The Deadly Mantis (1957)

Well Deserved Praise

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Most of the older Scifi classic films like this usually don't turn out to go above the rest, but this movie was certainly one of those lot. I was surprised how well the effects worked in this film. The drone sound created by the vibrations of the Mantis's wings were bone chilling and realistic. The roaring was a bit unusual, but that's okay, because we are supposed to believe it's a monster mantis! I enjoyed the scene with the Greenland Eskimos in that first of all, they used real Eskimo actors, and second, it was believable (though sped up for some reason). I really liked this film, it's not among my favorites should I say, but I thin it's certainly one of the better giant monster films of its time, right among "The Land Unknown" and "The Giant Behemoth".

Anyone who likes 1950s flicks about giant insects is sure to love "The Deadly Mantis", about a member of the order Mantodea who gets released from his arctic dwelling and proceeds to wreak havoc on Canada and the United States. Although it's interesting to hear the humans have scientific discussions about what kind of an animal this might be, the big guy remains the star. As is typical in these movies, the obvious phoniness of the insect -- along with the campy soundtrack -- is what makes the movie really enjoyable. A very hokey movie, but one that you definitely gotta admire. This overgrown bug is truly a mant'* of war! (pardon the pun) PS: William Hopper was Dennis Hopper's cousin, and played Natalie Wood's father in "Rebel without a Cause". Also, director Nathan Juran is best known for "Attack of the 50 Foot Woman".*"Mant" was actually the title of the movie-within-a-movie in Joe Dante's "Matinee", in which a producer (John Goodman) brings a movie about a man turning into an ant to Key West, Florida, during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Curious breed, these old school monster films. Lapped up by the kids of their time, yet I can't imagine today's CGI glutted youth grooving to them, talkative, even educational, weaving together dry facts, ripe drama and a splash of romance and chuckles into their giant beast template. The Deadly Mantis is pretty much a textbook example of the genre, and as such I can say right here that if you enjoy the creature features of the 1950's you could do well in looking up this one. The plot deals with an enormous preying mantis revived in the Arctic by human activity. The film diverges from the standard nuclear portents in its explanation, in fact its explanation is a little fuzzy but it does tie into Cold War fears, the human activity in question being the development of Arctic early warning radar. There are tussles, tracks and development of mystery, then just under half way through the mantis rears its ugly head and the film locks down to classic shenanigans, delivering some nifty action, a few nice chuckles and a satisfying tense finale. Director Nathan Juran keeps a steady hand on events, fairly mastering the build up and release structure that sometimes undoes these films by opting less for destruction and more for journeying and pursuit. There is a little in the way of things being crushed or broken but the film never sets itself potential in those areas that it can't fulfil. The pacing is a little patchy though, with the film suffering from a dusting of dry spells in the first two thirds that keep it from being really great. A bit of off humour as well, but I didn't mind it so much as it comes with the territory. Acting is fair throughout, everybody plays pretty standard roles but they fill them out nicely, I never groaned at anyone though no one exactly sparkles. William Hopper makes for a good determined scientist and has a compelling intonation for proclaiming theories, Craig Stevens, Donald Randolph and others make for solid military men and Alix Taylor is an pleasing romantic interest. The cast work well together and have plenty of opportunity to do so, one nice thing about this film (typical of its type) is that the characters work together, they get along and once they realise what the enemy is, they embark on taking it out no matter what. Not much more to say, but it would be remiss of me to not mention the mantis itself. Its a terrific beast, bug eyed winged, fierce clawed and multi legged, a fine, looming antagonist. It doesn't look so hot in flying sequences, but when on the ground its pretty darned ace. Definitely worth a look for 50's monster buffs, as far as giant insects go its one of the best, even if it wasn't put together with Harryhausen expertise. All in all its a film worth a shot then, I certainly liked it and if you like this sort of thing you might well do too.

This film is a guilty pleasure. After all, "smart people" don't watch movies about giant bugs that terrorize the Earth! But, despite the high cheese factor of this movie, you can't help but enjoy it on a camp level. Frankly, where there are many shortcomings to this film, it is solidly entertaining and fun.The film's plot isn't all that important. It's a giant bug versus the Earth sorta thing. However, the giant bug looks awfully good for 1957 and aside from an over-extensive use of stock footage (something most people can easily spot and is easy to hate), the film is technically well made. It has most of the usual clichés of this sort of movie--such as the sexy lady and the obligatory triumph at the end. But, because Universal Studios played it so straight, it works.My advice is NOT to watch this in front of people you want to impress--they will no doubt think you are an idiot for watching such a film. But, by all means watch it--you'll have a good time.