Film Masters has announced its first special edition release of 2025 with the cult classic, “Monsters from the Ocean Floor,” which will be available on Blu-ray & DVD on February 4.
“Monsters from the Ocean Floor” is the first feature-length film produced by Corman and was inspired by a “Los Angeles Times” story Corman read about a one-man submarine manufactured by Aerojet General. He couldn’t pay for utilizing the sub in his movie, but he promised plenty of publicity … and a deal was struck.
For his inaugural endeavor, Corman recruited first-timers William Danch (“Shazam!”) to write the screenplay and director Wyott Ordung (“A Whale of a Tale”). Other first-timers included actor Stuart Wade (“Teenage Monster”) and, soon to be a regular Corman player, Jonathan Haze (“The Little Shop of Horrors”), who was given a bit part as the ill-fated abalone diver.
In the film, Anne Kimbell (“Port Sinister”) plays Julie Blair, an American artist vacationing at a seaside village in Mexico where rumors swirl about a man-eating creature dwelling in the cove. Steve Dunning (Wade) is a marine biologist doing research in the area in a one-man submarine. While Julie thinks there may be some truth to the tales, Steve is skeptical … Nonetheless, romance soon blooms. But when the mysterious death of an abalone diver (Haze) and Julie’s own terrifying encounter prove that the creature exists, Dunning takes to the depths in a daring underwater battle against the monstrous predator.
The film has been scanned in 4K from an original 35mm camera negative and is presented with an aspect ratio of 1.37:1. Special features on the release will include:
- Full-length commentary from Tom Weaver and the Weaver Players, which includes archival contributions from Roger Corman
- Liner notes by Weaver
- Ballyhoo Motion Pictures documentary – Bob Baker: From Monsters to Marionettes
- Ballyhoo Motion Pictures documentary – Roger Corman: Becoming a B-Movie Maker
- Stills gallery, courtesy of Mike Barnum
- Original 35mm theatrical trailer and re-cut 2025 trailer.
This newly restored version of “Monsters from the Ocean Floor” is available now for pre-order from Amazon.
