Monster of Terror (1965)

A young man visits his fiancée's estate to discover that her wheelchair-bound scientist father has discovered a meteorite that emits mutating radiation rays that have turned the plants in ... See full summary »

Director:

Daniel Haller

Writers:

Jerry Sohl (screenplay), H.P. Lovecraft (from "The Colour Out of Space")

Stars:

Boris Karloff, Nick Adams, Freda Jackson

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Boris Karloff	...	Nahum Witley
Nick Adams	...	Stephen Reinhart
Freda Jackson	...	Letitia Witley
Suzan Farmer	...	Susan Witley
Terence de Marney	...	Merwyn
Patrick Magee	...	Dr. Henderson
Paul Farrell	...	Jason
Leslie Dwyer	...	Potter
Harold Goodwin	...	Taxi Driver (UK version)
Sydney Bromley	...	Pierce
Billy Milton	...	Henry
Sheila Raynor	...	Miss Bailey (UK version)

Storyline

A young man visits his fiancée's estate to discover that her wheelchair-bound scientist father has discovered a meteorite that emits mutating radiation rays that have turned the plants in his greenhouse to giants. When his own wife falls victim to this mysterious power, the old man takes it upon himself to destroy the glowing object with disastrous results.

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Plot Keywords:

based on short story | dead tree | meteorite | glowing handprint | husband wife relationship | 

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Taglines:

Science Fiction challenges the Forces of Darkness to scare YOU screamless! (all USA combo double-feature ads)

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Genres:

Mystery | Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

In 1965 "American-International Pictures" distributed this film in the US on a double bill with the Italian sci-fi film "Planet of the Vampires (1965)," which was dubbed in English and re-titled "Planet of the Vampires".

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Goofs

There are no 'scientific facts' as stated by Stephen Reinhart (Nick Adams) in this movie, that radiation causes mutations in plants and animals. Only numerous suppositions and theories, such as those surrounding The Chernobyl Disaster.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Taxi Driver: Morning!
Stephen Reinhart: Morning. Taxi?

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Connections

Featured in Aweful Movies with Deadly Earnest: Die, Monster, Die! (1973)

User Reviews

OK attempt to get Lovecraft on the screen

H.P. Lovecraft's stories are almost impossible to film. The way he describes places and things just can't be done. This movie and "The Dunwich Horror" have come closest to getting him on the screen.

American Stephen Reinhart (Nick Adams) goes to England to visit his fiancée Susan Wiley (Suzan Farmer). He finds her living in a huge mansion with her angry wheelchair bound father (Boris Karloff) and a mother (Freda Jackson) who is mysteriously ill. And then there are strange cries in the night...

It's well-made, has a suitably creepy setting and a pretty good script but it just doesn't completely work. A low budget really hurts especially when we see the supposedly horrific creatures in the greenhouse (they look like what they are--plastic puppets). The makeup on the "infected" people is sub par too. And Adams (a good actor) always appears drugged or annoyed. But the other actors are all great--especially Karloff who is just fantastic. It's worth watching just for him. I was honestly never bored and there were a few times that I actually jumped. It doesn't succeed but it's not a bad attempt. I give it a 7--mostly for Karloff.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 October 1965 (USA)

Also Known As:

Colour Out of Space

Filming Locations:

Baynards Railway Station, Baynards Park, Waverley, Surrey, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alta Vista Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min 75 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Pathécolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1