Attack of Giant Leeches (B&W)

Starring:Ken Clark, Yvette Vickers, Jan Shepard, Michael Emmet, Tyler McVey, Bruno VeSota, Gene Roth, Dan White, George Cisar, Guy Buccola (II), Ross Sturlin, Joseph Hamilton
Director: Bernard L. Kowalski
Studio: Alpha Video
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

It's hard to say whether this is a low-rent Southern Gothic melodrama or a monster movie; it seems that director Bernard Kowalski couldn't make up his mind which genre to pursue. A local poacher turns up in the swamp half-dead with sucker marks all over his body. Soon after, a fat slob bartender (Corman regular Bruno VeSota) finds his hottie of a wife making out with her boyfriend and forces them into the swamp at gunpoint. From there, the two become a leech snack. When more people disappear in the bayou, the local game warden and resident scientist (isn't there always one, regardless of how remote the place is?) take it seriously and discover the monstrous bloodsuckers. Despite the grade-Z trappings of this movie, threadbare plot, and ludicrous monsters, there are still some chilling and effective moments, such as the scene where doomed victims of the leeches are left to watch in horror as their attackers approach in their lair. The mutated leeches are a result of radiation (but of course). At a scant 62-minute running time, this is some prime drive-in trash, and it's over with before you even have a chance to get sick of it. --Jerry Renshaw

Customer Reviews:

Attack of the Giant Playmate, I Mean Leeches.......2006-05-05

11 out of 12 reviewers (now 12 with mine) are in agreement. 'Attack of the Giant Leeches' is all about the very sexy, kittenish Yvette Vickers in the role of the town tramp Liz Walker. Yvette undoubtedly got the part based on her recent popularity as the July '59 "Playmate of the Month" and all the males out there who were in their adolescence back in the late fifties certainly appreciated her inclusion in the film. She certainly made it watchable for me.

Make no mistake, you're watching this movie for one reason and one reason only. Thanks for the memories Miss Vickers!

Note: Can you believe it, one reviewer actually prefered the leeches over Yvette. Now that's scary.

An all time classic 1950's sci-fi stupidity.......2005-09-01

It must have been great to live in the 1950's. All you had to really worry about was communists and radiation. The communists were evil soulless people who wanted to take over the Earth with a fleet of Sputniks, and radiation turned any animal into a giant killer.

So goes Attack of the Giant Leeches. Underwater monsters that kill without warning from the swampy deep. Apparantly they have an underwater cavern under the swamp where they take their victims to feed on them later. The leeches themselves are a marvel of 1950's technology. They look more like starfish than leeches. Actually they look like men wearing large, unformed rubber suits. Our hero ends up blowing the swamp with dynamite. Of course he doesn't want to, he's an environmentalist (they had those in the 50's). Before he blows the swamp to hell though, he must show his physique and skin dive for a good ten minutes, giving female viewers a thrill. But to no avail, fighting leeches with spearguns is futile.

Now lets get to why anyone would really watch this movie...drum roll please......Yvette Vickers. Oh she is hotter than a firecracker this one. Beautiful legs, face, and a killer bod that she doesn't mind showing off at all. She's Betty Page and Mamie Van Doren rolled up into one. Look how beautiful as she runs through the swamp. She's all wet and she's breathing hard which accentuates her beautiful bosom. Is she running from leeches? No, from her jealous fat husband with a shotgun. How's that for asubplot? Check this movie out, you can't beat the price.

ONE OF THOSE LOVEABLE FIFTIES HORROR FLICKS.......2005-08-21

This is one of the zillion Roger Corman horror flicks of the fifties in which normal creatures are turned into monsters thanks to you guessed it, nuclear energy. This time it's the bloodthirsty leech that gets the monster treatment, replete with actors in rubber leech suits. At a mercifully short 62 minutes, one doesn't have too much time to really fault this sometimes howlable horror. Ken Clark (a blond Clint Walker) is hopelessly deadpan and Yvette Vickers camps it up as the swamp slut. If you're an aficionado of the 50s giant bug movies, you'll have fun with this one.

Hillbilly's and Leeches with laughs!!!.......2005-08-17

The MST3K version is the version I saw and that
was just watchable as I can't imagine sitting through
this garbate without Joel and The Bots.

Actually I would recommend the Mystery Science
Theater version as The Bot Sketches are pretty damn
funny in this that you will die laughing with glee!!!
The first sketch working with difficult people
is a hoot.

Ask for the movie itself, typically turkey, except
we now have dumb hillbilly's thrown into the mix,
this was before the term white trash became popular
in our society. The effects are laughable, but this
what this film is, a really bad movie that'll
make you laugh. There's a side story about
some stupid floozy cheating on her husband, but
the Leeches are the main attraction. At least
we had some sort of setup with the death scenes.
It's classic B-Movie cinema in action.

Attack? Puh-leeze!.......2005-07-01

Indeed in this grade z sci-fi horror flick giant leeches suck the blood of a few people in a Florida Everglades swamp before going kaboom it isn`t really an attack. In fact know one except the leeches victims and the scientists even know about it and it takes them longer then the main charecters in THE GIANT GILA MONSTER to figure it out! I reccomend not watching this bad `50`s movie unless you`re ready for a laugh and to wonder for the rest of your life if Liz Walker dies or not.

Bucket of Blood/Attack of the Giant Leeches

Average customer rating:

Attack of the Giant Leeches - Marengo has best print!
A Bucket of Blood
Fun movies poorly mastered
Drive-in Madness

Bucket of Blood/Attack of the Giant Leeches
Starring: Dick Miller , Barboura Morris , Antony Carbone , Julian Burton , and Ed Nelson
Director: Roger Corman , and Bernard L. Kowalski
Manufacturer: Marengo Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Product Description

BUCKET OF BLOOD-ATTACK OF THE GIANT LEECHES (DVD MOVIE)

Customer Reviews:

Attack of the Giant Leeches - Marengo has best print!.......2006-06-28

Though Marengo does not have thousands of titles available, that is what makes them unique. Each title can have more attention devoted to it and time to find the best elements. Though this was an early (pre equipment upgrade at Marengo) offering, it is well noted that this copy of "Attack of the Giant Leeches" is the best print available on DVD! It was the first time I was able to see what was happening in dark scenes and the rest is crisp. Marengo has several horror titles available and many other genera with more on the way - most all double feature at bargain prices without the bargain quality.

As for "A Bucket of Blood", it does have some early splices but again, overall the element was clean and crisp. A great addition for those who do not have either title.

A Bucket of Blood.......2002-01-05

This "Killer B " DVD Double Feature released by Marengo Fims brings back the classic Creature Double Features I remember so well as a kid. The films are so bad they are fantastic! Do yourself a favor and buy this DVD!

Fun movies poorly mastered.......2001-12-11

These two films are from the Corman production mill. Roger directed A Bucket of Blood, which is a very entertaining (and brief) satire on coffeehouse/beatnik art pretensions. The Giant Leech movie has a couple of funny scenes with Bruno veSota and Yvette Vickers but otherwise falls flat. The print of A Bucket of Blood used for this DVD starts off very badly; it's choppy and distracting from the wonderful opening monologue ("I will talk to you of art, for there is nothing else to talk about..."). Worse, the sound quality is muffled, and it sounds like noise reduction was applied to a master tape that wasn't recorded with Dolby - instead of removing hiss, all the high and low tones are reduced to a flat middle-range. Sometimes it's difficult to understand the dialogue for this reason. The MGM VHS release looks and sounds better than this DVD, but of course, that tape comes without Attack of the Giant Leeches...

Drive-in Madness.......2001-09-22

Get the popcorn, a couple of cold beers, some friends and watch these two old drive-in horror flicks in the dark... it's a kick making fun of the actors, the monsters, the directing, the lighting... everything... a bargain by Marengo Films. I had some friends over... we laughed ourselves silly... one of the characters even looked like my boss... and best of all, he was eaten by one of the monsters...!..

Average customer rating:

Attack of the giant leeches
Starring: Ken Clark; Yvette Vickers; Jan Shepard
Director: Bernard Kowalski
Manufacturer: Trade media
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Black & white

The Wasp Woman - Attack of Giant Leeches

Average customer rating:

Does a slithery tongue give you a buzz?
Great drive-in fun!
Let's All Just Thank God For Roger Corman!!
good and bad
Truly trashy & trivial, but fun

The Wasp Woman - Attack of Giant Leeches
Starring: Guy Buccola (II) , George Cisar , Ken Clark , Michael Emmet , and Joseph Hamilton
Manufacturer: Madacy Records
ProductGroup: DVD
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Cult Classics: Earth vs. the Spider/War of the Colossal Beast
The Crawling Eye (Widescreen European Edition)
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The Black Scorpion
Attack of Giant Leeches (B&W)

ASIN: B00005A07L
Release Date: 2001-03-20

Customer Reviews:

Does a slithery tongue give you a buzz?.......2005-03-24

The Wasp Woman:

Maintaining that wasp waist

Janice Starlin (Susan Cabot) head of a cosmetics company was told the she needs to stay young to promote the product. What can she do? Enter garage scientist Eric Zinthrop (Michael Mark) with a dubious formula made from wasp royal jelly. He explains that "just a little dab will do you." She gets greedy and shoots up with the extra strong stuff. This gives her a BUZZ and can have biting consequences.
-----------------------------------------------------------

Giant Gila Monster:

A huge slithery tongue

This is a picture of life before CGI. The contrived dialog is part of the mystique. You get to see hotrods and large lizards (every thing is bigger in Texas.) The blob it is not; but it is a necessary addition to any 50' collection.

A teenage boy and a teenage girl disappear together and the law is getting suspicious.

I want to ask the monster if teenagers taste like chicken?

Great drive-in fun!.......2003-12-31

It was a real treat watching this DVD! I enjoyed the authentic drive-in setting, although they could have thrown in some refreshment stand ads that would have completed the experience. The only thing I found annoying was the starting of the movies on that animated drive-in screen. I could have done without that. The movie prints themselves are in decent shape, or at least par with other copies I have seen of these movies. The only other beef I have is the green tint of the wasp woman. For ten bucks I thought this was quite a steal, and I will definitely investigate other titles in this series, however good or bad they may be!

Let's All Just Thank God For Roger Corman!!.......2003-06-24

Without Roger Corman, classics like these would not exist! Wasp Woman is one of the best schlock-o-ramas ever filmed! Susan Cabot injects herself with "royal wasp jelly" serum in order to regain her youth. She looks beautiful, but is turned into a homicidal maniac in a silly looking "wasp" mask. Her "claws" are basically black, fuzzy gloves with what look like styrofoam nails glued on them. This only adds to the fun! "Attack Of The Giant Leeches" has it's own gooey charm. Giant leeches grab all the hillbillies they can carry, and store 'em in a secret underwater cave-lair. Yvette Vickers sizzles and fries up the screen every time she appears! I'd recommend this movie just to see her! She's married to a fat guy who catches her in the arms of his "good friend" Cal. The best scene is when chubby-hubby forces the two lovebirds into the local swamp at gunpoint. Pay no attention to the men in those hefty-bag leech costumes! Just watch Yvette and all will be well...

good and bad.......2003-01-09

Ok, the price is right for two ace sci-fi b-movies. Well the video is alright, I'll even say good. But the audio is HORRIBLE. I don't think I'd buy this if I had it to do again. Which is a shame because the films are great for laughs.

Truly trashy & trivial, but fun.......2002-12-12

I'm not going to try to analyze the merits of these films, like some reviewing predecessors. Quite simply, Madacy Enterainment has once again come up with a great double-bill of "the best of the worst", complete with cartoon and trailers. It's amusing that Allied Artists (Wasp Woman) and American-International (Leeches) are represented here, since they were rivals for years to get the drive-in crowd. The acting in both is abysmal, which is only right and proper. "Wasp Woman" was early Corman, and shows a bit of style, but try to overlook that and enjoy the trashiness of it all. I love it when the male lead in these films shows off manly chest-hair (Ken Clark in "Leeches"). He IS the hero, can anyone doubt it? What a guy! I've always liked Yvette Vickers (Leeches); too bad she did too many of these films to legitimize her career. Once again, Madacy included a Popeye cartoon without Olive Oyl. Pity. Lighten up! Give yourself a break from the intellectual. Life's too short not to indulge yourself in some trashy fun.

The Screaming Skull/Attack of the Giant Leeches - Drive-In Discs Vol.1

Average customer rating:

The poor picture-quality can be improved
"A Night at the DRIVE-IN".......FOR REAL!!
Who cares about the movies!
Great Dated Movie
Surprisingly worthwhile!

The Screaming Skull/Attack of the Giant Leeches - Drive-In Discs Vol.1
Starring: Guy Buccola (II) , George Cisar , Ken Clark , Michael Emmet , and Joseph Hamilton
Manufacturer: Elite Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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I Bury the Living

ASIN: 630580396X
Release Date: 2001-01-02

Amazon.com

In an effort to re-create a genuine drive-in experience in the comfort of your own living room, Elite Entertainment has paired up two horror films with nothing in common, tossed in a couple of cartoons, and dredged up a night's worth of intermission fillers. Alex Nicol's The Screaming Skull is an eerily effective little psycho-thriller about a newlywed (Peggy Webber) who moves into her husband's secluded mansion and becomes haunted by the ghost of his first wife. Borrowing liberally from Hitchcock's Under Capricorn (in particular the titular skull that follows our traumatized heroine around ), Nicol gives it a Southern Gothic twist with a decaying old mansion, a "slow," childlike handyman, and a strangling, overgrown setting. The Giant Leeches is another story, a swamp trash take on Creature from the Black Lagoon with floppy rubber creatures trawling the everglades for victims. They're as scary as a garbage bag and about as distinct too, but the real fun is the film's hothouse melodrama of hick poachers and hot-to-trot hillbilly adulterers. The giant bloodsuckers are explained away in classic fashion: "Maybe our proximity to Cape Canaveral has something to do with it."

Elite's transfers are better than one would expect, a little soft perhaps but clear, clean, and intact, and they've both been effectively letterboxed. They've also gone the extra mile to complete the drive-in experience with the alternate "Distort-O" audio option. Select the track and listen to the glorious low-fi reproduction of the tinny, buzzy drive-in speaker sound. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

The poor picture-quality can be improved.......2007-02-28

The movies are good, but the picture-quality is poor on Leeches and average on Skull. When i changed the setting on my dvd-player from 4:3ps to 4:3lb, it got better.

"A Night at the DRIVE-IN".......FOR REAL!!.......2003-02-14

I must admit that I'd been holding off buying this (and the other disc)--due to the price AND the conflicting reviews of others (some have loved them...some were unrelenting in their criticism). Finally, I bought them both...

I have 4 speakers installed, in that "Surround" set-up thing...(it also works fine with only 2 speakers)...in the front left speaker, you'll hear the audio of the film (being transmitted over what SOUNDS like an actual Drive-In speaker...very tinny and MONO). In the other speaker(s), what is heard are nighttime crickets, people walking past, cars pulling up to park (beside me!), and other miscellaneous sounds!--all of which is Extremely authentic. For example, during the "Giant Leeches," (on volume ONE) there's even a carload of testosterone-charged teenagers...about 7 or 8 rows ahead (to the right!), who whistle every time blond bombshell Yvette Vickers comes onto the screen. During the intermission "highlights," people are heard running to the concession stand placing their orders, etc. ****REMEMBER: All these sounds CAN BE TURNED OFF with your DVD remote, (choosing the secondary audio track) and you'll hear full-blown (mono) audio without the distractions of the public!

The ambient Drive-In sounds on the second DVD ("Wasp Woman," "Gila Monster") are much more entertaining--I think...especially as you watch the intermission tid-bits and cartoons with two young couples who joke about the images on the screen--with regards to the warning of NO PUBLIC DISPLAY OF AFFECTION, "Let's All Go to the Lobby," and especially the Freudian humor of "Chilly Dilly Pickles"! You can't help but to laugh with them! There's no annoying chatter among the (invisible) people during the films--if you're thinking that I'm implying a sort of MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATRE atmosphere...the folks are respectfully silent (that is, about 98% of the time).

As for the quality of the films...(and to address the complaints of other reviewers)...Both feature films (on both DVDs) are presented in widescreen (1.85:1), and yes, there ARE flaws; "moderate-to-low" print-quality, splices (jump-cuts), scratches...but, hey!--YOU'RE AT THE DRIVE-IN that's showing grade-Z horror/sci-fi schlock! The "worn" prints, in my opinion, only ADD to the authenticity of being at the Drive-In movies. If you want a pristine, camera-negative, re-mastered Director's Cut of "The Wasp Woman," I might suggest waiting until Criterion releases it(!!)

Some of the intermission segments ARE repeated on the second DVD...but then, some are NEW; again, you're "visiting" your local neighborhood Drive-In, and they're not going to show a new commercial for the same food! One reviewer noted that the shorts are not of the same time period (i.e. the 1930's "Betty Boop" combined with 1950's horror), but, if you're at an outdoor theatre that's showing 2 cheapie "flicks," in actuality, all they'd probably be able to afford to rent WOULD BE a "Betty Boop" cartoon! (NOTE: The "Betty Boop" and "Popeye" cartoons ARE different on both DVD's.)

Another reviewer noted that there's no time-code (counter-display) on the DVD player. So? When was the last time you ever saw a number-counter on the theatre screen? Again folks, these DVDs are meant to give you the feel of actually being at the Drive-In...where you aren't supposed to worry about time--just worry about having fun on a "night out," and the only "time" given is the on-screen "count-down" before the next feature--giving you time to get your last hot-dog or soda.

The only problem that I CAN agree with, is that each segment (intermission bits, coming attractions, etc.) are on separate DVD "chapters," and the player must pause (ever so) briefly to seek out the next bit. It's a slight hinderance, but nothing major. TRY THIS: For those who have a DVD playing capability in their home computer, try both DRIVE-IN discs, and you'll see the entire 3 hour presentation WITHOUT ANY pauses or breaks...you'll even "hear" the pops of the splices between film segments!

All this being said, I must honestly endorse both DVDs for those who yearn for a bit of nostalgia...and an entertaining evening in front of the boob-tube!

Who cares about the movies!.......2001-11-12

I bought this DVD strictly for the classic Filmack intermission clock, which was hard-to-find on VHS. It's the same one that is featured in the movie "Grease", and it's always been my all-time fave intermission trailer. The transfer is excellent, and the copy that Elite has used is in prestine condition. The movies are interesting to watch with all the bad acting, and hokey special effects, but they are classic drive-in movie stuff. I am glad that these discs are available, especially with all the intermission trailers.

Great Dated Movie.......2001-10-03

The movie "Attack of the Giant Leeches" is a great movie even considering the dated material and the low budget. Even with these shortcomings it is entertaining in todays standards. The acting is good,the direction has flair and the setting is truly spooky. The highlight of the film is the part of Miss Vickers she is truly sexy even by today's standards and it is easily understood why Miss Vickers has developed a cult folling from this film.
The second feature is also well done again considering the budget limitations. I would highly recommend this DVD to any Sci-Fi or horror movie lover.

Surprisingly worthwhile!.......2001-05-18

My wife insisted we buy this, and I really had my doubts. I was, however, pleasantly surprised! This is one of the most enjoyable discs we've bought. While the movies are hardly the best, the overall experience makes this disc a great buy. The ads, intermission, and "Let's All Go to the Lobby" are worth the price of the DVD alone. Throw in the goofy movies, the Distort-O! Sound, and the drive-in background noise, and you've got yourself a great disc. This makes for a fun family night in front of the TV. While some of the content may be too much for younger kids, my ten year old son loved both movies and the extras. We're eagerly awaiting Volume 2!

Horror Classics Volume 3: Attack of the Giant Leeches, The Screaming Skull, Beast of Yucca Flats, The Terror, Revolt of the Zombies

Average customer rating:

classics is a bit much,but the transfers are so bad how can you tell

Horror Classics Volume 3: Attack of the Giant Leeches, The Screaming Skull, Beast of Yucca Flats, The Terror, Revolt of the Zombies
Starring: Ken Clark; John Hudson; Tor Johnson; Boris Karloff; Dean Jagger
Manufacturer: Mill Creek Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0009W306K
Release Date: 2004-01-01

Customer Reviews:

classics is a bit much,but the transfers are so bad how can you tell.......2006-05-22

save your money you can find better copies of these movies in any collection out there and get better prices.

Average customer rating:

Sci-fi Classics

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

The Brain that wouldn't die
The Giant Gila Monster
Attack of the Giant Leeches
The Phantom Planet

ASIN: B000RJ6ER2

Product Description

4 dvds each in it's own case with a cardboard sleeve.

Triple Feature Sci Fi Monster Classics; Gammera the Invincible, Night of the Blood Beast, & Attack of the Giant Leeches

Average customer rating:

Horrorfest Delights!

Triple Feature Sci Fi Monster Classics; Gammera the Invincible, Night of the Blood Beast, & Attack of the Giant Leeches

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Gammera the Invincible
Night of the Blood Beast
Attack of the Giant Leeches
Glorious B+W Transfers
Monster Classics

ASIN: B000HJ2BKG

Product Description

These are the classics to have for this Haloween season! Uncut vibrant B+W transfers for an entire evenings worth of monster horror!

Customer Reviews:

Horrorfest Delights!.......2006-08-09

Anytime you see 3 classic monster classics of this quality in one bright blood red amaray case, you know you're in for a treat! My favorite Japanese turtle; no, not the nijas, but Gammera, flys into the picture after shades of WWIII, and only plan Z can stop him... or can it? After all with Gamera on the rampage it just may be humanity's last desparate chance. No girl was safe as long as this head hunting thing roamed the land! That's the tag line from Night of the Blood Beast; actually an extraterrestrial stowaway with a plan to use it's victims as a breeding ground for alien embryos. A bit like Alien, but 30 years earlier, and a lot more fun to watch! Lastly the horror classic Attack of the Giant Leeches; in which a depraved sinister force threatend the back woods. The leeches are on a kidnapping spree, and it's up to the locals to battle the mammoth leeches in an explosive climax which should take you up to about midnight!

Average customer rating:

Attack of The Giant Leeches

Manufacturer: Digiview Productions
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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When bloodless bodies start turning up, the local game warden is reluctant to believe the rumors that this is due to a blood-sucking creature from the swamp.

A Bucket of Blood/Attack of the Giant Leeches

Average customer rating:

Drive-In horror films with beatnicks and hot rodders

A Bucket of Blood/Attack of the Giant Leeches
Starring: DVD Cult 2 Movies Classics
Manufacturer: DVD Cult Classics
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Indestructible Man/The Brain That Wouldn't Die
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Night of the Living Dead/House on Haunted Hill
Sci-Fi Classics: Assignment Outer Space; Laser Mission; Blood Tide; Brain Machine [4-Movie Pack]

ASIN: B0002Q9VCA
Release Date: 2004-07-27

Customer Reviews:

Drive-In horror films with beatnicks and hot rodders.......2005-07-24

The key thing to know about "A Bucket of Blood," the first of this double feature DVD is that Roger Corman made it a year before he did "Little Shop of Horror." Both movies starred Dick Miller, both were made in less than a week on shoestring budgets (five days for $30,000), and both films constitute horror-comedy, although "Little Shop" is decidedly more over the top. But do not be surprised if you like this 1959 Corman film better.

The horror element is actually in vogue again with the release of a new version of "House of Wax" this week, since Miller plays Walter Paisley, a bus boy at The Yellow Door, an art house care that is the place to go for the Beat Generation. Paisley is a would-be-sculptor wants to be accepted by all of the cool cats, but he does not really have any talent. Then he accidentally kills his cat and when he covers it with clay he is suddenly proclaimed as having a "talent" for lifelike artwork. Another accident, of a sort, gives him the opportunity to move on to human figures, at which point Walter starts looking for new subjects. The ending strikes you as being something out of "The Twilight Zone," but up to that point it works for the most part because of the performances by Miller, Barboura Morris as Carla, and most of the supporting roles.

The comedy part comes not from the killing and sculpting but from the movie's send up of the beatnik scene. The cafe is filled with Beat poets and folk singers. Part of the reason it works is that what is happening at the cafe is not really parody, but earnest attempts in the accepted Beat style. The babble coming out of the mouth of Maxwell (Julian Burton) has the appropriate sense of pseudo-profundity and the guy walking around playing the guitar and singing is Alex Hassilev, who was about to help form the Limeliters. This movie was remade in 1995 as one of the cable television movies presented under the umbrella title "Roger Corman Presents," but that was not half the movie the original black & white, quick & dirty film is as far as I am concerned.

"Attack of the Giant Gila Monster" is one of those films where you take a real animal and having it crawl through miniature sets. The tagline for this film was: "Only Hell could breed such an enormous beast. Only God could destroy it!" But this 1959 film from director Ray Kellogg ("The Killer Shrews," "The Green Berets"--how is that for a credit combo?), filmed in north Texas for $138,000, is a lot more low-keyed than those lines would suggest. In fact, what is interesting given when this film is made is the key relationship between Sheriff Jeff (Fred Graham) and young Chase Winstead (Don Sullivan). The kid is working on his hot rod and instead of busting his chops the sheriff really functions as a mentor: he says he is concerned about the kids in town, and you actually believe it. The idea of having a movie in which a teenage hot rodder, who also sings like Pat Boone who is not a juvenile delinquent, or at least treated like one by the cops, is rather refreshing, although admittedly the character is a bit heavy on the saccharine. But Sullivan has a natural charm and the guy wrote his own songs, so give him some credit.

But since we are talking letting a Gila monster wander through miniatures in a film with teenage hot rodders, of course this movie received "MST3K" treatment (Season 4, when Joel turned Crow and Servo into "The Thing With Two Heads" as inspired by the movie of the same name"). My major complaint about this film is that the day for night shooting is so dark I have a hard time figuring out what is happening. Obviously the special effects budget is such that most of the "horror" is suggested by quick cuts rather than actually showing everything. Still, I like the way that everybody is pretty level headed in this film and deal with the giant Gila monster in a relatively intelligent manner without wasting a lot of time and effort. Yes, finding the monster, which is the size of several houses, should not take so long, but then the movie would be shorter and it is only 74 minutes anyway.

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

Improvisation for the Theatre DVD

Bernard's Watch

Darkman III: Die Darkman Die (REGION 1) (NTSC)

DVD: Duets

Cirque du Soleil - Quidam