1958's "The Hideous Sun Demon" marked the directorial debut of actor and star Robert Clarke, who was astonished that a small percentage on "The Astounding She-Monster" resulted in a tidy profit. Certain he could better than Ronnie Ashcroft on a larger budget (under $50,000) Clarke secured the services of student filmmakers at USC to shoot on weekends, the resulting film obviously lacking but nowhere near as bad as Ashcroft's opus. The impressive monster outfit featured fangs and good eye movement, built over a wet suit so the director would be drenched after each take. Dangerous radiation emanating from the sun, 'more deadly than cosmic rays,' are the result of earth satellite launchings, while the accidental exposure to a radioactive isotope sends Dr. Gilbert McKenna (Clarke) to the hospital for observation. Incredibly, they find no symptoms of danger present, yet during his convalescence McKenna transforms into a scaly reptilian beast when exposed to sunlight. Determining that an imbalance has occurred, a reversion before a fetus takes on the characteristics of a mammal, the afflicted scientist takes refuge in his mansion alone; unfortunately, the urge to go out for a drink only brings disaster, a pretty chanteuse (Nan Peterson) ensuring that her shady boyfriend become the first victim at the Sun Demon's hands. Dog fanciers won't appreciate the (unnecessary) killing of a German Shepherd (even a rat isn't safe between those claws), but various cops also bite the dust before the climax takes place atop a Long Beach oil well. Much of the film drags its feet as the would be lothario boozes his way into a girl's heart, though admittedly the well endowed Nan Peterson proves delicious eye candy. Most of the mayhem is saved for the final reels, perhaps not enough however to satisfy impatient viewers. Pacific International Pictures went belly up not long after its distribution, sinking any chance of Clarke turning a profit, thereafter remaining in front of the camera instead of taking a bath behind it (if some of the library music cues sound familiar it's because they were later put to good use by George Romero for his "Night of the Living Dead").
Review of The Hideous Sun Demon
