Post by celamowari on Jul 15, 2004 7:49:10 GMT -8
This is an experiment in carrying over older threads here and there that might still have life in them. Portions have been edited, but this is more for clarity and no disrespect is intended to anyone. I chose this forum because no one had posted here yet.
On with the thread!
AIP presents... Xenorama!
> Monster by Night!
> The Killer Shrews (1959)
Lunkhead
Posts: 408
(2/7/04 5:53 pm)
The Killer Shrews (1959)
Alright now. There's gotta be some other shrew-heads out there.
First time seeing this as a kid in the 60's, it scared the daylights outta me. The concept of being eaten alive was something new to me and didn't settle well. Still, I liked the film and the ending solution especially. After multiple viewings in the 70's on local UHF, it started to become one of my favorites (and my older sister's too). Every time we'd be gorging ourselves on Kentucky Fried Chicken and really enjoying it, we'd kid each other about being like shrews.
This film has become a camp classic for many. People can laugh about the cheapo effects and brush off this little gem, but if you actually sit and watch it, the film is impressive in many ways. The pacing is great - the movie never drags. The characters and dialogue grow on you (well, maybe like a fungus, but that's ok). The music is appropriately creepy. The house with the deteriorating adobe walls becomes claustrophobic, as the storm enables the shrews to gain easier access. The movie's great for a Saturday afternoon viewing with popcorn, or late at night in a dark room right before bed. I've gone to sleep many a night with this on my tube. Sometimes I actually sleep better after viewing this old friend again.
Our late, great local horror host Dr. Shock once introduced it as the WORST OF BEST. I always thought it was actually one of BEST’S BEST. Ok, ok. So James Best did go on to DUKES OF HAZZARD, but for me, he’ll always be Captain Thorne Sherman.
Ken Curtis (Festus of GUNSMOKE fame) produced both this and THE GIANT GILA MONSTER. Too bad he couldn’t have made more monster/horror films as these are both loads of fun.
Megaloman
Posts: 19315
(2/7/04 11:19 pm)
The Killer Shrews (1959)
I've got this double DVD (with GILA MONSTER) but have never been able to watch this. I really enjoy GILA, but somehow this hasn't been a must see. I've seen parts of it when I was a kid, but...
I'll give it a try soon!
mmv3000
Posts: 407
(2/8/04 12:37 am)
Re: The Killer Shrews (1959)
Love it.
For a '50's cheapie, this has something going for it. The setting and atmosphere (the storm) really set it apart from all of the similar films of the time, set in dry deserts or big cities. Along with the director's GILA MONSTER, I feel SHREWS is one of the most underrated films of the time.
amphiboid
Posts: 365
(3/5/04 9:16 pm)
Drinking Shrew Game
I like all the drinking in KILLER SHREWS, and would like to do a drinking game with that movie.
Every time someone pours a drink, everyone must down a whole beer.
I'm serious!
Megaloman
Posts: 19623
(3/5/04 9:48 pm)
Drinking Shrew Game
Good thing it's a short movie...
Lunkhead
Posts: 415
(3/6/04 10:52 am)
Re: Drinking Shrew Game
"And I'm getting a little sick of being called an irresponsible drunk, now believe me I am." ~ Jerry Farrell
One website review pointed out the synchronized drinking scene between Jerry and Thorne. Pretty buddy-buddy considering Jerry tried to kill Thorne twice within 5 minutes.
"If you'll freshen Anne's drink..." ~ Dr. Craigis
The Drinking Shrew Game sounds like fun Amphiboid. (Try at your own risk). It would at least guarantee a smooth buzz. Back in my party animal days, I probably watched the SHREWS totally obliterated. Don't think I could have waited for a character to pour a drink, even though it seems to happen every few minutes.
amphiboid
Posts: 396
(3/25/04 2:46 pm)
Shrew-Heads
There are fan of Plan 9, there are fans of Robot Monster, but I never heard of a "shrew-head" before, and I think the term is very funny!
Picture a whole movie house full of "Shrew-Heads" watching the screen and absent-mindedly chewing their popcorn. Like, all the shrew-heads in the world, all gathered in one place.
Maybe it would be a convention--ShrewConOne or something like that. Dog-masks for sale in the dealers' room! And of course, the hotel bar would do "Killer" business that weekend.
I have a copy of "Killer Shrews" over here, AND "The Giant Gila Monster," so I must be one of those people!
It just sort of snuck up on me, honest!
Megaloman
Posts: 19782
(3/25/04 3:11 pm)
Shrew-Heads
Excellent ideas.
to be continued...
On with the thread!
AIP presents... Xenorama!
> Monster by Night!
> The Killer Shrews (1959)
Lunkhead
Posts: 408
(2/7/04 5:53 pm)
The Killer Shrews (1959)
Alright now. There's gotta be some other shrew-heads out there.
First time seeing this as a kid in the 60's, it scared the daylights outta me. The concept of being eaten alive was something new to me and didn't settle well. Still, I liked the film and the ending solution especially. After multiple viewings in the 70's on local UHF, it started to become one of my favorites (and my older sister's too). Every time we'd be gorging ourselves on Kentucky Fried Chicken and really enjoying it, we'd kid each other about being like shrews.
This film has become a camp classic for many. People can laugh about the cheapo effects and brush off this little gem, but if you actually sit and watch it, the film is impressive in many ways. The pacing is great - the movie never drags. The characters and dialogue grow on you (well, maybe like a fungus, but that's ok). The music is appropriately creepy. The house with the deteriorating adobe walls becomes claustrophobic, as the storm enables the shrews to gain easier access. The movie's great for a Saturday afternoon viewing with popcorn, or late at night in a dark room right before bed. I've gone to sleep many a night with this on my tube. Sometimes I actually sleep better after viewing this old friend again.
Our late, great local horror host Dr. Shock once introduced it as the WORST OF BEST. I always thought it was actually one of BEST’S BEST. Ok, ok. So James Best did go on to DUKES OF HAZZARD, but for me, he’ll always be Captain Thorne Sherman.
Ken Curtis (Festus of GUNSMOKE fame) produced both this and THE GIANT GILA MONSTER. Too bad he couldn’t have made more monster/horror films as these are both loads of fun.
Megaloman
Posts: 19315
(2/7/04 11:19 pm)
The Killer Shrews (1959)
I've got this double DVD (with GILA MONSTER) but have never been able to watch this. I really enjoy GILA, but somehow this hasn't been a must see. I've seen parts of it when I was a kid, but...
I'll give it a try soon!
mmv3000
Posts: 407
(2/8/04 12:37 am)
Re: The Killer Shrews (1959)
Love it.
For a '50's cheapie, this has something going for it. The setting and atmosphere (the storm) really set it apart from all of the similar films of the time, set in dry deserts or big cities. Along with the director's GILA MONSTER, I feel SHREWS is one of the most underrated films of the time.
amphiboid
Posts: 365
(3/5/04 9:16 pm)
Drinking Shrew Game
I like all the drinking in KILLER SHREWS, and would like to do a drinking game with that movie.
Every time someone pours a drink, everyone must down a whole beer.
I'm serious!
Megaloman
Posts: 19623
(3/5/04 9:48 pm)
Drinking Shrew Game
Good thing it's a short movie...
Lunkhead
Posts: 415
(3/6/04 10:52 am)
Re: Drinking Shrew Game
"And I'm getting a little sick of being called an irresponsible drunk, now believe me I am." ~ Jerry Farrell
One website review pointed out the synchronized drinking scene between Jerry and Thorne. Pretty buddy-buddy considering Jerry tried to kill Thorne twice within 5 minutes.
"If you'll freshen Anne's drink..." ~ Dr. Craigis
The Drinking Shrew Game sounds like fun Amphiboid. (Try at your own risk). It would at least guarantee a smooth buzz. Back in my party animal days, I probably watched the SHREWS totally obliterated. Don't think I could have waited for a character to pour a drink, even though it seems to happen every few minutes.
amphiboid
Posts: 396
(3/25/04 2:46 pm)
Shrew-Heads
There are fan of Plan 9, there are fans of Robot Monster, but I never heard of a "shrew-head" before, and I think the term is very funny!
Picture a whole movie house full of "Shrew-Heads" watching the screen and absent-mindedly chewing their popcorn. Like, all the shrew-heads in the world, all gathered in one place.
Maybe it would be a convention--ShrewConOne or something like that. Dog-masks for sale in the dealers' room! And of course, the hotel bar would do "Killer" business that weekend.
I have a copy of "Killer Shrews" over here, AND "The Giant Gila Monster," so I must be one of those people!
It just sort of snuck up on me, honest!
Megaloman
Posts: 19782
(3/25/04 3:11 pm)
Shrew-Heads
Excellent ideas.
to be continued...
So I doubt I'll do it too much.
