Mega Monsters - mid-1950s in horror - 1955-57
So, Sin and I got through three more years in our horror movie marathon, and this was an interesting one. We had a couple of what could be called the first "modern" horror movies, and we had more giant monsters. We had more voodoo stuff. It's interesting to note that America only had sci fi horror films for these years. It was the international market that really started expanding into the macabre.
1955
Cult of the Cobra: This was kind of like the Mummy but with snake rituals. Very similar to Cat People, too. Can't say it was worth a watch honestly. Pretty basic stuff.
Tarantula: I fucking loved this movie. Being a major spider fan myself, I was fascinated. When the tarantula peeks into the house window, I was amazed. I was practically cheering this epic spider on. (I ended up acquiring a tarantula the next day actually.) But the tropes this set up were incredible. In some ways it responded to Mesa of Lost Women (connected spider experiments with disability and women's sexuality in the desert). Plus, it followed the Them! trope of having the ten-minute entomology lesson once everyone acknowledges the monster is real. Love this movie.
Les Diaboliques: Such a fun queer horror film. Apparently, Hitchcock wanted the film but couldn't get it. But I was totally here for the main couple. Definitely a recommended film if you like queer subtexts in horror. Was thrilling throughout.
1956
Invasion of the Body Snatchers: I had never seen this before, but it lived up to its reputation. When the main character bashes in the face of one of the pods, I was like, "Damn." Seeing him freak out in the city was great too. I caught the reference to this film in the Netflix Sabrina series, too, with the mandrake episode!
Rodan/Radon: I mean...I liked it better than Godzilla. It was funner. Probably the bloodiest film we've seen so far.
The Black Sleep: This was another monster group film with some big name actors in it. It was okay. I'd give it 7 of 10 stars. Seeing Carradine beat the shit out of people with a cane in a robe was the best part, hands down.
The Werewolf: Ugh. So bad. Don't even.
1957
The Black Scorpion: Definitely more action-packed than some of the other giant bug movies. But I thought it was so poorly made. Some much footage is repeated for dramatic effect, and the plot didn't work as well for me as some of the others. But, the special effects were pretty great. The scorpions proved to be deadlier enemies than the ants or tarantula.
Curse of Frankenstein: Finally, the first Hammer horror film. It was a doozy. It's like if someone was drunk and tried to understand the Sparknotes version of Frankenstein. So, screw the original book. We're just gonna have fun with this one. And it wasn't bad. I loved seeing Saruman play the Creature (Satan below, he was so young in this film), and the technicolor was beautiful.
Night of the Demon: A shockingly well-made b&w film. Loved the Satanism of it. Loved the demon himself (would love him to fuck me). The sound effects could have used some work. But the story was captivating. Was constantly unsure if the supernatural would be disproven or not!
The Giant Claw: Oh. My. Satan. You have to watch this if only to laugh at it.
La Momia Azteca: The Mexican Mummy film. Largely, better than when Universal did it. Better characters. Better creature design. Better scares. And for me, the Spanish wasn't too hard to understand either.
La Maldicion de la Momia Azteca: Part two of the Mexican Mummy series...Don't watch it. There's a luchador. And it's a lot more gangster stuff. It's just....not the same.
From Hell It Came: Oh boy. A demon tree. White characters playing people of color. Hyper-colonialist. Hyper-sexist. Just...ugh.
The Undead: A stupid film about hypnosis. Couldn't finish it.
The Vampire: Not bad as far as old vampire films go. Reads vampirism as pill addiction like we had seen last time Carradine played Dracula. Kinda enjoyed this one honestly.
I Vampirii: An Italian horror film that flopped miserably and was not good.
Voodoo Island: I loved this film for the carnivorous plants alone. They are SO sexualized, and I was here for it. It was like plants inspired Freddy or Jason. They'd wait till someone was bathing in a ravine, or they'd attack with phallic pods. It was just SO sexual. I love it.
The Woman Eater: This was all around bad, too. With a carnivorous tree this time. And zombies. -sigh-
Invisible Shrinking Man: Was fun for the spider fight. Reminded me a lot of Kafka's Metamorphosis. Not bad? But not good either really.
I Was a Teenage Werewolf: I actually thought this was endearing. We had our first werewolf walking around a school. Linked to juvenile delinquency. The makeup was unoriginal, but the plot had a fun evil scientist. Was the typical relationship between Dr. Frankenstein and Chaney's Wolfman, so that was a fun relationship to see again after a while. Not bad, but the plot really wasn't that original.
I Was a Teenage Frankenstein: Okay, this opinion might get me killed. I think this is my favorite Frankenstein movie thus far. It had the best creature design with one enormous eye. Had our first (to my memory) decapitated head on screen since the 1890s in horror. Rumored to have used the alligators John Ball used in his serial killing in the 30s. The plot was super fun. The beast of the film was really the scientist in a way that other Frankenstein films have failed at. The shopping for a new face was horrific in a fun way, and the acting was just superb. I loved it.
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So overall favs, here we go!
For me: Tarantula is definitely number one. Then Teenage Frankenstein. Then maybe...Voodoo Island? Night of the Demon belongs in the top somewhere, too. Those are my top four. These four were just fun for me. I feel like horror was starting to really play with people's fears in unique ways at this time. And I had a blast with these three years.
For Sin: "Invasion of the Body Snatchers. La Momia Azteca, that was just entertaining. There was a third...but I can't remember the third. Those were my main two."
---
So comment question of the day: What's your favorite giant monster horror movie?
1955
Cult of the Cobra: This was kind of like the Mummy but with snake rituals. Very similar to Cat People, too. Can't say it was worth a watch honestly. Pretty basic stuff.
Tarantula: I fucking loved this movie. Being a major spider fan myself, I was fascinated. When the tarantula peeks into the house window, I was amazed. I was practically cheering this epic spider on. (I ended up acquiring a tarantula the next day actually.) But the tropes this set up were incredible. In some ways it responded to Mesa of Lost Women (connected spider experiments with disability and women's sexuality in the desert). Plus, it followed the Them! trope of having the ten-minute entomology lesson once everyone acknowledges the monster is real. Love this movie.
Les Diaboliques: Such a fun queer horror film. Apparently, Hitchcock wanted the film but couldn't get it. But I was totally here for the main couple. Definitely a recommended film if you like queer subtexts in horror. Was thrilling throughout.
1956
Invasion of the Body Snatchers: I had never seen this before, but it lived up to its reputation. When the main character bashes in the face of one of the pods, I was like, "Damn." Seeing him freak out in the city was great too. I caught the reference to this film in the Netflix Sabrina series, too, with the mandrake episode!
Rodan/Radon: I mean...I liked it better than Godzilla. It was funner. Probably the bloodiest film we've seen so far.
The Black Sleep: This was another monster group film with some big name actors in it. It was okay. I'd give it 7 of 10 stars. Seeing Carradine beat the shit out of people with a cane in a robe was the best part, hands down.
The Werewolf: Ugh. So bad. Don't even.
1957
The Black Scorpion: Definitely more action-packed than some of the other giant bug movies. But I thought it was so poorly made. Some much footage is repeated for dramatic effect, and the plot didn't work as well for me as some of the others. But, the special effects were pretty great. The scorpions proved to be deadlier enemies than the ants or tarantula.
Curse of Frankenstein: Finally, the first Hammer horror film. It was a doozy. It's like if someone was drunk and tried to understand the Sparknotes version of Frankenstein. So, screw the original book. We're just gonna have fun with this one. And it wasn't bad. I loved seeing Saruman play the Creature (Satan below, he was so young in this film), and the technicolor was beautiful.
Night of the Demon: A shockingly well-made b&w film. Loved the Satanism of it. Loved the demon himself (would love him to fuck me). The sound effects could have used some work. But the story was captivating. Was constantly unsure if the supernatural would be disproven or not!
The Giant Claw: Oh. My. Satan. You have to watch this if only to laugh at it.
La Momia Azteca: The Mexican Mummy film. Largely, better than when Universal did it. Better characters. Better creature design. Better scares. And for me, the Spanish wasn't too hard to understand either.
La Maldicion de la Momia Azteca: Part two of the Mexican Mummy series...Don't watch it. There's a luchador. And it's a lot more gangster stuff. It's just....not the same.
From Hell It Came: Oh boy. A demon tree. White characters playing people of color. Hyper-colonialist. Hyper-sexist. Just...ugh.
The Undead: A stupid film about hypnosis. Couldn't finish it.
The Vampire: Not bad as far as old vampire films go. Reads vampirism as pill addiction like we had seen last time Carradine played Dracula. Kinda enjoyed this one honestly.
I Vampirii: An Italian horror film that flopped miserably and was not good.
Voodoo Island: I loved this film for the carnivorous plants alone. They are SO sexualized, and I was here for it. It was like plants inspired Freddy or Jason. They'd wait till someone was bathing in a ravine, or they'd attack with phallic pods. It was just SO sexual. I love it.
The Woman Eater: This was all around bad, too. With a carnivorous tree this time. And zombies. -sigh-
Invisible Shrinking Man: Was fun for the spider fight. Reminded me a lot of Kafka's Metamorphosis. Not bad? But not good either really.
I Was a Teenage Werewolf: I actually thought this was endearing. We had our first werewolf walking around a school. Linked to juvenile delinquency. The makeup was unoriginal, but the plot had a fun evil scientist. Was the typical relationship between Dr. Frankenstein and Chaney's Wolfman, so that was a fun relationship to see again after a while. Not bad, but the plot really wasn't that original.
I Was a Teenage Frankenstein: Okay, this opinion might get me killed. I think this is my favorite Frankenstein movie thus far. It had the best creature design with one enormous eye. Had our first (to my memory) decapitated head on screen since the 1890s in horror. Rumored to have used the alligators John Ball used in his serial killing in the 30s. The plot was super fun. The beast of the film was really the scientist in a way that other Frankenstein films have failed at. The shopping for a new face was horrific in a fun way, and the acting was just superb. I loved it.
---
So overall favs, here we go!
For me: Tarantula is definitely number one. Then Teenage Frankenstein. Then maybe...Voodoo Island? Night of the Demon belongs in the top somewhere, too. Those are my top four. These four were just fun for me. I feel like horror was starting to really play with people's fears in unique ways at this time. And I had a blast with these three years.
For Sin: "Invasion of the Body Snatchers. La Momia Azteca, that was just entertaining. There was a third...but I can't remember the third. Those were my main two."
---
So comment question of the day: What's your favorite giant monster horror movie?
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