MovieChat Forums > The Monster That Challenged the World (1957) Discussion > One of the Better '50's Sci-Fi Flicks

One of the Better '50's Sci-Fi Flicks

posted 15 years ago by gbennett5
5 replies | jump to latest

I was pleasantly surprised when I caught this on TCM tonight. Had never
seen it before and wasn't expecting much. But the monsters are actually
pretty decent (especially underwater), and the creepy faces on the dead
victims kind of got me. Again, I wasn't expecting much.

I think what works here is a fairly literate script, decent special effects
and the use of a REAL ocean, as opposed to rear projection or studio
sets.

I also saw elements here that were used in "Jaws" (the girl swimming and
being pulled under the water), as well as "Aliens" (Audrey Dalton and
the little girl - "Close you eyes"). No, this isn't anywhere as near
as wonderful as those two films, but it was interesting.

[–] toldyousew 15 years ago

No, it was NOT one of the better '50's sci-fi movies, but I did note
the similarities to those movies. The movie was bad enough to have been
spoofed by MST:3k.

~I can sing better than Taylor Hicks!

[–] gbennett5 15 years ago

That's your opinion. And the arrogant MST:3k was desperately looking for
as much to spoof as possible. Otherwise they wouldn't have a show, would
they? Not that I found that show amusing (I didn't - it was aimed at 14
year-old boys).

I am very well versed on this era of films and I have seen faaaaaar worse.
Monsters so stupid, they look like they were made by six year-olds. Or
real insects blown up and pasted onto the screen.

Here's Leonard Maltin's take on the movie from his highly respected
film guide:

"Above-average giant-bug-on-the-loose film is set in the Salton Sea,
where colossal mollusks (like big caterpillars in snail shells) menace
mankind. Intelligent, low-key, with good monsters." Rating: two and a
half stars. Which means fair.

I don't think the movie is great - it dragged in the middle, but the effects
and sea atmosphere helped. And the monsters had more personality than
Tim Holt!

[–] drmality-1 14 years ago

All of the late 50's movies scripted by Pat Fiedler are worth a look. "The Vampire" is even better than "The Monster That Challenged the World" (which I liked a LOT) and "The Return of Dracula" is a subtle, spooky classic. Even the worst of her films, "The Flame Barrier", wasn't totally without interest.

MST3K nerds are some of the densest people I know. No sense of historical perspective and laugh only at jokes aimed at middle schoolers.

[–] Strazdamonas 14 years ago

yes, this is one of the better 50s sci-fi flicks. i realyl was surprised about it, didnt expect that much whne i sat donw to watch it.

----------
"Common sense is not so common."
- Voltaire

[–] amitynow 8 years ago

This movie was never on MST3K I believe your mistaken.