|
The Killer Shrews (1959) ★★★
The first thing that struck me was how a large chunk of this film could just as well function as a stage play. Little set changes, lots of*dialogue.
I was also touched by the lack of gore. Savini and Stavrakis are still years away, that's for sure. When we do see the killer shrews, they look silly by today's standards. As if someone glued some hair on a dog or a similar animal. Kind of reminiscent of that bit on the Simpsons on how "cows don't look like*cows".
The film, however, does have qualities as well. The idea of the killer shrews and the trope of science going where it's not supposed to go, fit well with the age of the atom. And as goofy as the premise is, they do tell it well. The hour flies by.*
Ken Curtis makes for a convincing secondary antagonist and the other cast members do their job as well. Though Ingrid Goude does not have much to work with in her damsel in distress character. Not to mention the actors portraying minority characters. They get little screen time and die*first.
Recommended for fans of vintage*horror.
__________________
|