Attack of the Giant Leeches (1959)

User Rating:

2.8/10   

Director:

Bernard L. Kowalski

Writer:

Leo Gordon (writer)

Release Date:

October 1959 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Massive Blood Sucking Monsters!

Plot:

After local-moonshine swilling trapper Lem Sawyer sees a giant creature, people start disappearing....

Plot Keywords:

Swamp | Monster | B Horror | Low Budget Film | Animal Attack

Cast

Ken Clark	...	Steve Benton
Yvette Vickers	...	Liz Walker
Jan Shepard	...	Nan Greyson
Michael Emmet	...	Cal Moulton
Tyler McVey	...	Doc Greyson
Bruno VeSota	...	Dave Walker
Gene Roth	...	Sheriff Kovis
Dan White	...	Slim Reed
George Cisar	...	Lem Sawyer

Also Known As:

Attack of the Blood Leeches
Demons of the Swamp (UK)
She Demons of the Swamp
The Giant Leeches (USA) (promotional title)

Runtime:

62 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved (Certificate #19203) | UK:X | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Chaplin Studios - 1416 N. La Brea Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

American International Pictures (AIP)

Trivia:

The films Spanish title is El Pantano Diabolico, meaning "The Diabolical Marsh."

Goofs:

Continuity: Mike wires the explosives to the detonator box and the plunger is all the way up as he walks over to Steve and the rest of the group. Steve then walks over to the detonator box to set off the charge but now the plunger is down, he has to pull up before he pushes it down to set off explosives.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Schlock! The Secret History of American Movies (2001)

Chilling Thriller

This unusual blend of Southern white trash and blood-curdling terror features a good narrative, capable performances by most, excellent musical score, and a misty, shadowy, eerie atmosphere. Despite other negative reviews, this and many other small-budget 1950s are continually being released on DVD and video, to the delight (and distributors' profits) of horror fans. Ken Clark is adequate playing the stalwart hero, as a surprising (for is time) ecologically-minded ranger overseeing a Southern bayou swampland. Third-billed Jan Shepard is really the leading lady here, getting more scenes and close-ups than Yvette Vickers, who basically appears in early scenes, than basically disappears. Shepard is earnest and very pretty, and lends semi-feminism to the proceedings, by joining boyfriend Clark in the swamp, seeking murderous radiation-produced mutations. Shepard appears, 1950s style, in her first and last scenes, with her hair down, in an off-the shoulder white dress, well made-up, walking near a swamp! At least she's not in high heels! Vickers is slinky perfection as the adulterous wife of Bruno Ve Soto, another fine actor. Gene Roth as Shepard's doctor father is also convincing. All these are "finished" actors, professionals who have amassed many credits through the years. While the leech costumes may disappoint, the unnerving cave scene won't. This film does in 65 minutes what other "blockbuster", star-cast thrillers can't.