Arrow Video's 4K Film Restoration Of Director Richard Jefferies' Bloodtide On Blu-ray On Apr. 14

Arrow Video, with domestic sales and distribution guidance provided by MVD Entertainment Group, has another 4K scan (from the original camera negative) of a 1980s produced film from Nico Mastorakis on it release schedule.

Last week, we talked about the Meg Foster “atmospheric” horror flick, The Wind, which will be available on Blu-ray on Apr. 14.   This week, the news is about director Richard Jefferies’ 1982 Greek island terror thriller, Bloodtide (aka: Blood Tide), which will also be hitting the streets on Apr. 14.

Filmed in Greece on the island of Milos by producer Nico Mastorakis (cinematography by well-known Greek cameraman, Aris Stavrou), he also shared the writing credit with director Richard Jefferies (screenwriter for Scarecrows, Cold Creek Manor, etc.).   It is here that we meet newlyweds Neil (Martin Kove — The Karate Kid, Rambo: First Blood Part II, etc.) and Sherry (Mary Louise Weller — Q, Forced Vengeance, The Bell Jar), who arrive on the island looking for Neil’s long-overdue sister, Madeline (Deborah Shelton — Body Double).

Mission accomplished, Madeline is alive, but there is something odd about her behavior.   They also met the island’s “mayor,” a creepy sort by the name of Nereus (played by José Ferrer), who may have something to do with Madeline’s confused state of mind.

Neil and Sherry also meet Frye (James Earl Jones), who is something of a treasure hunter, and his eye-candy girlfriend, Barbara (Lydia Cornell — best known as Sara from the Too Close for Comfort sitcom, which was popular at this time).   Somehow they are all loosely connected, Frye, Madeline and Barbara, but before we get too many details Frye blows up the entrance to a mysterious underwater cave (blocked by locals) and all hell breaks loose.

It seems that Frye has, by his actions, turned loose a demon and the only way to appease the beast is to sacrifice a virgin … or two … or three.   

Bloodtide is great fun — even some clever “Greek” jokes are thrown in by Mastorakis — as the assembled “victim” pool has to battle the beast (and the crazy locals) … and, of course, not all will survive!!

Bonus goods begin with this being the 97 minute UK cut of the film — it arrived here theatrically in September of 1982 clocking in at just 82 minutes, which might explain why some of the narrative seems confusing.    

There is also a newly-prepared commentary from writer/director Richard Jefferies and a newly filmed video session with producer/writer Nico Mastorakis.