Blood Feast is a 1963 American horror film directed, produced and written by Herschell Gordon Lewis. The movie is considered as the first “gore” film, as it focused on the depiction of graphic violence and bloodletting. The film follows an Egyptian caterer who begins murdering women to use their body parts to bring to life an ancient Egyptian goddess.
The film’s special effects were groundbreaking for its time, with Lewis using a combination of food substances such as ketchup and chocolate syrup to create the movie’s gory scenes. The use of these substances, along with Lewis’ low-budget filming techniques, gave the film a gritty and realistic feel, which helped to establish its cult status.
The movie was heavily criticized upon its release for its graphic violence and use of blood, with some critics calling for it to be banned. However, despite this negative reception, the film was a financial success and spawned two sequels, “Two Thousand Maniacs!” and “Color Me Blood Red.”
Blood Feast’s legacy can be seen in the modern horror genre, as many contemporary horror movies have been influenced by Lewis’ use of graphic violence and gore. The film’s cult status has also been solidified over the years, with it being considered a classic in the horror genre.
Herschell Gordon Lewis, the director of Blood Feast, is known as the “Godfather of Gore” and has had a significant impact on the horror genre. He was a pioneer in the exploitation film genre and is credited with popularizing the use of graphic violence and gore in movies. After his success with Blood Feast, Lewis went on to direct several other horror films, including “Two Thousand Maniacs!”, “Color Me Blood Red” and “The Gore Gore Girls.”
In conclusion, Blood Feast is a groundbreaking horror film that was the first to focus on graphic violence and gore. Its special effects, using food substances, and low-budget filming techniques, gave it a gritty and realistic feel, which helped to establish its cult status. The film and its director Herschell Gordon Lewis had a significant impact on the horror genre and continues to be influential in the industry today.
