IMDb RATING
4.1/10
5.7K
YOUR RATING
On an isolated island, a small group of people are terrorized by giant voracious shrews in the midst of a hurricane.On an isolated island, a small group of people are terrorized by giant voracious shrews in the midst of a hurricane.On an isolated island, a small group of people are terrorized by giant voracious shrews in the midst of a hurricane.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaClose-ups of the giant shrews were filmed using hand puppets. The wider shots used dogs made up as the shrews.
- GoofsThe narration of the prologue ends with "First in Alaska, and then moving steadily southward, there were reports of a new species, the giant killer shrew." In the film itself, the giants shrews were created, and limited to, an isolated island, presumably off the coast of Texas.
- Quotes
[while hiding under oil drums, the refugees are attacked by gigantic shrews]
Thorne Sherman: Don't let their head get under! They'll flip us over!
- Alternate versionsA colorized version was released in 2007 as part of a double feature with The Giant Gila Monster (1959).
- ConnectionsEdited into Pale Moonlight Theater: The Killer Shrews (2014)
Featured review
I Can't Help It, I Love These Shrews
The Killer Shrews (1959)
*** (out of 4)
You'd think a hurricane coming through would be the most dangerous thing for a small group of people on an island but it isn't. No, it's the giant killer shrews that are going to be the most dangerous for the people who soon find themselves trapped inside a house with the creatures trying to get it.
This film was shot around the same time as THE GIANT GILA MONSTER from the same production company who planned on using them as a double feature. I will gladly hold my head up high and admit that I really love both of these pictures. Yes, both are extremely low- budget pictures that has countless flaws but at the same time both of them are so darn entertaining that I can't help but have a good time with both of them.
THE KILLER SHREWS is notorious for the fact that the giant shrews are actually played by dogs with costumes. These costumes look incredibly fake and more times than not they're crooked on the dogs or falling off all together. I'm sure you could cry foul at this but if you do so then you'd be taking the film way too serious. These types of movies were meant to fill up drive-in screens so they weren't meant to be Oscar-winning movies.
One thing I really like about this film are some of the performances. While there are many issues with some of them, the cast is still quite likable and that includes James Best as the leader, Ingrid Goude as the semi love interest and Gordon McLendon and Baruch Lumet as the doctors. At just 68 minutes the film moves at a very good pace and even the dialogue is slightly entertaining in its own way. Still, the main reason to watch THE KILLER SHREWS is for its "dogs/shrews" and they are worth the price of admission alone.
*** (out of 4)
You'd think a hurricane coming through would be the most dangerous thing for a small group of people on an island but it isn't. No, it's the giant killer shrews that are going to be the most dangerous for the people who soon find themselves trapped inside a house with the creatures trying to get it.
This film was shot around the same time as THE GIANT GILA MONSTER from the same production company who planned on using them as a double feature. I will gladly hold my head up high and admit that I really love both of these pictures. Yes, both are extremely low- budget pictures that has countless flaws but at the same time both of them are so darn entertaining that I can't help but have a good time with both of them.
THE KILLER SHREWS is notorious for the fact that the giant shrews are actually played by dogs with costumes. These costumes look incredibly fake and more times than not they're crooked on the dogs or falling off all together. I'm sure you could cry foul at this but if you do so then you'd be taking the film way too serious. These types of movies were meant to fill up drive-in screens so they weren't meant to be Oscar-winning movies.
One thing I really like about this film are some of the performances. While there are many issues with some of them, the cast is still quite likable and that includes James Best as the leader, Ingrid Goude as the semi love interest and Gordon McLendon and Baruch Lumet as the doctors. At just 68 minutes the film moves at a very good pace and even the dialogue is slightly entertaining in its own way. Still, the main reason to watch THE KILLER SHREWS is for its "dogs/shrews" and they are worth the price of admission alone.
helpful•151
- Michael_Elliott
- Oct 12, 2015
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Die Nacht der unheimlichen Bestien
- Filming locations
- Lake Dallas, Texas, USA(Exterior)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $123,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 9 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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