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| The man-eating plant attacks Steed and companions |
The Avengers British TV series [not to be confused with the American super-heroes of the same name] arrived on U.S. shores with the 1965 season, the first one in which Diana Rigg joined the cast [joining Patrick Macnee as Steed] as the delectable, leather-and-jumpsuit clad Mrs. Peel. In this amusing and creepy episode, a weird plant turns out to have a human-type brain, and is also able to emit mind-control rays that have scientists and others toiling for it. In addition, the creature is a flesh-eater, and one of the essential nutrients it needs is inside human beings. Its tendrils can whip around a person in seconds and pull them away for a tasty snack. Not only do our intrepid duo have to deal with this botanical nightmare -- which threatens to grow to gargantuan size, with its tendrils digging in and popping up everywhere throughout the earth [and it is also capable of sprouting seeds] -- but Steed has to contend with a plant-hypnotized Emma Peel giving him karate chops as he tries to stop her from spilling the only reserves they have of a herbicide that might kill the awful creature.This is utterly absurd, but highly entertaining.
Verdict: Suspenseful, funny, and action-packed, with a great monster. ***.
3 comments:
Loved that review. Perfect!
this probably influenced the 1976 Doctor Who serial 'the Seeds of Doom'
Thanks for the info. I'll check out the Dr. Who serial you mention because I love killer plants, ha!
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