Beast From Haunted Cave (1959)

A Bank Job, A Ski Resort, And A Tentacled Cave Dweller

The brainchild Of Gene Corman (Roger's brother), this black and white monster movie is occasionally amusing, but often painful to watch. The premise is that some robbers formulate an extremely elaborate (some would say pointless) plan to rob six measly gold bars from a bank located near a ski resort. The plan involves setting off a diversionary explosion in an old mine nearby to fool the police as to their true objective. In the process, romantic entanglements occur and a long-slumbering monster is awakened.

Since all the characters are snowbound in the lodge, they become the prime food source for the monster, which is a ghostly apparition with tentacles that spins webs around its victims, preserving them so they can satisfy its hunger pangs at a later date. There is a lot of stumbling around in the cave, lots of shots fired, lots of torch waving, and a spectacular amount of overacting, all accompanied by a classic soundtrack that features a wheezing organ.

"Beast From Haunted Cave" is by no means the worst movie I have ever seen, but it has no real distinguishing features, either. The monster is completely preposterous, the storyline is predictable and needlessly complicated, and the acting is what you would expect from the genre. While it has a few amusing moments, it certainly holds no real scares, and is tedious and padded despite its diminutive 73 minute running length.

For fans of the Cormans and 1950's monster movies this is worth watching. Once. October 10, 2008

black and white classic

The movie has a pretty good story line, but the monster effects are really sucky, but what do you expect? I mean it was filmed in the 50's! And get this, the actors can all actually ACT! Yep you heard me, the characters are all believable, the direction is excellent, it's filmed in the wintry setting of Dakota's ski resorts and this movie is a great example of low-budget horror @ its best! February 26, 2008

A Good Mystery Science Theatre Candidate

The way you can get some decent enjoyment from this movie is a la The Mystery Science Theater 3000. Invite some friends over and have fun interjecting dialogue while you watch the movie. Even then, you better make sure you've got something else on hand in case the guests get restless.

It's a shame that good directors were getting blacklisted as suspected communists, while bad directors were allowed to continue making bad movies. Director Monte Hellman was destined to go on to direct the likes of "Silent Night, Deadly Night III: Better Watch Out!" This film was produced by Gene Corman, Roger Corman's far less accomplished younger brother.

The movie does go somewhat against stereotype. Here, even the guys fall down and get outrun by the lumbering monster. I believe the monster is a spid-o-pus (somewhere between a spider and an octopus). Interestingly, Natalie the barmaid (Linné Ahlstrand), one of the early victims, was Playmate of the Month for July 1958, a year before this movie came out.

Like an Ed Wood's Plan 9 from Outer Space, you probably won't be scared, but you still might get in a few good laughs.
February 16, 2008

An Engaging Heist Film... But That Monster?

This is one of those little low-budget gems that works remarkably well almost in spite of itself. There are, predictably, holes in the plot big enough to sail a battleship through. Nevertheless the story manages to hold your attention. While the acting ranges from barely acceptable to surprisingly good, the characters are generally interesting and even, in a few cases, engaging. In fact, Sheila Noonan virtually walks away with the entire picture. By the time the utterly hokey "monster" makes its appearance you may have forgotten that this is supposed to be a horror film. Come to think of it, even after the "monster" makes its appearance it may still not strike you as much of a horror film. But it is a fun bit of entertainment and definitely worth a look. February 8, 2008

Mystery Science Theatre Candidate

The way you can get some decent enjoyment from this movie is a la The Mystery Science Theater 3000. Invite some friends over and have fun interjecting dialogue while you watch the movie. Even then, you better make sure you've got something else on hand to pop in the DVD player in case the guests get restless.

It's a shame that good directors were getting blacklisted as suspected communists, while bad directors were allowed to continue making bad movies. Director Monte Hellman was destined to go on to direct the likes of "Silent Night, Deadly Night III: Better Watch Out!" This film was produced by Gene Corman, Roger Corman's far less accomplished younger brother.

The movie does go somewhat against stereotype. Here, even the guys fall down and get outrun by the lumbering monster. I believe the monster is a spid-o-pus (somewhere between a spider and an octopus). Interestingly, Natalie the barmaid (Linné Ahlstrand), one of the early victims, was Playmate of the Month for July 1958, a year before this movie came out.

Like an Ed Wood's Plan 9 from Outer Space, you probably won't be scared, but you still might get in a few good laughs.
January 29, 2008

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