Like the vast majority of Herschel Gorden Lewis's 37 films, Bloodmania is kind of a stinker. Lewis isn't exactly known for being a cinematic masterpiece, even among those fans who have only seen his popular gore films and Bloodmania won't be changing anyone's mind. This is a cheap production that seeks to cut corners on not only the budget but also on things like character development, acting, and writing. A few of the shorts sort of capture a modern take on Lewis's mid century classics but overall they have the feeling of trying too hard to become some sort of cult classic. I'm not sure I'd suggest this to anyone other than a Lewis completionist as they offer very little in the way of novel ideas, scenes, or effects.

6 gallons of blood went into making the last thing that Herschell Gordon Lewis would direct which would be this movie. His two tales - "Gory Story" and "The Night Hag" - aren't great, but they have lots of blood and Lewis hosting them.

"Attack of Conscience" is completely unrelated to the feel of the movie, particularly when you contrast its tale of a woman dying over and over at the hands of her abuser with "GOREgeous" in which a man who can no longer get it up kills women with objects like high heels.

In the same way that many of Lewis' films are celebrated because they're the first of their kind, this is the last of its kind. That said, you won't enjoy this anywhere near as much as his more well-known material such as Two-Thousand Maniacs! Or Blood Feast.

Herschell Gordon Lewis is a name that should be far more familiar to horror and film fans than it is, he basically invented gore and splatter films. His films were also always laced with a sense of humour and, in particular, satire.

In BloodMania, his last directorial effort before his untimely and sad death, he plays host to four short tales of the comically macabre and diabolically bloody. He also directs two segments and writes one.

I am very happy to report that for a low budget, independent anthology film, BloodMania is a sheer delight. Gorehounds will love it, horror fans will love it, HGL fans will love it and indie movie fans will love it. Hopefully a few curious viewers will stumble upon this and love it too!! It has all the bloodletting, humour, horror, scares, weirdness, monsters and maniacs you could want, plus, of course, PUNS galore!

It's also tightly directed, with fantastic "have to be seen to be believed" effects, a strong, enjoyable cast and a couple of rocking tunes!

It is a fantastically fitting send off for the Godfather of Gore and one that cements his legacy as a joyous jester of the jugular and the ballsy baron of blood that films so sadly lack these days. We needed Herschell and him, along with his wonderful cast and crew, delivered with the awesome BloodMania!