The biggest drawback of THE Satan BUG is the slow pace at which director John Sturges has chosen to tell this tale of laboratory espionage and a mad scientist. Fortunately for viewers, the pace quickens in the latter portion of the story and overall the results are pretty satisfying.
RICHARD BASEHART is the mad scientist and GEORGE MAHARIS is the man chosen by the government to track him down. The story gets off to a slow start with an extended laboratory sequence with a remote desert setting as security is violated. It takes forty-five minutes before we learn that a vial containing "the satin bug" has been stolen and will be unleashed upon mankind unless an insane plea is granted. Additionally, we learn that Maharis suspects it's an inside job that permitted the virus to be in the hands of a mad millionaire out to destroy Los Angeles.
With this sort of plot line, this ought to be a taut exercise in suspense. It's not. Most of the blame goes to a script heavy with exposition for the first hour before the threats become clear. Once the plan to capture the scientist and his cohorts on the run is set into motion, the picture picks up pace and acquires some tension.
A tired looking RICHARD BASEHART is less than impressive as a man impersonating Dr. Hoffman who engineers the plan. DANA ANDREWS, although distinguished looking with gray hair as the father of ANNE FRANCIS, is wasted in a minor role.
Summing up: The payoff at the finale isn't big enough to atone for a dull first hour. Result is a mixed bag of an espionage thriller.
RICHARD BASEHART is the mad scientist and GEORGE MAHARIS is the man chosen by the government to track him down. The story gets off to a slow start with an extended laboratory sequence with a remote desert setting as security is violated. It takes forty-five minutes before we learn that a vial containing "the satin bug" has been stolen and will be unleashed upon mankind unless an insane plea is granted. Additionally, we learn that Maharis suspects it's an inside job that permitted the virus to be in the hands of a mad millionaire out to destroy Los Angeles.
With this sort of plot line, this ought to be a taut exercise in suspense. It's not. Most of the blame goes to a script heavy with exposition for the first hour before the threats become clear. Once the plan to capture the scientist and his cohorts on the run is set into motion, the picture picks up pace and acquires some tension.
A tired looking RICHARD BASEHART is less than impressive as a man impersonating Dr. Hoffman who engineers the plan. DANA ANDREWS, although distinguished looking with gray hair as the father of ANNE FRANCIS, is wasted in a minor role.
Summing up: The payoff at the finale isn't big enough to atone for a dull first hour. Result is a mixed bag of an espionage thriller.