A 1959 monster flick that was - on paper - directed by Riccardo Freda. The film is a kind of mashup between a “scientists make weird discovery in Mayan ruins” picture and THE BLOB. What makes this film of note is that Freda himself claims that the great Mario Bava did most of the directing of this film uncredited and it shows. From the subtle use of black and white / light and shadow to the making pennies seem like dollars in the look and feel of the sets, and the ingenuity of the monster, this is a Bava film. The monster itself really is little more than what looks like an oil-covered cloth, but through some creativity and a little back-winding, the thing looks pretty damn creepy. The acting is standard Fifties-era monster movie. For Bava fans, this is a must see. For “monsters from outer space” fans, it is as well. For anyone who is interested in a unique take on a classic monster, this is a fun little ride. Not a lot of blood, but some of the FX are pretty nifty. This film is often hard to find, but if you are able to get your hands on it, it’s worth a viewing.
Rating: 3 out of 5
~ Thom Carnell
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