My Review Of “Blood Mania”

1970’s “Blood Mania” is a sexy romp, dramatic thriller starring Peter Carpenter, Maria De Aragon, Vicki Peters, Reagan Wilson, Eric Allison, Arell Blanton and Leslie Simms that follows a sinister plot to take out the family patriarch and claim the inheritance. “Blood Mania” is directed by Robert Vincent O'Neill. The official synopsis for this film reads, “A sex-crazed nympho helps speed along her father's death so she can use the inheritance to help out her depraved boyfriend.” The film comes during a period of swinging, sexual liberation and female exploitation in cinema.

The story featured in “Blood Mania” offers the classic clash of familial confrontation and greed. It is a film idea that still maintains a strong hold in pop culture both in literature and cinema. “Blood Mania” presents and executes the concept with a soft, surreal sexiness with a sinister touch. The acting is a bit melodramatic but casual and “as is” in that the actors don’t take the characters too far and seem committed to the story line. A necessary quality considering “Blood Mania” requires an affection for drama, psychologically implications beyond what is seen on screen and acceptance of any real horror. This film falls closer to “Strait Jacket” than to “ Trip With The Teacher” when it comes to gore. It does offer skin, sex and scandal with a big-ish climax. I enjoyed watching the story unfold.

The effects and sound is basic late 60’s, early 70’s mediocre effects but from a nostalgic point-of-view, works better today than it must have to horror fans in 1970. I find films like “Blood Mania” a nice little slice of Americana, kitschy, sleaze theatre. The blood is fabulously fake but fun. It takes a dedication of sorts to get to the horror elements in the story, but the flesh and drama are just as entertaining. I liked the whole, sexy, casual vibe to psychological horror found in “Blood Mania”. It is one of the better b-movies that is worth watching.