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Courtesy of Film Masters

by Chad Kennerk

The first feature film produced by the legendary Roger Corman has been given the special edition treatment by Film Masters in a stunning 4K restoration from the original 35mm camera negative. The B-movie horror gem serves as an important footnote in the history of monster movies, an early precursor to the likes of Jaws (which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year). While it may not have had the technical or financial resources of other 1954 aquatic releases like Creature from the Black Lagoon or 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, the film’s underwater footage still impresses, evoking an early look into the fear of the unknown ocean. Corman’s debut as a producer paved the way for a career filled with low-budget genre classics. The release adds to his enduring legacy, marking the ninth Corman title to receive the lush treatment from Film Masters.

Scanned in 4k from an original 35mm camera negative, Film Masters announces its first special edition of 2025, the cult classic, Monster From The Ocean Floor (1954), available 4th February 2025 on Blu-ray and DVD.

The first feature-length film produced by the iconic king of pop cinema, Roger Corman, Monster From The Ocean Floor was inspired by a Los Angeles Times story Corman read about a one-man submarine manufactured by Aerojet General. He couldn’t pay for utilizing the sub in his move, but he promised plenty of publicity … and a deal was struck.

For his inaugural endeavor, Corman recruited first-timers William Danch (Shazam!, The Jim Backus Show, Mickey) to write the screenplay and director Wyott Ordung (A Whale of a Tale, The Mummy and the Curse of the Jackals, The Navy vs. the Night Monsters). Other first-timers included actor Stuart Wade (Teenage Monster) and, soon to be a regular Corman player, Jonathan Haze...

Legendary B-movie director Roger Corman had to start somewhere. Monster From the Ocean Floor was his very first picture, and is now one of his rarest. That is to say, it’ll be rare until Film Masters introduces the first Blu-Ray release next month. Corman’s idea for this movie came when he saw a newspaper report about a one-man submarine. Thinking he could build a movie around it, he talked to its owner — but found the fee he wanted in exchange to be too high. As a compromise, he agreed to work the sub into his movie’s plot for some free publicity on both ends. There’s a man-eating monster dwelling in the depths outside a seaside town in Mexico — or so the locals say! Vacationing Julie Blair wants to know more. She runs into Steve Dunning, a marine biologist who happens to own a one-man submarine (ripped...