Story
In 19th century England, a series of grisly murders are taking place in the countryside near London. The victims are good-looking young men, between the ages of twenty and thirty, and all have had their throats torn open and their blood drained. The witness of the latest murder, a coachman named Joe Trigger (Leslie Anderson), is driven insane when he catches a glimpse of the mysterious killer.
Investigating the deaths are Detective Inspector Quennell (Peter Cushing) of Scotland Yard and his assistant, Sergeant Allan (Glynn Edwards). Because Joe keeps ranting about a horrible winged creature with huge eyes (resulting him in being declared insane by the police doctor), Quennell hatches a theory that perhaps a homicidal eagle is on the loose. At the scene of the latest killing, several shiny scales are discovered.
The two latest victims happen to be students of renowned entomology professor Dr. Carl Mallinger (Robert Flemying), who lives nearby with his daughter Clare (Wanda Ventham), and their butler, Granger (Kevin Stoney). When Quennell brings the scales to Mallinger for identification, Mallinger behaves suspiciously and tries to take all of them (he only ends up with one). He also puts forth his theory about a killer eagle, only to have Mallinger dismiss the notion. Quennell is unaware that the entomologist does actually have a pet eagle, which is tormented by sadistic Granger.
In the meantime, explorer and naturalist Frederick Britewell (William Wilde) returns from Africa with some moth chrysalids for Dr. Mallinger, and the handsome young adventurer soon falls victim to the scientist's daughter Clare, who is in fact the one responsible for all the murders: due to circumstances unknown, Clare is a "were-moth" and transforms at night to drink the blood of young men. Britewell becomes her latest victim after going with her to see a play performed by some of her father's students (which seems to be a spoof of the Hammer Frankenstein genre), but lives long enough to tell Quennell, "Death's head!" when the inspector happens upon the dying explorer. Both Mallinger and Clare claim not to have known Britewell when questioned by Quennell.
Quennell's superior suggests he takes a holiday and hands the case over to Sgt. Allan, but the Detective Inspector refuses. However, he reveals his intention to send his daughter Meg to stay with some relatives in Sussex until the investigation is over. As they leave for the train station, Allan informs Quennell that Dr. Mallinger did in fact know Frederick Britewell, prompting Quennell to perform an immediate search of Mallinger's home, only to find that the scientist and his daughter have left for Upper Higham. He also discovers a cellar filled with human bones, and the corpse of the dead butler, Granger.
Quennell informs his superior he will be taking leave after all: along with Meg, he goes to Upper Highham incognito as a vacationing banker named Thompson, where he discovers that Mallinger is also undercover as "Dr. Miles". But can he stop Mallinger, who is attempting to create a male were-moth to be a mate for his daughter?
Read more about this topic: The Blood Beast Terror
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