The Magnetic Monster (1953)

This has been a couple of hot and humid days and unfortunately, it looks like I have to start my grass cutting odyssey all over. Man, that has been rough. But, after going to the Naro Cinema today to watch Jaws, I felt like watching a classic Sci-Fi flick.  So, I settled on the 1953 entry, the Magnetic Monster.

Plot: The Office of Scientific Investigation sends A-Men agents to investigate reports of unusual magnetic activity in various communities.

Having never watched this one before, I found this was one of the better low budget Sci-Fi  flicks of the era. This one featured some decent performances, an interesting (and intelligent) storyline, solid pacing, and a realistic approach to the subject matter. From director Ivan Tors (Science Fiction Theater), this one comes complete with an outstanding ending, making it one that should be seen. Yes,  the film did feel a little dated today, but for something that is pushing 70-years-old, it is well worth watching. CHECK IT OUT!

UFO: The Truth About Flying Saucers (1956)

This weather here in Virginia Beach has been miserable with it feeling more like I live in Florida than Virginia. But,  even with the weather,  it has not been a terrible week. I did get to see both The Empire Strikes Back and Asteroid City at the NARO and catch some other movie.  Something weird did happen on my last selection though,  I chose a 2018 movie called UFO and what strange was a 1956 documentary/movie called UFO: The Truth About Flying Saucers.

Plot: Interviews and documentary footage combine with the fictional story of an air-force pilot who encounters aliens.

Considering the age of this docudrama, this is an amazingly informative movie. Using actual Military documents and footage with a somewhat fictional story to help navigate the material was a great way to put forth the matter-of-fact approach to the material is refreshing.  This is especially true when comparing it to the documentaries that have overtaken every streaming service on the subject matter. As a researcher, it is really interesting that there are still many similarities between the different decades when it comes to the subject matter. In fact, in many ways, it may be a more accurate capsule of the UFO topic. Yes, is does move slowly and doesnt have the flair of the modern UFO documentary, but it is likely more realistic acting as a real news piece unlike the feeling and interpretation driven approach that litters every  documentary today. This one definitely presented the material and presented the material in a way that allows the viewer to make their own decision on what they believe instead of attempting to steer a narrative. This may not be for everyone, but any serious UFO buff should love it. I did and totally recommend it.

The Thing from Another World! (1951)

While the pickings were slim this weekend in the great vintage toy quest that I am working on and the weather was mostly miserable, I decided that I would spend some time catching up on many of the films I have watched in the past few months and have not reviewed. To get back in the swing of things, I decided that the 1951 classic The Thing from Another World would be my next film for review.

Plot/ Scientists at an Arctic research station discover a spacecraft buried in the ice. Upon closer examination, they discover the frozen pilot. All hell breaks loose when they take him back to their station and he is accidentally thawed out!

This must be one of the best Sci-Fi films of the 1950s and a movie that I believe every fan of science fiction must see. In many ways, this film laid the foundation for everything we see in the genre today and as one would expect, it holds up quite well after all these years. Produced (and likely directed) by Howard Hawks, this film starts slow but rises beyond expectations featuring solid performances, an outstanding script with near perfect dialog, and a heavy atmosphere that does a great job at painting a picture of isolation.  Sure, the monster isn’t seen near enough and there is somewhat of a documentary feel, but those are easily overlooked in films entire body of work. In the end, if you have not seen this one, you are missing out. Find it and give it a shot, I highly recommend it.

Invaders from Mars (1953)

I know, I know, I haven’t done one of these in what seems like forever (which is true). But, now, after having my batteries recharged, it is time to get back into the swing of things and start coming back into the blogosphere. Fortunately, I haven’t totally ignored my love of horror and Sci-Fi cinema over this absence, and now I have an extremely wide variety of films to choose from as I bring The Ringmaster’s Realm back to life. First up is a classic Sci-Fi tale, the 1953 entry Invaders from Mars.

Plot/ A young boy learns that space aliens are taking over the minds of earthlings.

Being one that had never experienced the original Invaders from Mars, I somewhat expected something close to the horrendous remake from my teens. Fortunately, what I found was something much better and entertaining. The atmosphere is perfect, the storytelling does a great job at capturing your attention form a child’s perspective, and the overarching theme of anti-Communism rings throughout in a way that plants the seed in your mind and conjures fears that today, many couldn’t fathom. Yes, there are some issues caused by the lower budget, but those are easy to overlook. The effects may not be great, the acting somewhat stiff, and there are quite a few holes that are hard to ignore, but overall, it is much better than it probably should have been. In the end, this movie is much more than the schlock classic that it is often referred to as. This is a well thought out and executed Sci-Fi flick from an era where the subtle meanings mattered more than the quality. If you have not seen it, find it and watch it. It runs circles around the sequel and is a must see for Sci-Fi fans.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

It has been a slow evening as I mentally prepare myself for the Halloween parade tomorrow and with that, I decided to finally venture into Riverdale. Before I got to that point tonight, I decided to watch the 1956 sci-fi/horror classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

Plot/ A small-town doctor learns that the population of his community is being replaced by emotionless alien duplicates.

There many great sci-fi movies from the 1950s, most of which built on the paranoia of the era and created horrific narratives that resonated with the population of the day. In many ways, it is those elements that allow this somewhat simple storyline to develop into something much darker and memorable. This movie is a tremendous watch featuring solid performances, a claustrophobic dark atmosphere, perfect pacing, and a soundtrack that allowed everything to build a tense mood. Of course, the realism of the aliens being human added a depth that was often misplaced by the creatures in the rubber suits that made up the majority of the sci-fi films of the era. Yes, there may be some plot holes and littered inside the storyline and some of the effects may not totally hold up across the decades, but those are but small flaws in this classic film. In the end, while others have attempted to recreate this movie in different eras and still this version is by far the best. If fact, in many ways it is arguably the best sci-fi flick of the 1950s and a movie that must be seen.

The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958)

Yesterday was one of the final long softball days of the season and will admit it took its toll on me. I was beaten down and just wanted to sleep. When I finally cleared my head, I decided to watch something older. After some searching, I decided on the 1958 classic film, The Revenge of Frankenstein.

Plot/ Baron Frankenstein escapes from the guillotine and goes to Germany. There, he names himself Dr. Stein and plans to restart his experiments by using parts of dead bodies.

I was in the mood for some type of classic last night and decided to turn to Hammer Studios and that decision was rewarded. This is one of the more underpublicized films from the catalog, but it offers everything you could ask for from one of the early Frankenstein films. More atmospheric and creepy, this movie looks amazing. The sets, the lighting, pacing, and the cinematography are perfect, the performances were outstanding, and the storyline was full of twists and turns and added some depth that many entries in the historic life of Frankenstein do not have. Yes, it may be more of a drama or thriller than a horror film and as usual, the story is more about the doctor than the creature, but any fan of Hammer Horror should already expect those elements. In the end, this is an entertaining movie to watch and a perfect movie for a quiet night with Doctor Frankenstein. If you have not seen it, check it out.

The Wasp Woman (1959)

After diving into the They Crawl set yesterday, I decided that I needed to find something mindless to help me truly process the end of Twin Peaks: The Return. With that in mind, I dove back into the 12 Creature Features set for the 1959 Roger Corman entry, The Wasp Woman.

Plot/ A cosmetics queen develops a youth formula from jelly taken from queen wasps, failing to anticipate the typical hoary side effects.

No one can draw me into classic no-budget horror/sci-fi than Roger Corman. I know that I grew up a little late to enjoy the classic Saturday afternoon matinee, but I did have a chance to enjoy the afternoon and midnight Horror Hosts and his movies were a staple. This one may be one of his more creative efforts and a flick that is extremely entertaining. Most importantly, it has become a staple on multiple box sets that are readily available. This one has an interesting, yet predictable storyline that actually shows some depth with some small subtle twists. It also features some solid performances, decent pacing, and some suspense. Yes, there are some uneven effects that push the limits and the overall cinematography does suffer from the extremely low budget, but what else would you expect from the era of schlock-filled sci-fi gems. In the end, this one is better than most flicks on this latest box set and a movie that those who enjoy classic sci-fi schlock should enjoy. If you are a Corman fan or a person who just loved the classic creature feature, check it out.

Attack of the Giant Leeches (1959)

As I wait for the final two episodes of Twin Peaks: The Return to start tonight, I decided to finish up one of the flicks I watched yesterday. That film is the 1959 low budget/ no budget entry Attack of the Giant Leeches.

Plot/ A backwoods game warden and a local doctor discover that giant leeches are responsible for disappearances and deaths in a local swamp, but the local police don't believe them.

How can you not enjoy anything that Roger Corman is involved with? Honestly, just the name alone should draw you into a low budget schlockfest. That is exactly what this film is, although it actually offers some depth in the scripting department (albeit with some plot holes). This movie offers a solid combination of comedy, drama, and even some horror elements and a decent understanding of the cultures involved. Yes, the production values are limited by the low budget and there are some (okay many) laughable moments with uneven performances and low dollar effects, but that is part of the charm. In the end, this is a decent flick to spend some time on, even if it is a time that you are just searching for a few laughs.

Red Planet Mars (1952)

After watching Slugs last night, I decided that I wanted to watch some type of classic sci-fi tale. After some searching, I settled on the 1952 entry Red Planet Mars.

Plot/ An American scientist is able to contact and communicate with Mars with shattering political, economic, and spiritual repercussions.

This one is an entertaining and interesting film that is definitely more of an intellectual drama than a pure sci-fi flick. Released during the early part of the Cold War, the sentiments of the day with the communist hysteria is evident throughout. Hell, this could have been one of the flicks that educated McCain and Feinstein on the Russian threat. The acting is solid, the cinematography excellent, and the storyline does have some twists that make it a fun watch. Yes, there are some strong religious overtones, there are no real action sequences or effects, and the flow is a touch choppy, but those are not deal breakers. In the end, this was a fun watch and a movie that does embrace the thoughts and attitudes of that era. Not for everyone, but a movie that should be seen.

Invasion of the Saucer Men (1957)

This has been another long weekend between traveling to softball and taking Jill for her time in Virginia. Although I have been busy, I did find some time to relax and watch a few flicks as I countdown to the next episode of Twin Peaks: The Return. My latest entry was Invasion of the Saucer Men from 1957.

Plot/ A teenage couple accidentally awakens an alien after inadvertently hitting it with their car.

I decided to go back into the 1950s creature features with this one and I am glad I did. While this one is not the best of that era, it is an interesting entry that fits perfectly into the genre. If you love 1950s schlock cinema, this one is something that you should check out. Yes, the storyline is cliché and predictable, the special effects are laughable at best, and the combination of comedy, horror, and sci-fi do work well together within the landscape of the film. It is a fun flick to watch and a movie that does have some entertainment value. In the end, this movie should be seen once. While some viewers will hate it, if you love C-grade cinema and classic schlock, give it a shot.

The Alligator People (1959)

After spending the weekend dealing with rain and heat at a USSSA Memorial Day Super NIT softball tournament, I needed some down time today to recover (and I didn’t even play). Having some time before heading out to grab the kids, I decided to kick back and watch something different. I decided on the 1958 creature feature The Alligator People.

Plot/ A woman in a hypnotic state recounts to two doctors the details of a horrific experience from her past life that began with the mysterious and sudden disappearance of her husband.

After talking with my youngest brother earlier today, I was in the mood for a classic 1950s creature feature and I settled on this one. I am glad that I did because what I found was much more entertaining than I expected. Complete with a solid cast including Beverly Garland and Lon Chaney, this film offered an interesting storyline, inspiring cinematography, and some decent effects for the era and budget. I definitely looked like a film that would have been done on a larger scale. Yes, there are some rough moments and some of the performances are uneven, but honestly, that is part of the charm with the classic no-budget creature features of that period. In the end, if you are looking to pass 75 minutes, this is a great choice; it is one of the better 1950s Creature Features out there.

How to Make a Monster (1958)

Having recently signed up for a free week of Shudder from AMC, it is a refreshing trip into some of the different ages and genres they offer. Being in the mood for something different, I decided to take a trip back in time to catch the 1958 American International entry How to Make a Monster.

Plot/ When a master monster make-up artist is sacked by the new bosses of American International studios, he uses his creations to exact revenge.

This was a perfect trip back into the days of the classic creature feature, where even if a storyline was somewhat cliché, the overall quality of the film seemed to set it off. This one has everything a horror fan could ask for. There is Frankenstein’s Monster, a Wolfman, and an interesting trip into the mind of a psychopath out for revenge (I loved the hypnotic aspects of control he used). Done on a meager budget (even for that time), the scripting, performances, and overall flow of the movie make it an enjoyable flick to watch. Yes, there is a lack of suspense, the atmosphere is more comedic than horror, and it is predicable, but those factors really do nothing to bring the film down. In the end, this film is a perfect Saturday afternoon creature feature, and a great trip to the classic age of horror cinema. Give it a shot!

Terror in the Haunted House (1958)

As I creep forward transitioning from children’s writing into some of the intricacies of creative writing industry, I decided to kick back and watch something from a much simpler time. After some searching, I decided on Terror in the Haunted House  (AKA My World Dies Screaming) from 1958.

Plot/ A newlywed is terrified when her husband brings her to live in the old house that figures in her recurring nightmare.

As many know, I love going back in time and watching some of the movies that helped shape horror cinema today. While this is not truly a horror movie (yes, it does have the Psycho Rama Subliminal Messages), it is an interesting movie to watch. The acting is solid (especially for the era), the storyline is entertaining, and the soundtrack fits in perfectly. Sure, it is not scary in any way and is quite tame by today’s standards, but it is an entertaining way to revisit some of the B-movies that made the genre great. In the end, if you are searching for something to pass a few moments and love the movies of the 1950s, give it a shot. You could definitely do much worse.

The Fly (1958)

I have been stuck inside a very retro mood lately. Between listening to classic folk music on my drives and watching 1950s low budget Sci-Fi, I have been living in a nostalgic dream. Next up for review is another movie from that era, the 1959 Vincent Price classic, The Fly.

Plot/ A scientist has a horrific accident when he tries to use his newly invented teleportation device.

What can one say, The Fly is a classic, and one of the best insect flicks of the 1950s. Starring Vincent Price, this movie has absolutely zero scientific merit, but it is definitely one of the most entertaining and memorable of the genre. The atmosphere is amazing, the performances solid, and the special effects were quite impressive for the day. Most importantly, the ending left a lasting impression on the viewer, and one that will be etched into their minds. In the end, this movie is a true classic and a movie that should be seen. Yes, the David Cronenberg remake was good, but this classic is better.