The Killer Shrews
by Ray Kellogg
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Baruch Lumet, Gordon McLendon, Ingrid Goude, James Best, Ken CurtisDirector: Ray Kellogg
Producer: Ken Curtis
Producer: Gordon McLendon
Cinematographer: Wilfred M. Cline
Editor: Aaron Stell
Writer: Jay Simms
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Black & White, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 69 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2002-08-27
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Alpha Video
Movie Reviews of The Killer Shrews
Movie Review: I ....W I S H....T H E Y...S T I L L....M A D E....H O R R O R.....M O V I E S....L I K E....T H I S ..!
Summary: 5 Stars
SUSPENSEFUL, ATTENTION-GRABBING, SCARY, EXCITING....WITH A THRILLING CONCLUSION. This interesting little horror film, from the 1950s, is called "The Killer Shrews" -- and no, it is N_O_T about a group of gossiping, back-biting housewives who hen-peck their husbands, then go on a murder spree. This movie is about REAL shrews -- animals -- who grow from the normal size of large hamsters, to the nightmarish size of your average medium-sized dog! It all has to do with a scientist, who experimented with the shrews in their natural state...unaware that a the effects of an unexpected hurricane would make them grow. (Why, I'm not sure....I came in at the mid-point of this movie.) On this island are the scientist, his daughter, a few stalwart WASP males, a stereotyped Mexican -- and the MOST stalwart WASP male of all -- James Best, (of all people), known to many for his two 'Twilight Zone' episodes.
It's interesting to me that "the girl" in this movie, (all horror movies have to have at least one "girl" in them -- both to titilate the males in the audience, and also, (perhaps?), to have a character with whom the females in the audience can relate. The interesting thing about the "girl" (the scientist's daughter), in this movie to me was that she goes through three costume changes throughout this movie. She arrives wearing a pert suit and high heels -- perfect attire for working in a New York City office building....but what the heck is she doing wearing these things in the middle of nowhere, on Shrew Island? Later, she changes her clothes into something a bit more "sensible" -- a peasant-type blouse, a wide skirt -- and what looks to be a colourful, striped apron, although there are no ties visible, and this might just be a strange part of her skirt. Still later on in the film, she wears flat shoes, a blouse, and a pair of slacks. It's almost as if the producers of the film wanted to establish her femininity by her first wearing two skirts of various types, before putting her in more mundane, (and less feminine?) pants. (The producers couldn't just look at her face, and realize she knockout-gorgous whatever she wears...?)
Everyone in this movie acts credibly, and very believably. There is none of the self-mockery found in some later horror flicks. To me, this is all to the good -- taking the situation of being in danger of being eaten alive is thing to take seriously, if the audience is to become involved, as well.
After having most of the people on the island done in by the killer shrews, (and those remaining, having some close encounters), an ingenuis way is found for the remaining characters to get off the island without (too much), danger. Even here, we can't be certain the plan will work -- for our heroine, (being a "frail female"), gets tired at just the wrong moment. (Yet, the character is played so well, that the audience members -- at least, THIS audience member -- realized she got tired, not because she was female, but just because she, as an individual, got tired. Another woman might have been stronger....)
All in all, (except for the stereotyped Mexican), this is a pretty good little movie. Realistic and engrossing, played out seriously,so one cares about what happens to these people. It's a very scary situation, faced head-on by some very brave people. Maybe....just maybe....there's a lesson here -- in that, facing a scary, dangerous situation, head on, bravely, might even be a good idea now! Like -- facing our present "shrewish" recession, and the predicted "sharp jaws" of 2012? See it for enjoyment, or see it for encouragement. No blood to speak of, and no foul language. Just suspence and character development. And a good story!
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