edpjr Reviews

Track of the Moon Beast (1976)

Not half bad

[8/10 · 12 July 2003]

I don't care what they say, this movie is darn good fun and has its scary parts too. Good Friday nite sci-fi fare in my book. Summary: nice looking guy struck in the head by a meteorite fragment while stargazing (it could happen...) becomes monster during full moon. The story involves the trauma of his victims, pretty girlfriend, and highly educated American Indian buddy (who's kinda reminiscent of Ed Ames in the old Daniel Boone TV show). The Moon Beast costume ain't bad either. It appears to be a cross between "It the Terror from Beyond Space" and the "Creature from the Black Lagoon", minus the water. Catch this one on Mystery Science Theatre reruns.

Grindl (1963–1964)

Imogene Coco as a rent-a-maid

[3 June 2003]

I remember seeing this short-lived show a couple times when I was about 7 years old. Grindl was a household maid. The only episode that comes to mind after 40 years is where she was sent on assignment and was given a room with a 10" TV set. Coco soon turned in her maid outfit for a bear-skin on the "It's About Time" TV series. Don't expect to see this one on Nick-at Nite anytime soon.

Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)

Eerie, Suspenseful, Frightening - GREAT

[10/10 · 26 November 2002]

The introduction of the last, greatest, and likely most popular of the Universal Monsters; the Gill-Man! Filmed on location in Silver Springs, Florida. A beautiful and exotic place, but if you've ever visited, you wouldn't want to find yourself alone there at night! I could just picture in my mind the Creature reaching with his webbed claw hand for Julie Adams... Superb story about discovery of a man-like missing link creature of amphibious nature. The CFBL is an extremely powerful, scary, but plausible, monster armed with sharp claws. And, he doesn't like being chased or having his territory being infringed upon. So he reacts defensively by eliminating one-by-one the crew of a small research charter boat. And naturally, he wants the girl for himself. The cast is top notch; famous horror/sci-fi stars Richard Carlson, Richard Denning and Whit Bissell plus Nestor Paiva and the lovely Julie Adams. My only regret is that this movie is only about 75 mins long. This one shoulda been at least two hours long!!! Don't miss it.

Killdozer (1974 TV Movie)

Movie was set in the early 1970s, not WWII

[8/10 · 24 November 2002]

I recall seeing this film as an ABC TV Movie in 1974. Great science fiction and great cast, especially the late Carl Betz. Summary; Small construction crew working in alone in Pacific. A long dormant alien entity residing on the desert isle enters giant D-9er Bulldozer when the meteorite it's contained within is struck by the blade. A young Bob Urich suffers fatal radiation burns from the blue flash in the collision. The possessed Bulldozer then wreaks havoc with the remaining crew knocking them off one by one till only Walker and Betz are left. They finally trap and electrocute the thing with a portable generator. Would've been great to see how they explained the mayhem and pile of dead bodies to the authorities....