In the latter half of the 1960s, self-proclaimed "schlockmeister" Larry Buchanan, was contracted with American International Pictures to remake some of its films as part of a TV package. Eight direct-to-television films resulted from this union. Buchanan wrote, produced, and directed the work under his own Azalea Films production entity. The titles include The Eye Creatures; Zontar, The Thing from Venus; Creature of Destruction; Mars Needs Women; In the Year 2889; Hell Raiders (presumed lost); It's Alive! and Curse of the Swamp Creature.
On average these films cost $20,000, cast out-of-favor leading men such as the former Disney child actor Tommy Kirk. Walt Disney had signed Tommy Kirk to a long term contract and Tommy appeared not only in the Mickey Mouse Club, but in full length Disney features as well including Old Yeller (1957), The Shaggy Dog (1959), Swiss Family Robinson (1960), The Absent-Minded Professor (1961), Babes in Toyland (1961) and The Misadventures of Merlin Jones (1964). However, in 1964, the Disney factory found out that Tommy was gay and they immediately released him from his contract upon finishing the Merlin Jones sequel The Monkey's Uncle in 1965.
Buchanan was so thrifty that he recycled the green monster suit from Curse of the Swamp Creature in It's Alive.
This film is available online as a free download.
