Recently released on DVD by UK distributors Direct Video are some selected classic B's from the Samuel Arkoff film library. We've got a couple of 'em in our hands right now and will periodically be reporting on them over the course of the next few weeks. First up is the classic(?) The Brain Eaters, based on the novel The Puppet Masters (later cinematically remade once again as a Donald Sutherland vehicle). There's plenty of B-movie madness to go around in this one so let's get down to business with The Brain Eaters.

Ok, so apparently this cone shaped space ship has been found somewhere in the backwoods of IL and the weird metallic craft has scientists, reporters and the local hicksters baffled. One thing that they are able to decipher is the fact that the craft had burrowed it's way up from the earth's core somehow. Within the spaceship are these little creatures (The Brain Eaters?) that like to attach themselves to their human victims spine and assume control of them. It may look like Uncle Duke, but it sure as heck don't act like him no more! The first to succumb to the wraith of The Brain Eaters is the town's mayor, so he's quickly disposed of. In the mean time a scientist Dr. Paul Kettering (Ed Nelson) is hard at work trying to figure out a way to destroy the pesky critters. Fear sets in, as the town is unsure of how many of these Brain Eaters are actually roaming around the town or how much time they have left.

Stepping foot into a film like this is akin to giving your two bucks at the State Fair to check out the freak show. Ironically enough being conned is part of the appeal, which would easily explain why we keep coming back for more. With catchy titles and flashy poster artwork making outrageous claims, we're drawn to these flicks like a fly to a shiny glowing light. Anyone who ventures forth expecting to get more than they're actually given has no one to blame but themselves. These films were made for very little money, and cutting corners was always the first concern. Quite often a title and poster would have been drawn up long before anyone was even close to writing a script or picking up a camera. That being said, one just has to try to wade through their many options in the land of the low budget B's and find the late night fare that works best for them.

While The Brain Eaters is certainly not one of the best monster movies that Arkoff produced, it's definitely an entertaining enough affair to be a solid host for your next midnight movie night. It may not be enough to hold down the feature presentation itself, but at a cool 60-minutes, it'll work well enough as a second feature. It isn't until the final act that we even get a really good look at The Brain Eaters themselves, it would've been nice to see a bit more of them, they're awfully cute. In any event there's enough goofiness to go around and fill just about any b-movie quotas you may have set.

Presented full frame, The Brain Eaters looks and sounds quite good here. It looks like the sides may have needed to be opened just a tad bit more, but overall it doesn't look like we're missing out on much due to the lack of a widescreen transfer. Black levels are really pleasing and the black and white image remains quite solid throughout. Print damage and grain are nearly non-existent with only the occasional spec creeping in from time to time. The mono audio track is equally as pleasing with just minor distortion or background noise, not too shabby for a title of this caliber.

Extras include a 50-minute audio interview with Arkoff set to a repeating image gallery and 9-trailers for the other flicks to be presented from The Arkoff Library from Direct Video. Also of note is the exceptional cover art and 9 postcard sized poster replicas of Arkoff films. I think we can easily say that these discs are a treasure trove of goodies for the b-movie fan. I'm sure we all have our favorites, but most monster movie fans will want to add more than one of these flicks to their DVD collections. The Brain Eaters is presented in a more than respectable transfer and the impressive packaging only adds to the allure.

Remember that these discs are Region 2 Pal and are NOT available in the US. You will need a player that is compatible if you live in the US. All of the titles from The Arkoff Library are available at xploitedcinema.com or direct from the UK at www.dvdisc.co.uk.