The Devil's Partner / The Creature from the Haunted Sea Blu-ray Review

Public Domain films are just as much classics as films from Warner Brothers, MGM, RKO and other big studios. In this day and age many of this studio classics are getting restorations and people are discovering these classics again, but what about the public domain films.

Enter The Film Masters. They have been restoring these public domain classics and giving them a chance not just to survive but thrive on Blu-ray! We have seen such Blu-ray releases as The Terror and Little Shop of Horrors, The Giant Gila Monster and The Killer Shrew, Beast from the Haunted Cave and Ski Troop Attack and The Scarlet Letter. Now the next film to receive a Blu-ray release is the 1958 horror film The Devil's Partner.

The film takes place in rural Furnace Flats, New Mexico. A young man, Nick Richards (Ed Nelson, Peyton's Place), arrives in town, asking about his uncle Pete. A few days earlier the old man Pete Jensen, slaughtered a goat and daubed its blood within a hexagon drawn on the floor of his shack. While residing in Pete's shack, Nick engages in a series of demonic rituals designed to drive a wedge between pretty Nell Lucas (June Allison, Bad Company) and her fiancé, auto-mechanic David Simpson (Richard Crane, Rocky Jones, Space Ranger). But there is much more to the story than this!

The Devil's Partner is an atmospheric thriller with horrific supernatural undertones. Ed Nelson is perfectly creepy, and Jean Allison is great as the woman of interest! Everyone does an amazing job in this film. But for me it was so cool to see Petticoat Junction's Uncle Joe Edgar Buchanan in this film.

The Devil's Partner not only gets a Blu-ray release here, but it has also been restored in 4K from 35mm Archival elements. The film is transferred in 1080p in both 1.85:1 aspect ratio and the 1.37:1. The audio is a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. There are finally English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing.

I have seen some prints of this film and seeing this new restoration in comparison. This new restoration brings new life to this film. The picture quality of is simply mind blowing. The Devil's Partner look s and sound crystal clear. No signs of damage that I could see in this release. But as we have seen with The Film Masters Blu-rays restorations are not all that is included on these sets. Take a look at what is included as bonuses.

* TV Version of Devil's Partner included

* Theatrical Version of Creature from the Haunted Sea included

* Extended TV Version of Creature from the Haunted Sea included

* Full length commentary for Devil's Parter

* Full length commentary for theatrical version of Creature from the Haunted Sea

* Inserted booklet with essays by Tom Weaver and Mark McGee

* Hollywood Intruders: The Filmgroup Story: Part 3 by Ballyhoo Motion Pictures

I love the addition of both the Theatrical and TV cuts of both The Devil's Partner and The Creature from the Haunted Sea. The addition of Creature from the Haunted Sea is a nice addition. The film is a campy horror film. But after the dark horror of The Devil's Partner a good campy film helps cleanse the palette. And the HD brings new life to this film.

With full length commentaries of both releases, another must watch Ballyhoo Picture feature. And a booklet insert with tons of great stuff to read The Film Master have done it against bringing us physical media fans another must own release.

So, if you love 50s horror and campy sci-fi this double feature of The Devil's Partner and the Creature from the Haunted Sea is an absolute must own. Head over to Amazon and order your copy today!

 
Out of 4 film reels (4 being the best) The Devil's Partner Blu-ray receives...