The only "Big Bug" movie of the fifties to use stop-motion animation (supervised by King Kong's Willis O'Brien). All the others opted for real insects or large caricatures with varying results.
Once things get going, there are a goodly amount of monster scenes that range from outstanding and atmospheric to cheap and superficial. The non effects remainder of the movie is typical tripe with a rather lacking love interest and a little boy who intrudes incessantly.
The Mexican locale is used to effect with some creepy sets and landmark inclusions. Of course the real star is the title character and assorted crawlers . They don't disappoint. The middle staging of the descent underground and the train wreck sequence are remarkable and the finale, while a bit contrived, is done with low-budget luminosity.
Categorically the film stands ahead of its contemporaries and is an overlooked work that while restricted by its production, can stand proudly as a unique undertaking that looks quite classy and is different enough to elevate the movie to cult status. Mostly ignored by casual purveyors of the Sci-Fi pictures of the era.
Once things get going, there are a goodly amount of monster scenes that range from outstanding and atmospheric to cheap and superficial. The non effects remainder of the movie is typical tripe with a rather lacking love interest and a little boy who intrudes incessantly.
The Mexican locale is used to effect with some creepy sets and landmark inclusions. Of course the real star is the title character and assorted crawlers . They don't disappoint. The middle staging of the descent underground and the train wreck sequence are remarkable and the finale, while a bit contrived, is done with low-budget luminosity.
Categorically the film stands ahead of its contemporaries and is an overlooked work that while restricted by its production, can stand proudly as a unique undertaking that looks quite classy and is different enough to elevate the movie to cult status. Mostly ignored by casual purveyors of the Sci-Fi pictures of the era.