I’ve wanted to see this ever since I read about it in the Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Film. (Where it was listed under its original title, Voodoo Heartbeat.) It was considered a lost film for decades until it was recently rediscovered by Vinegar Syndrome who put it out as part of their Lost Picture Show collection.
Government scientists are hard at work perfecting a fountain of youth serum. After some enemy agents are killed trying to steal the formula, Dr. Blake (producer Ray Molina sporting some of the sickest sideburns I ever did see) stumbles upon the serum. Naturally, being a man of science, the first thing he does is run home and try it out on himself. Unfortunately, the serum has one tiny side effect: It turns him into a psycho rapist vampire!
Directed by Charles Nizet, who made the incredible Help Me… I’m Possessed, The Sex Serum of Dr. Blake starts off with a lot of long-winded exposition and a seemingly endless scene of natives walking through the Serengeti. Just when you begin to get restless in your seat, along comes a great scene where a scientist witnesses an African tribe performing an eternal youth rite where the women dance naked around an old guy and he magically becomes young again. Then, of course, they bone him. Sadly, it ends with the gals cutting his heart out. I guess all good things must come to an end, but what a way to go! This scene has some real Manos vibes to it… If Manos had an all-black softcore orgy, that is.
Later on, we get a decidedly unsexy sex scene where a fat guy gets a massage from his hot Asian wife before they get it on. I’m not saying this scene is cringe, but it’s about as hot as Bat Pussy. Thankfully, the scene ends before things begin to get too graphic.
Just so we are clear: This isn’t what we would traditionally refer to as a “good” movie. The rating is for pure entertainment value. We have actors clearly reading from their scripts and flubbing lines, completely random and wholly unnecessary sex scenes (including one in the desert where a couple drives a pun about “skindiving” into the ground), and some OK gore (there’s a cool bit with a hacked off hand). Sure, there may be some gaps in between the highlights and a few lulls in the action, but more often than not, the film delivers a memorable and/or downright silly payoff. Whether it’s worth the wait or not, I’ll leave up to you.
I guess you’re either the kind of person who is chomping at the bit to see a previously lost horror skin flick or you aren’t. I mean any movie that brings to mind Manos AND Bat Pussy is worth a look. I don’t know if it lived up to the poster I saw in Psychotronic all those years back, but I still kinda dug it.
AKA: Voodoo Heartbeat.
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