In the golden age of cult horror and exploitation films, movie promotions went beyond posters and trailers. Directors and producers tapped into audiences’ thrill for the unusual, offering unique premiums and in-theater gimmicks that made moviegoing an unforgettable experience. Here’s a list of some of the best and most memorable movie premiums/giveaways that accompanied cult films, along with the year they debuted and a synopsis of each film.
Mad Doctor of Blood Island (1968)
- Premium: The Green Blood Oath
- Synopsis: In this Filipino-American horror film directed by Gerardo de León, a scientist’s experiments with chlorophyll result in a monster with green blood on Blood Island. A group arrives to investigate, only to encounter this green-blooded terror.
- Giveaway: Audience members took the Green Blood Oath, a pledge to protect themselves from the monster. Theaters handed out small vials of “green blood” for fans to drink, making them part of the movie’s mystery.
Witchcraft (1964)
- Premium: Witch Deflector
- Synopsis: In this British horror film directed by Don Sharp, a modern family unwittingly unleashes a vengeful witch’s curse after disturbing an ancient graveyard.
- Giveaway: Viewers received a Witch Deflector trinket, supposedly providing protection from dark curses while they watched the chilling tale unfold.
Brides of Blood (1968)
- Premium: Wedding Ring
- Synopsis: This horror film, directed by Gerardo de León and Eddie Romero, features a radioactive monster terrorizing a tropical island where locals conduct bizarre rituals. A couple finds themselves caught up in the island’s deadly traditions.
- Giveaway: Attendees were given a wedding ring, symbolizing the movie’s sinister “marriage” to terror. In the film, island women are offered as “brides” to the monster.
House on Haunted Hill (1959)
- Premium: Emergo
- Synopsis: Directed by William Castle and starring Vincent Price, this horror classic follows a millionaire’s offer of cash to guests who survive a night in a haunted house.
- Giveaway: The in-theater Emergo gimmick featured a skeleton “emerging” from the screen, floating over the audience on wires, adding a thrilling 3D effect during the movie’s climax.
The Tingler (1959)
- Premium: Percepto
- Synopsis: In another William Castle classic, Vincent Price stars as a scientist who discovers a creature that grows in response to fear, only to be subdued by screaming. The creature “breaks loose” in the theater, urging the audience to scream.
- Giveaway: Percepto involved rigging certain theater seats with small buzzers to deliver shocks during key scenes, simulating the “tingling” sensation caused by the creature.
Macabre (1958)
- Premium: Life Insurance Policy
- Synopsis: In this suspenseful thriller, directed by William Castle, a doctor races against time to save his kidnapped daughter, who’s buried alive. Full of tension and twists, the movie plays on viewers’ fears of death.
- Giveaway: Audiences were offered $1,000 life insurance policies in case they died of fright during the movie, a promotion that fed directly into the fear factor.
I Was a Teenage Frankenstein (1957)
- Premium: Teenage Frankenstein Photo
- Synopsis: This campy horror film tells the story of a scientist creating a teenage Frankenstein monster from body parts of dead teens, combining horror with ‘50s teen rebellion.
- Giveaway: Theatergoers received a glow-in-the-dark photo of the Teenage Frankenstein monster, bringing a bit of movie horror into their own homes.
13 Ghosts (1960)
- Premium: Ghost Viewer
- Synopsis: Directed by William Castle, this ghostly tale follows a family inheriting a haunted house filled with thirteen spirits, forcing them to find a way to coexist with the supernatural.
- Giveaway: The Ghost Viewer, a hand-held device with red and blue lenses, allowed the audience to choose to see the ghosts or “hide” from them, adding a new level of interaction.
Homicidal (1961)
- Premium: Fright Break
- Synopsis: Another Castle suspense-thriller, this film follows a woman’s murderous crime spree. Packed with suspense, it keeps viewers on edge with unexpected twists.
- Giveaway: The Fright Break gave audiences a chance to leave the theater if they were too scared to continue. Those who left received a “Coward’s Certificate”, declaring their inability to handle the thrills.
Hercules in the Haunted World (1961)
- Premium: Hercules Muscle Man Contest
- Synopsis: Directed by Mario Bava, this Italian fantasy film follows Hercules’s descent into the underworld to save his beloved, blending myth, horror, and fantasy.
- Giveaway: The Hercules Muscle Man Contest saw male theatergoers flexing their “Herculean” muscles, vying for small prizes or, at the very least, bragging rights.
Mark of the Devil (1970)
- Premium: Barf Bag
- Synopsis: Known for its explicit gore, this German horror film, directed by Michael Armstrong, takes place during brutal witch trials. Marketed as “the most horrifying film ever made,” it pushed audiences to the limit.
- Giveaway: Barf Bags were handed out to prepare viewers for the film’s graphic scenes, claiming the horror was so extreme it could induce physical illness.
Conclusion
These iconic movie premiums and gimmicks weren’t just about ticket sales; they transformed horror moviegoing into an experience. Filmmakers like William Castle pioneered these interactive promotions, turning theaters into realms of suspense and excitement. From glow-in-the-dark photos to shocking theater seats, these giveaways and gimmicks made horror movies more than just stories on a screen—they became unforgettable events. Today, these classic promotions remain a beloved part of cinema history, treasured by collectors and film fans alike.
