gruber, Gunther Braun, Andrew hughes, Erick Nielson

1966/79 mins/Color/Dolby Digital 2.0
1.85:1 Anamorphic/English/Japan/NTSC Region 1

Review from the Dark Sky Films DVD

While attending a special demonstration of a torpedo tests that went wrong, adventurous reporters Ken (Chiba) and Jenny (Neal) decide to make their own investigation. While they are scuba diving around the place of the event, Jenny is attacked by a strange fishman creature. She manages to take a photo of it but drops her camera. While reporting it to the army, no one believes her except of course Ken.

Like any good reporters would do, they decide to go back to the scene but this time they find secret underwater base. Our heroes are soon captured by a group of fishmen. When they finally wake up, they learn that the facility is controlled by an evil scientist named Dr. Rufus Moore (Nielson) who not surprisingly want to rule the world. Now it's in the hands of our reporters to save themselves and save the world.

Also known as WATER CYBORGS, Dark Sky Films have finally released this obscure and rarely seen campy flick on DVD. Its important to note that this is more complete the the previously released 73-minute U.S. version that was out on VHS years ago from Montery Video, but it is not the complete 90-minute Japanese cut. Directed by Hajime Sato (GOKE BODY SNATCHER FROM HELL), the film features a very young Shin-Ichi Chiba, who will later be known to fans worldwide as Sonny Chiba. Chiba is joined by the beautiful and icy looking Peggy Neal (THE X FROM OUTERSPACE). Produced by the famous Toei Studios, this movie has it all; weird goofy looking monsters in rubber suit, hot blonde in distress, bad acting, evil scientist who wants to rule the world, funny fx and crappy action scenes.

As always, Dark Sky Films have done an amazing job transfering this movie to DVD. It is presented in 1.85:1 aspect ratio and it is anamorphic. At the time in Japan, very few movies we're actually shot in 1.85:1, so this might have been shot in full frame but matted for this edition to be 16x9. Apart from the occasional grain, the image looks very good with rich color saturation and no compression or artifacts. The Dolby Digital 2.0 dubbed English track is crisp and clear. Sure the dubbing isn't perfect but it's not that distracting to the movie. Optional English subtitles are available.

There is no extras on this DVD but the disc features some nicely designed retro menus and 14 chapter stops. It comes in a keep case, with the usual MPI Home Video catalogue.

(Original title: Kaitei daisensô)

Image:

Audio:

Extras:

There is no extas.

Packaging:

This Film Features:

Review by Kim Dubuisson. All Right Reserved. 2006. ©