The Killer Shrews (1959)

On an isolated island, a small group of people are terrorized by giant voracious shrews in the midst of a hurricane.

Director:

Ray Kellogg

Writers:

Jay Simms (story), Jay Simms (screenplay)

Stars:

James Best, Ingrid Goude, Ken Curtis

Cast

Complete credited cast:
James Best	...	Thorne Sherman
Ingrid Goude	...	Ann Craigis
Ken Curtis	...	Jerry Farrell
Gordon McLendon	...	Dr. Radford Baines
Baruch Lumet	...	Dr. Marlowe Craigis
Judge Henry Dupree	...	'Rook' Griswold
Alfredo DeSoto	...	Mario

Storyline

A disparate group are trapped on a remote island by a hurricane. On the island, a doctor works to make humans twice as small as we already are. This, apparently, will help prevent over population. Unfortunately, his experiments have also created some giant shrews. As the shrews run out of smaller animals to eat, they move in on the people in the house.

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Plot Keywords:

shrew | hurricane | flesh eating | sidekick | boat captain | 

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Taglines:

"Your skin will crawl with fear at their nearness"

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Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

6 April 1962 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

The Attack of the Killer Shrews

Filming Locations:

Dallas, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$123,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$1,000,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hollywood Pictures Corporation (II)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

69 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Coon dogs were used to play the killer shrews.

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Goofs

At one point Thorne and Jerry walk past an apparently undamaged rowboat, which would get everyone off the island. When they return to the house they never mention it.

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Quotes

Dr. Milo Craigis: Their available food on ze island is nearing depletion!

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Connections

Featured in Elvira's Movie Macabre: Untamed Women (2011)

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Soundtracks

"Finger of Suspicion 1"
(uncredited)
Music by Harry Bluestone and Emil Cadkin

User Reviews

Better Than You'd Think

The story is intriguing: a scientist experiments with rodents, who turn into giant mutants, running loose on a island of seven people, including his daughter. When their food supply runs out, the creatures turn cannibalistic. Ingrid Goude is good as the lone female, while James Best is best as a seaman who tangles with a drunkard (Ken Curtis) for her affections. But the romantic entanglements soon dissipate when the giant shrews, seeking food, start gnawing at the house of the islanders. This theme predates "The Birds" (1963), "Night of the Living Dead" (1968), even "Signs" (2002).If the monster costumes disappoint, the music, sound effects, performances, atmosphere and pacing more than compensate.