Attack of the Crab Monsters

Als einer der Wenigen werde ich das Aussehen der Krabbenmonster nicht verurteilen, denn in Filmen aus dieser Zeit fand ich es ziemlich akzeptabel. Das Problem liegt jedoch im Drehbuch. Man erwartet zwar keine Wunder, aber sprechende Krabben, die Stimmen und Erdbeben imitieren können, konnte wohl nicht einmal der enthusiastischste Zuschauer im Jahr 1957 ernst nehmen (und die Dialoge sind wohl nicht erwähnenswert). Roger Corman bot in späteren Jahren zwar genauso naive, aber deutlich unterhaltsamere Filme an. (31.05.2018)

Poster tagline: FROM THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA... A TIDAL WAVE OF TERROR!!! In the 1950s, Corman made films like in an assembly line and this is one of his best. The very low budget didn't allow for any visual feasts and the actors spend the whole film shuffling between one beach, a house and a cave, and most of it was probably eaten up by the giant crab puppet – Corman didn't worry too much about the the control cables are beautifully visible (and one the extras pulling them in background is a then unknown Jack Nicholson). Then there’s the quite hilarious underwater shots, which look monotonous and unnecessary given the plot, but as a visual boost, well, why not. The script, which doesn't hesitate to have the crabs communicate telepathically with an isolated group of scientists on a deserted island, is of course terrible bullshit, but especially in the second half the shots of the crabs are not spared, there’s always something going on, so there’s no danger of boredom; and the bitten off head and the hand torn off by a boulder fall are an extra bonus. This film today is still included often in monster marathons of TV stations overseas. (15.02.2013)