Mutant is a 1984 horror film. It was initially released to theaters as Night Shadows, but it premiered on video with the Mutant title, which it has retained for all subsequent VHS and DVD releases. Directed by John "Bud" Cardos. Mark Rosman

Mark Rosman

Mark Rosman is an American film director, television director and screenwriter.- Background :Rosman is the son of a Beverly Hills dermatologist. He has a brother, a lawyer, and a sister. After graduating from Beverly Hills High School, Rosman went to UCLA but left after two years when he wasn't...

 was originally hired to direct, but was replaced by Cardos early in the production after the studio objected to the way he was shooting the film. Mutant was a production of the notorious Edward L. Montoro

Edward L. Montoro

Edward L. Montoro was an American film producer and distributor known for releasing exploitation films and B-movies during the 1970s and 1980s through his company Film Ventures International...

, and this film's budget was one of the contributing factors to the downfall of Montoro's company, Film Ventures International

Film Ventures International

Film Ventures International is an independent movie production and distribution company originally situated in Atlanta, Georgia during the 1970s. FVI garnered a notorious reputation within the industry for producing films which were highly derivative of many blockbusters of the era...

. Dick Clark served as an uncredited producer as well. The film was later followed by an unofficial sequel in 1987 titled Alien Predator and was semi-remade as Nightmare at Noon in 1988.

The film now appears to be in the public domain, and is available on DVD from several different distributors. DVDs released by both Elite Entertainment and Genius Products

Genius Products

Genius Products was an entertainment company based in Santa Monica, California, United States.On December 5, 2005, Genius Products, Inc. announced a distribution joint venture with The Weinstein Company called Genius Products, LLC, with Weinstein holding a 70% stake...

, under license from Liberation Entertainment, each show the film in widescreen.

Soundtrack

The film score

Film score

A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...

 by Richard Band

Richard Band

Richard Howard Band is a composer of film music. He has scored more than 70 films, including From Beyond, which won the award for Best Original Soundtrack at the Catalonian International Film Festival in Sitges Spain...

 was released by Perseverance Records

Perseverance Records

Perseverance Records is a record label which releases film scores on CD and online. Releases are usually accompanied by extensive, well-researched booklets...

 on April 28, 2008. It is an expanded release of the original score album, released by Intrada Records

Intrada Records

Intrada Records is an American record company based in Oakland, California. Intrada Records is an American record company based in Oakland, California. Intrada Records is an American record company based in Oakland, California...

 in 1993 (previously available as an LP for Varèse Sarabande

Varèse Sarabande

Varèse Sarabande is an American record label, distributed by Universal Music Group, which specializes in film scores and original cast recordings. It aims to reissue rare or unavailable albums as well as newer releases by artists no longer under a contract...

). The score, performed by the National Philharmonic Orchestra

National Philharmonic Orchestra

The National Philharmonic Orchestra was a British orchestra created exclusively for recording purposes. It was founded by RCA producer Charles Gerhardt and orchestra leader / contractor Sidney Sax due in part to the requirements of the Reader's Digest-History:...

, has been highly acclaimed over the years for its massive size, often lyrical scope and a surprisingly melodic nature.