Rating: 
Summary: A masterpiece of dark comedy!
Review: This 1958 film was one of director Roger Corman's famous "quickies" that he produced and directed in a matter of days. It is far superior to his the more well-known "Little Shop of Horrors." This witty and darkly humorous tragi-comedy tells the tale of nebbish Walter Paisley and his desire to be loved and admired by the coffeehouse patrons he busses. A witty and sardonic look at the late 50's beatnik era, it views like an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents as directed by the Brothers Coen! Daydreaming, sexually frustrated Walter isn't about to let a lack of talent stand in his way of becoming a renowned artist and a series of horrible accidents points the way to success... Also notable for introducing veteran character actor Dick Miller in his first lead role. Highly recommended for fans of offbeat films! END
Rating:
Summary: Razor-sharp DVD of Corman's sick humor classic
Review: Although its 'companion' film, Little Shop of Horrors, gets lots more attention, this terrific "sick humor" gem has always been my favorite of the two. For me, it's funnier, scarier, and more plausible, and benefits tremendously from the beatnik/doper/coffeehouse milieu in which it's set. Dick Miller, in his mightiest role, perfectly personifies everynebbish busboy Walter Paisley, who finds a disturbing way to gain some cred with his hipster peers. Julian Burton as a grandiose beatnik, Antony Carbone (handling some great deadpan comedy as he begins to suspect the truth behind Walter's creations), and John Brinkley and John Shaner, as a couple of 'comedy-relief' junkies, stand out in a generally fine cast. I remember seeing this for the first time when I was about 12 on some late night horror show, and the bleak, icky feeling generated by the 'cat in the wall' scene was my first inkling that there was something uniquely twisted about American International pictures (vs. the old Universal classics I had cut my teeth on). Check out the set decoration in Walter's apartment: Yecch! There's also something strangely pleasing about Walter splitting Bert Convy's head open with a cast iron griddle. One of Corman's least farcical, most 'straight' (and satisfying) films. Highly recommended to fans of "beat noir," "sick" humor, cheap horror, Lenny Bruce, etc., etc.
MGM Home Video's DVD presentation is bare bones (the trailer promised on the box is nowhere in sight) but the source print used is simply spectacular. The shadow/highlight detail, brightness, contrast, sharpness, and tonal values are uniformly excellent, and there is only some extremely light, sporadic speckling/spotting. Comparing it to the VHS copy I had made me want to cry. Too bad they didn't line up Dick Miller for a commentary, that would've been a five-star disc, rather than the really-excellent-but-not-quite-ultimate edition we get here. And, unfortunately, MGM's making us pay a premium price for this title because of its cult status rather than the blowout list of their Midnite Movies series; but don't let a few bucks stop you from adding this demented classic to your library.
Rating:
Summary: Will YOU join his human museum?
Review: Dick Miller, one of the more popular character actors in Hollywood, whom I remember most from such movies as Gremlins (1984), Matinee (1993), and Demon Knight (1995) stars in this Roger Corman classic from 1959.Miller is Walter Paisley, a simple-minded man with high aspirations who works in a beatnik coffee shop, The Yellow Door, as a busboy. He desperately wants to fit in, but finds himself usually the butt of jokes from some of the more pretentious bohemian crowd. The main reason for Walter's desire to be in the 'in crowd' is Carla, played by Barboura Morris, who I just saw in another Corman movie, The Wasp Woman (1960). Carla also works at The Yellow Door, and is really the only one that treats Walter with respect and kindness. One night while at home, Walter is struggling with some clay, trying to create a bust of Carla, but his efforts are in vain. After accidentally killing his landlord's cat with a knife, Walter tries to hide what he did by covering the cat, and the protruding knife, with clay and inadvertently creates his first work of art, aptly titled 'Dead Cat'. Walter soon gains acclaim for his sculpture, and his career as an artist is born. The pressure of coming up with new pieces leads him to use human models creating grisly, realistic, highly detailed sculptures of figures in death throes. Soon Walter becomes the talk of the community, with fame and fortune sure to follow...or does it? I really enjoyed this movie, which is basically an update of one of my favorite movies, House of Wax (1953) starring Vincent Price. The beatnik angle played nicely off the more gruesome elements of the movie, providing levity in this dark psuedo comedy. What I really liked was the beatniks were shown in different fashion, some being played for comedic effect, while others being played a little more seriously. There wasn't a sense of trivializing the movement, but more of poking a little fun at it. Some other actors I recognized were Ed Nelson, whom I recently saw in Night of the Blood Beast (1958) and perennial 70's TV favorite and host of many a game show, Bert Convy, looking so very young I almost didn't recognize him. Along with Dick Miller's performance, I also really enjoyed the barrel-chested beat poet character Maxwell H. Brock, played by Julian Burton. He delivers some truly interesting poetry in eloquent fashion. The film has a short run time, at 66 minutes, which tended to keep the pacing snappy. Corman really shows why, even though his movie may have been made cheaply, they didn't always have to look cheap, with his professional direction and ability to keep things interesting by drawing out great performances from his actors. The case does mention a trailer for A Bucket of Blood included, but I found none. What I did find was an excellent copy of the film on this DVD, well worth getting if you enjoy black humor. Cookieman108
Rating:
Summary: Razor-sharp DVD of Corman's sick humor classic
Review: Although its 'companion' film, Little Shop of Horrors, gets lots more attention, this terrific "sick humor" gem has always been my favorite of the two. For me, it's funnier, scarier, and more plausible, and benefits tremendously from the beatnik/doper/coffeehouse milieu in which it's set. Dick Miller, in his mightiest role, perfectly personifies everynebbish busboy Walter Paisley, who finds a disturbing way to gain some cred with his hipster peers. Julian Burton as a grandiose beatnik, Antony Carbone (handling some great deadpan comedy as he begins to suspect the truth behind Walter's creations), and John Brinkley and John Shaner, as a couple of 'comedy-relief' junkies, stand out in a generally fine cast. I remember seeing this for the first time when I was about 12 on some late night horror show, and the bleak, icky feeling generated by the 'cat in the wall' scene was my first inkling that there was something uniquely twisted about American International pictures (vs. the old Universal classics I had cut my teeth on). Check out the set decoration in Walter's apartment: Yecch! There's also something strangely pleasing about Walter splitting Bert Convy's head open with a cast iron griddle. One of Corman's least farcical, most 'straight' (and satisfying) films. Highly recommended to fans of "beat noir," "sick" humor, cheap horror, Lenny Bruce, etc., etc.
MGM Home Video's DVD presentation is bare bones (the trailer promised on the box is nowhere in sight) but the source print used is simply spectacular. The shadow/highlight detail, brightness, contrast, sharpness, and tonal values are uniformly excellent, and there is only some extremely light, sporadic speckling/spotting. Comparing it to the VHS copy I had made me want to cry. Too bad they didn't line up Dick Miller for a commentary, that would've been a five-star disc, rather than the really-excellent-but-not-quite-ultimate edition we get here. And, unfortunately, MGM's making us pay a premium price for this title because of its cult status rather than the blowout list of their Midnite Movies series; but don't let a few bucks stop you from adding this demented classic to your library.
Rating:
Summary: A masterpiece of dark comedy!
Review: This 1958 film was one of director Roger Corman's famous "quickies" that he produced and directed in a matter of days. It is far superior to his the more well-known "Little Shop of Horrors." This witty and darkly humorous tragi-comedy tells the tale of nebbish Walter Paisley and his desire to be loved and admired by the coffeehouse patrons he busses. A witty and sardonic look at the late 50's beatnik era, it views like an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents as directed by the Brothers Coen! Daydreaming, sexually frustrated Walter isn't about to let a lack of talent stand in his way of becoming a renowned artist and a series of horrible accidents points the way to success... Also notable for introducing veteran character actor Dick Miller in his first lead role. Highly recommended for fans of offbeat films! END
Rating: 
Summary: American International strikes again
Review: This is ok as a drive in movie and that is about it. I did like the beatnik atmosphere, the nerdy performance by the lead actor, and the sarcastic portrayal of this phony art crowd but the film is basically a one idea, three set movie that could only work as the second film on a double bill. When American International had a wildly exploitive script (like the superior "Wild in the streets"), they could do some interesting films but most of their output was kitsch or schlock. This is in the latter category.
Rating:
Summary: Beatniks trump horror
Review: As a horror film it's a complete failure, but as a satire of
the beatnik area and its artistic pretensions it's a classic.
Too bad it wasn't shot in the lurid Technicolor of that era instead of b&w. Sticking Vincent Price somewhere in the movie would have been a nice touch, too. Oh, there were such possibilities here. Still, for a film that looks as if it was shot in three days ...it's pretty good.
Rating:
Summary: Cat lovers might wince at this one
Review: The only facet of this clever, funny thriller that suggests its low-budget origins are the limited number of sets (with small exception, all the action takes place in a coffeehouse; the alley behind the coffeehouse; and Dick Miller's apartment). Everything else about the movie is perfectly fine, in particular Roger Corman's interesting direction and a script that refuses to be pigeonholed into one particular genre. If you prefer your thrillers to be a little quirky or off-center, check this one out. The MGM DVD delivers a good print-- standard format, alas, but no major cropping seems evident. Unfortunately, the promised trailer is nowhere to be found, but don't let that fact be a deal-breaker. After all, not many low-budget thrillers from the old days offer much entertainment beyond "schlock" value, so don't let a genuinely interesting entry from that era pass you by!
Rating:
Summary: Cute but not great
Review: I bought this, expecting it to be, as stated by many, superior to The Little Shop of Horrors. The beatnik flavor and dialogue are great and are a hilarious spoof of this movement. The DVD and print quality is quite good, much better than the mediocre cheapie DVD of Little Shop I bought. If the triple-Corman-film DVD that also has Bucket as one of its 3 movies is as poor as the readers' reviews indicate, then this MGM Bucket of Blood is the one to buy. Having said that, though, I and my daughter enjoyed Little Shop much more than Bucket; its storyline, though similar, is better, and its ending is MUCH better. As for which one is better acted ... Gravis Mushnik (the flower shop owner in Little shop) is far better than the coffee shop owner, and Seymour's (Little Shop) "accidentally" getting dead bodies to feed his plant is more believable than Walter Paisley's deliberate murders in Bucket. Other than that, the characters are all done well for this type of film. [Note: When Walter (in Bucket) puts his food on the stove, he puts it on the rear right burner - but when it cuts to a closeup of his pot suddenly boiling over, it has now mysteriously moved to the front right burner. Someone forgot to do a continuity check!] Buy both films and enjoy them for what they are.
Rating:
Summary: A genius film on a no-frills DVD
Review: This is not only a masterpiece of low-budget comedy and one of the most quotable movies ever, it's also one of the more accurate depictions of futile would-be artists and hypocritical "sophisicated people" I've seen in mass media. Dick Miller was never better than in his role as Walter Paisley, an endearingly horrible mass of thwarted ambition and cringing tics. So the DVD is worth buying on the merits of the movie, but don't expect any extras. The box claims that the original theatrical trailer is included,but if that's the case, I don't know how you'd actually see it--it's not accessible from the menu, and doesn't play automatically after the feature.
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