ROGER CORMAN'S CULT SCI FI CLASSICS TRIPLE FEATURE

ROGER CORMAN'S CULT CLASSICS TRIPLE FEATURE: SCI FI CLASSICS.

This new DVD set collects three films produced and directed by Roger Corman: Attack of the Crab Monsters, Not of This Earth and War of the Satellites. The first was available only in a very poor commercial DVD a few years ago, the second seems never to have had an official DVD release, and I'm not certain what the story is with the third. Although the set boasts "all new film transfers from the negatives" they certainly haven't been digitally remastered. The prints for the last two films are more than acceptable, however, and Attack of the Crab Monsters looks especially splendid. As for the films themselves, click on the titles to read my reviews: Attack of the Crab Monsters; Not of This Earth; War of the Satellites. Basically horror/sci-fi fans will want this set for Crab -- especially Crab -- and Earth, as Satellites is totally forgettable. The set has a variety of extras, including interviews, a Corman documentary, and lots of Corman film trailers.

Verdict: Recommended for the Corman horror aficionado. ***.

ATTACK OF THE CRAB MONSTERS

ATTACK OF THE CRAB MONSTERS (1957). Director: Roger Corman.

This is it: a group of scientists are trapped on an island with two – count 'em – two giant crabs who are out to rule the world. These crabs are not only big but intelligent, as they have devoured all of the members of the previous expedition and absorbed their conscious minds and brain power. The crabs send out heat waves which cause explosions designed to shrink the size of the island so that their potential victims will have nowhere to run. It ain't Shakespeare, but this creepy movie is well-directed and much more imaginative than the general rampaging giant monster movie. It is also amusing without being campy. The giant crabs are as adorable as they are ugly – they even have big eyes with eyelids that slowly open just when you think the little darlings are asleep. A fast-paced, entertaining gem of a horror flick that never takes itself too seriously. The actors generally play with conviction, although they never seem quite as nervous as you or I would be, wondering if we'll not only wind up as a crab dinner but wind up eating one of our friends for dessert afterward! The cast includes Pamela Duncan, Russell Johnson, Corman regulars Ed Nelson, Beach Dickerson and Leslie Bradley, and others. 

Verdict: Great old monster flick. ***.