Attack of the Giant Leeches (1959)

After local-moonshine swilling trapper Lem Sawyer sees a giant creature, people start disappearing. While searching for illegal traps Steve Benton and Nan Greyson, his girl-friend find Lem ... See full summary »

Director:

Bernard L. Kowalski

Writers:

Leo Gordon (original story), Leo Gordon (screenplay)

Stars:

Ken Clark, Yvette Vickers, Jan Shepard

Cast

Complete credited 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	...	Porky Reed (as Daniel White)
George Cisar	...	Lem Sawyer

Storyline

After local-moonshine swilling trapper Lem Sawyer sees a giant creature, people start disappearing. While searching for illegal traps Steve Benton and Nan Greyson, his girl-friend find Lem dying with giant sucker wounds on his body. One couple Liz Walker and Cal Moulton, forced into the water by her enraged husband Dave Walker, gets taken by the leeches. When police refuse to believe Dave's story, he hangs himself. Soon after this, 2 more trappers disappear, the local Game Warden Steve Benton gets involved. He and Nan's father Dr Greyson realize that the people were taken by the leeches and the leeches live in caves under the swamp. Using dynamite, the 4 missing bodies are discovered and the leeches are destroyed.

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Plot Keywords:

swamp | monster | remade | spear gun | low budget film | 

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Taglines:

Massive Blood Sucking Monsters!

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Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

October 1959 (USA)

Also Known As:

Attack of the Blood Leeches

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$70,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

American International Pictures (AIP)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

62 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Trivia

The music score for this film was a stock score used previously in the film Night of the Blood Beast, also produced by Gene Corman, brother of Roger Corman (it can also be heard in Beast from Haunted Cave).

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Goofs

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.

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Connections

Remade as Attack of the Giant Leeches (2008)

User Reviews

Surprisingly good for a bad film

Regardless of the rabid fans of MST3K (myself included), attack of The Giant Leeches isn't the horrid film they make it out to be. Certainly it is low budget, but trying to shine through the lackluster production is a film that has some good writing, few plot holes, and exhibits an actual knowledge of the subject (swamps, critters, rednecks who are a danger to themselves and others...).

As far as Corman flicks go, this one has a good feel to it. Some drama, tragedy, comedy (well, some that was intentional), and an attempt at a real story. The screenwriter, Leo Gordon, has created a good feel for the south, and is an accomplished (although not great) practitioner of his trade. So, laughs aside, watch this movie again and focus on the plot when you can. There is no hocus pocus, minimal pseudo-science, and some likable characters.

Oh yeah, and please don't be a danger to yourself or others...