Death Bed, released by Cult Epics, is one of those films that almost every seasoned horror fan has heard of, but about less than a fourth have actually seen. This is such a shame, because Death Bed is a singular experience; and is one of the most surreal, creative, and imaginative films of the past 50 years.
FILM- The Death Bed is the "offspring" of a demon father and a mortal mother; and was forged during sex, when the demon's lover died in his embrace. From his sadness, he wept tears of blood, which seeped into the bed. This gave it life. The bed is slightly telepathic, and has the ability to manipulate the dreams of those who sleep on it. Above all this, the bed has an insatiable hunger (which it indulges frequently, and deposits the skeletal remains over the estate grounds). It's final resting place is the basement of a luxurious mansion; which the bed destroyed over the years through fits of hunger educed rage. On one such feeding, it devoured an artist, and imprisoned his spirit in his final piece of work; a portrait of the bed. It then hung this portrait on the wall, with the artist's spirit, to keep it company. Three women arrive at the mansion, their friend asking them to check it out. The Death Bed feels a connection with one woman, and the artist picks up on this, and sees this as his chance to put a stop to the bed once and for all.
Death Bed is such a wonderful film. Completed in '77, but not released until the Cult Epics DVD in 2003. This is one of the best "lost" films to resurface in the history of horror cinema. The film is very artistic and nightmarish. The setting for most of the film is the cellar, which had to have been ripped out of the dreams of one of the film makers. The eating process is great, because any other way and the film would have came off as silly. The bed doesn't chomp down on people as the subtitle implies; it digests them in a chamber of stomach acid. The subtle humor works will, and again, doesn't make the finished product seem cheesy or goofy. The surreal nature of the film, mixed with the set pieces, combine to make this film just amazing. This is without a doubt one of my favorite horror movies I own. 9/10.
PICTURE/ AUDIO- The transfer is very fitting for this one. If you have read my review for The Beast, you know I don't like it when I can't tell if the transfer takes from or adds to the film. The splotchy damage the print has suffered over the years has done nothing but enhance it; proving that vintage horror is like a fine wine; better with age. I'm very glad Cult Epics left this film looking the way it does, because if it lost it's aged quality, it wouldn't be the same experience. 9/10. 70's films have an almost indescribable audio quality. I wouldn't call it soft, but that's probably the closest word to describe it. Anyone who is familiar with horror knows that this trait will wither make or break a film. it makes Death Bed, and really adds mystique to the artist's thoughts, and the thoughts of the others in the film. 9/10.
EXTRAS- Pretty minimal; but considering this is a film that we didn't even know existed till a few years back, it's amazing we have any extras at all. The only on disk extra is an introduction by the director; while the DVD also comes with some liner notes. 5/10
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