Artist Adam finds that his paintings are so much better when he starts to use human blood on his canvases as well as paint. Ironically the gallery owner who sells his work and the art buyers now love his new artworks not knowing that he’s using blood and bumping people off to make sure he has plenty of his new chosen art material.

I first learnt of Herschell Gordon Lewis’ films through the amazing book Incredibly Strange Films that also introduced me to the films of other geniuses such as Ted V Mikels and Russ Meyers. It would be a few years after reading about Lewis’ work that I would actually get to see his films when they were finally released on VHS. And, thankfully, it was worth the wait.

Color Me Blood Red is part of Lewis’ ‘Blood Trilogy’ which includes his better-known films Blood Feast and Two Thousand Maniacs. And, in my humble opinion, it’s just as good. All of the ingredients are here- interesting characters, a deranged plot, a colour palate to die for (pun not intended) and a groovy soundtrack.

The film also reminded me of Abel Ferrera’s Drilled Killer which told the story of another artist and his descent into madness.

Lewis was light years ahead of his time and a huge influence on John Waters (Beverley Sutphin is seen watching Blood Feast in Serial Mom). Color Me Blood Red reminded me so much of Waters’ early masterpieces- the natural acting style, the jagged cinematography, the sense that this was a triumph of imagination over budget, the general feeling that ANYTHING could happen (and it does). In other words, damn fine cult cinema.

Color Me Blood Red is underrated Lewis but just as vital as his better-known films. It reminds me that I need to buy the Arrow Blu-Ray box set of his films.

4 out of 5 stars