Good movie but grossly overrated

An Exercise In Nonsense

There are better movies of two hours length. I loved the actress'performance.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

Thorne Sherman (handsome character actor James Best of future 'Dukes of Hazzard' fame) is a boat captain who decides to wait out a hurricane on an isolated Texas island. However, the island is where well meaning scientists have created a strain of deadly and large killer shrew. The island is teeming with the animals, and our heroes have to try to avoid being eaten (actually, being scratched or bitten would be bad enough) before they can make it to the coast.We're given a little education on this diminutive species in this engaging thriller that never pretends to be anything other than a diverting little B movie. It's actually not as bad as you might be led to believe. In fact, the main characters do come up with an ingenious means of protecting themselves as they make their dangerous trek. Until then, we do get some passable action sequences and suspense, and the sight of ugly little shrew faces writhing behind boards of wood. As everybody well knows, the shrews were played by dogs wearing masks, and they don't move like any animal other than canines. Still, it's an appreciable practical effect, no matter low rent it might be.This was written by Jay Simms, and directed by Ray Kellogg, and was designed to play double features with another B classic, "The Giant Gila Monster". Although Texas made, it did ultimately receive some national distribution. It's got plenty of enjoyable atmosphere, the kind you can almost always get with low budget black & white creature features not shot on Hollywood locations. The music by Harry Bluestone and Emil Cadkin just adds to the ambiance.Best is a tough, very capable hero, and Goude is an appealing leading lady. Baruch Lumet, father of master filmmaker Sidney Lumet, is fine as the exposition providing lead scientist. Cowboy veteran Ken Curtis, who also produced the picture, is effective in the kind of cowardly, weaselly role we often see in stories of this kind.A fun movie that wraps up in a fairly tidy 69 minute running time.Seven out of 10.

Okay, I'll risk it— for a 50's drive-in flick, the movie's rather competently made, even on a severe budget. On the whole, it's well-acted, colorfully photographed, and briskly directed. On the other hand, the waggy-tail shrews are too doggy-like to frighten, unless you're a kitty cat. Fortunately, they're mostly photographed in quick shrouded fashion. Also, the "tank' makes for a funny and cleverly motivated appearance. At the same time, the plot itself is formula familiar— a scientific experiment gone wrong, along with a hero, a shapely blonde, and a bad guy, all trapped on an island with killer monsters at the door. To me, the formula works, even if about as familiar as my old shoes.A couple of nice touches. The primitive "tank" may look silly, especially with its underpowered three person motor, but is an imaginative one-of-a-kind. Just don't look for it at a Nascar speedway. Note too, how the professor's boring exposition on the nature of shrews is enlivened by Ann's (Goude) fearful background behavior. Thus a dull pill gets some fizz.As a 50's drive-in vet, I'm a bit puzzled how so many folks find the 69-minutes a camp classic. Sure, it's got amusingly goofy aspects. But frankly, I found it more entertaining than funny, even if forgettable.

Some actors, especially those who aren't leading stars, often become identified by just one person or one role they played. When one sees such an actor in another movie, you get an image of the role for which the actor is remembered. Well, that was so with me when I watched this monster-horror flick recently. The lead actor, James Best, could be none other than Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane from the long-running TV series, "The Dukes of Hazzard" (1979-1985). Best had a long career in movies and TV, mostly in minor supporting roles. But his big supporting role in the Dukes endeared him to audiences and made him a well- known actor to a TV generation. None of the actors in this flick, "The Killer Shrews," are very good. Their delivery of lines seems stilted at times. I give this film four stars for two things. First, the plot is different than most and shows some imagination. Second – a good effort went into making the killer shrews. The filmmakers clearly used dogs for the animals, and put some sort of long robes of hair on them. For close-ups, they used something else to make their heads resemble more a rat face, but with fangs. In so many of these lesser monster movies, the audience scarcely gets glimpses of the monster. Then, they are quick flashes. That's because we might laugh at the poor effort to make a monster costume or model, which would be very obvious. But "The Killer Shrews" has many scenes with the shrews chasing, digging and mauling people. I was beginning to wonder how this would end – if they were all going to become food for the rats. Then, the film has a clever way for the three leads to survive. A nice surprise. But, still, the script, acting, directing, camera work, etc. were too low grade to earn this more than four stars.

Yeah, by today's standards it's an awful movie. But think of the time it was made, for a low budget horror film, especially a Fifties one, it was pretty good. Even if it isn't scary it sure is funny. The acting is generally pretty decent, especially Rook, Mario and Dr. Baines. The shrews were at least worth laughing at (they were actually dogs in rat suits), and it remained suspenseful towards the end. There was a very "so lame it's funny" moment at the end when the captain says to the scientist woman, "I'm not worried about overpopulation just yet!" and kisses her. Four characters die; Rook gets eaten alive by shrews as he hides in a small tree. Mario gets bitten and dies in the basement. Baines gets bitten in the crotch and types out his final moments. Jerry, the alcoholic scientist, acts stupid and loses his life that way. He is the main antagonist, not counting the shrews. It's worth watching if you want to laugh and have fun with your friends.