costumes for the film, but Blaisdell said the effects budget was so minute, it wouldn't have even covered the cost of the materials he would need to make the creature suits. The costumes were eventually designed by actor Ed Nelson and Gene Corman's wife, each contributing ideas. Some reference sources say the monster suits were constructed from black raincoats that were stitched together, while others say black plastic garbage bags were used. Attack of the Giant Leeches is now in the public domain; its copyright was never renewed. Reception Attack of the Giant Leeches holds a 70% approval rating on review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 10 reviews; the average rating is 5.06/10. Film critic Leonard Maltin awarded the film 1.5 out of 4 stars, calling it a "ludicrous hybrid of white trash and monster genres". Remake A remake of the film, directed by Brett Kelly and written by Jeff O'Brien, was released on July 7, 2008. A stage adaptation of the original was performed at The Village Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia in February 2020. Legacy In July 1992, Attack of the Giant Leeches was featured as a fourth-season episode of the film-mocking television series Mystery Science Theater 3000. It was also featured on the nationally syndicated horror host television show Cinema Insomnia, and in the second episode of season 5 of Shilling Shockers, a New England-based television show hosted by the witch Penny Dreadful XIII. Home media Being in the public domain, Attack of the Giant Leeches has received numerous bargain bin DVD releases. The MST3K version of the film was released on October 26, 2004 by Rhino Home Video as part of a box set, The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection: Volume 6. Cheapskate Theater released an HD download of the film on June 7, 2016, featuring a new introduction by Toby Radloff and Radloff outtakes and bloopers. See also List of films in the public domain in the United States References External links 1959 independent films 1950s monster movies 1950s science fiction horror films 1959 films 1959 horror films American black-and-white films American International Pictures films American monster movies American independent films American science fiction horror films Articles containing video clips 1950s English-language films Giant monster films Films directed by Bernard L. Kowalski Films produced by Gene Corman Films produced by Roger Corman Films set in Florida Films shot in New Orleans American natural horror films