Die, Monster, Die! (1965)

American International Pictures production designer Daniel Haller donned the director's jodhpurs for the studio's second attempt at bringing horror master H.P. Lovecraft to drive-in audiences. The script, adapted from the author's favorite story, "The Colour Out of Space," by science fiction scribe Jerry Sohl (who later adapted another AIP/Lovecraft film, The Curse of the Crimson Altar), moves the location from rural New England to present-day Great Britain, where American Stephen Reinhart (Nick Adams) is visiting the ancestral home of his fiancée (Suzan Farmer from Dracula, Prince of Darkness). The girl's father (Boris Karloff) demands his departure, warning of a curse by his warlock ancestor. Said curse is actually a radioactive meteor, which mutates not only the local flora and fauna (the "zoo from hell" sequence, where Adams and Farmer encounter monstrous creatures in a greenhouse, is a campy/creepy highlight), but Farmer's mother (Freda Jackson), and eventually Karloff, who becomes a glowing zombie before the house burns in typical AIP fashion. Like the studio's previous effort, Roger Corman's The Haunted Palace, the picture is Lovecraft-lite, toning down the story's sense of unearthly horror in favor of standard-issue spook-show shenanigans. But Karloff's presence, though infirm, lends to the adequately chilly atmosphere, as does Haller's eye for dark-and-dreary art direction. Haller later directed another uneven Lovecraft film, The Dunwich Horror. MGM's full-screen VHS (and widescreen DVD) print has aged gracefully, with only minor surface damage. --Paul Gaita Amazon.com

Not Karloff's best, but still enjoyable

Released in 1965 Die, Monster, Die was one of Karloff's last movies and at the time thanks to Roger Corman, Karloff was having a resurgence of his brilliant career. The title of the movie makes it sound like some silly monster movie and had this been made a decade earlier it probably would have been (not that it would be a bad thing). But for the most part Die, Monster, Die is played straight, which is good, but does hurt the final act a bit.

While Die, Monster, Die may not go down as one of Karloff's best pictures it's still a solid movie in his career, which in my opinion no horror actor can come anywhere near the level of brilliance Boris Karloff reached. Karloff was one of those gifted actors that could take an average movie and make it better and always brings a touch of class to the movie. Die, Monster, Die is one of those movies in his career that was good that he made far better.

Based off a story by H.P. Lovecraft, the screenplay was written by Jerry Sohl and overall it was pretty good, since I haven't read the Lovecraft story I cannot say how true this stays or even in anyway compare the two. But the screenplay is overall good, the characters are solid and there's an interesting backstory with the Witley family that if explored the script might have been better off. Despite any shortcomings the script might have its still overall pretty good.

Director Daniel Haller makes his directorial debut and would later become a TV director with episodes of Kojak and Knight Rider. For the most part Haller keeps things interesting through most of the movie and I suppose one can say it was slow, but I found it interesting; he's able to keep the pace moving along with some good mystery, but as the plot unfolds is when things get messy due to it being a bit silly with mutated plants and the problem is the scenes are played straight by Daniel Haller, which slightly hurts the final act.

The final few minutes are quite silly and one cannot take it serious even though it's played straight, but despite these problems, Die, Monster, Die in my opinion always remains at least decent, which in part is helped by the location and the cast.

Boris Karloff again delivers a great performance and without Karloff, I doubt Die, Monster, Die would have turned out as well as it did. Though again this may not be the best movie of his career I do believe it's a solid movie due to Karloff. Like I said Boris Karloff is just one of those actors who can make a movie better than it should be. Overall despite the flaws I enjoyed Die, Monster, Die; while not a classic of the genre it's highly enjoyable for what it's worth. November 11, 2008

Brings back great memories!

Maybe I'm unique here, but this movie is the perfect movie to watch on a lazy Saturday afternoon while lying on the couch. When I was a kid, this movie used to play often on Saturday's "creature feature." I miss those days so much, and watching this movie brings me back again. To the days when I didn't have to work and I could actually really enjoy my Saturdays. I could watch this movie a hundred times and still not get sick of it. If you like the genre of late 60's horror movies, then you will not be disappointed with this one. Enjoy! September 7, 2008

Dark Horror...........

A great horror film from the sixties. Very dark atmosphere. Great acting from both Nick Adams, and Boris Karloff. Maybe it's different from the H.P. Lovecraft novel. But still it's a great movie. If you into the dark. goth, satanic films them don't pass this up. May 17, 2008

BAD TITLE, DECENT MOVIE

Many have tried to take the works of H.P.Lovecraft and turn them into money making films. To date, only one has succeeded to the extent it made a return on its investment and became a hit with the fans (THE RE-ANIMATOR). This gem made in 1965 does a fairly decent job and is much better than I recalled.

During the sixties, many of us grew up with the late night horror host, screening some good horror films as well as many a low budget classic. We never cared if they were good or bad, we tuned in to see the antics of the host and to see anything relating to horror. A large number of those films came from American International Pictures, or AIP. The Poe tales made by Roger Corman starring Vincent Price, colossal beasts and giant monsters all formed our impression of horror. This movie is one of the more subtle films they made.

Sixties star Nick Adams plays Stephen Reinhart, an American who has traveled to England at the request of the mother of Susan Witley (Suzan Farmer), a young woman he met and fell in love with. The townsfolk are completely inhospitable to Stephen as he looks for a way to the Witley estate. Ending up on foot, he arrives to be welcomed by her father, Nahum Witley (Boris Karloff), if welcome means telling you to leave at once.

Susan arrives and Karloff is convinced to allow the young man to stay one night. She takes him upstairs to meet her mother Letitia (Freda Jackson) who has been awaiting him. Bedridden and prone to a dislike of light, hiding in the shadows of drapes round her bed, Letitia speaks alone to Stephen, begging him to take Susan away.

Of course Susan refuses to leave her mother and Karloff scowls with each glimpse of the young American. During dinner the conversation is more one sided than anything and ends when Karloff's man servant falls to the floor. Hiding something from all in the house, Karloff says he can manage things (even while in a wheelchair) and the young couple leaves.

Twists and turns and shadows on windows lead to Stephen going into town the next morning to find out just what is going on. Attacked on the way, he is undeterred and makes his way to a doctor he finds listed in the phone book. The doctor (Patrick Magee) gives him no information but his assistant does. Determined to get to the bottom of things, Stephen returns and with Susan's help discovers the secret hidden at Witley manor.

Sure, this movie has been around for over 40 years now but no way am I going to give away the answers here. To find out what is going on in the creepy mansion you're going to have to rent or purchase the film (it is vastly available; I purchased mine at Big Lots for only $3).

The sets are well made, the acting decent enough for a low budget picture and the atmosphere is well maintained in this gem. The special effects may be a little lacking for today's audiences, but if you keep in mind this was a movie made with little to no money and done back in '65, it's not half bad.

Karloff remains an icon in the world of horror cinema. Even here with little to do and stuck playing most of his part from a wheel chair (he was 77 when he made this movie), he turns in a performance that feels true and not forced.

So this movie may not be the mega blockbuster of the year or of the year it was released. It is a fun, eerie little piece of horror fiction that is sure to be enjoyed by fans of the genre, or even those who have not become fans yet. Rather than gory effects, this movie bases its scares on fears of the time. It's a nice little time capsule that is a must for Karloff and horror fans.
April 22, 2008

KARLOFF AND CREEPY ATMOSPHERE CAN'T SAVE THIS TALKY "THRILLER"!

I caught this one on of my HD channels and the film presented in widescreen looked really good. Karloff gives us another grand performance in this atmospheric, but slow moving, talky film. The story is interesting, but it just bored me halfway through. If a film can't hold my attention for a little over an hour.......there is something wrong. Check it out on cable before buying this one. March 3, 2008

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