My intent here is to provide a sort of catch all category for monsters that don't neatly fit a subgere of their own, so leave off commenting on vampires, werewolves, and zombies. I think they've all gotten their own threads anyway. I guess we can keep aliens in. But the question is, what's your favorite movie featuring some form of inhuman creature, and why?
As big an unapologetic gorehound as I am, my answer is something of a surprise: my favorite monster movie is "Them!" It was one of the first 50's era, B&W giant monsters spawned by radioactivity, the military (aided by science) conquers all type films I had ever seen. I've seen many more since then, but this one still stands out as one of the best. I trust I'm not alone in that opinion. I can't put my finger on exactly why; maybe because the performances aren't too over the top or datedly stereotypical? Maybe the decent (for the time) crature effects? The quiet, steadily built air of menace, from the opening scene with the wandering girl, and the smashed camper, to the first kill, seen only as a shadow thrown on the wall, to the dire warnings of the professor as he briefs the brass in Washington, to the "what might have been" gravity of the final scene (after that satisfying climactic final battle)? That creepy, and never to be replicated sound effect (rumor has it that the FX guy who developed it never shared the secret with anyone, taking his secret to his grave; the only thing anyone knows for sure is that he let slip that a recording of his own breathing was part of the mix)? Or maybe it's just that I saw it at such a young, impressionable age? But somewhow, I doubt it, since I saw "The Giant Mantis" and "Tarantula!" at around the same time, and while they were good (the latter especially), they never had the lasting power "Them!" did for me.
There's talk of a remake in the works. I fervently hope that if this project ever does get released, they don't do too much violence to a film that has become a lasting childhood treasure for me.
Now, take it away, Darkmite!
As big an unapologetic gorehound as I am, my answer is something of a surprise: my favorite monster movie is "Them!" It was one of the first 50's era, B&W giant monsters spawned by radioactivity, the military (aided by science) conquers all type films I had ever seen. I've seen many more since then, but this one still stands out as one of the best. I trust I'm not alone in that opinion. I can't put my finger on exactly why; maybe because the performances aren't too over the top or datedly stereotypical? Maybe the decent (for the time) crature effects? The quiet, steadily built air of menace, from the opening scene with the wandering girl, and the smashed camper, to the first kill, seen only as a shadow thrown on the wall, to the dire warnings of the professor as he briefs the brass in Washington, to the "what might have been" gravity of the final scene (after that satisfying climactic final battle)? That creepy, and never to be replicated sound effect (rumor has it that the FX guy who developed it never shared the secret with anyone, taking his secret to his grave; the only thing anyone knows for sure is that he let slip that a recording of his own breathing was part of the mix)? Or maybe it's just that I saw it at such a young, impressionable age? But somewhow, I doubt it, since I saw "The Giant Mantis" and "Tarantula!" at around the same time, and while they were good (the latter especially), they never had the lasting power "Them!" did for me.
There's talk of a remake in the works. I fervently hope that if this project ever does get released, they don't do too much violence to a film that has become a lasting childhood treasure for me.
Now, take it away, Darkmite!
