Tarantula

I first caught this movie one night back in the 1980s on a local channel at about 3:00am, and I loved it immediately, as I do many 1950s sci-fi/horror flicks. This one creeped me out too. I came upon this DVD and bought it on the spot. I wanted to see it again and see if it still holds up for me. It does, and I still love it. The mood and vibe of the film is still creepy, and the 1950s special effects, primitive as they are, work very well and also still hold up. Directed by Jack Arnold, this is no surprise. The scenes with the giant tarantula suddenly walking into the frame, or suddenly popping up and crawling over the top of a mountain while eyeing new human prey as it starts down the other side, are still creepy and menacing. This is a great little flick, right up there with Arnold's other great films of the genre, as well as the works of others in the genre such as "THEM!", "The Fly" and "The Thing From Another World" etc. The cast is excellent, with both fine established character actors, as well as at least one up and coming actor in a small role here who would go on to become an American icon. This would be Clint Eastwood, who makes his appearance near the end of the film as he prepares for his later "Dirty Harry" character by getting dirty with a 100 foot spider who is anything but a "punk." Sorry, I couldn't resist. The leading man here is John Agar who is quite good in the role as the comforting small town doctor who helps figure the mystery out, and as a little piece of trivia, the leading lady here is the gorgeous Mara Corday, who would many years later meet up with Mr. Eastwood face to face as "Loretta" in the coffee shop robbery scene of the Dirty Harry film "Sudden Impact." The film print and transfer here are excellent. It is sharp, clear, and any sort of imperfections, especially for a film of this vintage, are not even worth mentioning. It appears to have been taken straight from the original 1955 negative, and it looks pretty fantastic. You likely won't see the film looking any better than it does here. Not enough to matter. The audio is 2.0 Dolby Digital Mono, and it's clean. clear and fine. This all said, this DVD is about as bare bones as it gets. It consists of the film, and nothing else - and I mean "nothing" else. There isn't even a menu. As soon as you pop it into your player, the movie begins. I guess that's the point of these Universal "Vault Series" releases. Vintage and hard to find '50s sci-fi classics that would otherwise likely never see the light of day on DVD. A few little extra tidbits would've been cool, but I feel lucky just to have a nice DVD copy of this vintage sci-fi classic. If you like the movie and simply want to see it and own a copy, you can't go wrong here.

One of the best. Better than "Them!"

"Tarantula," released in 1955, is one of those movies that stay in the memory of those who grew up watching classic sci-fi horror films. Returning to it years later, the film remains engaging, proving its worth as a timeless classic. Here's why: Engaging Storyline: At its core, "Tarantula" tells a tale of scientific experimentation gone awry, resulting in a giant spider terrorizing a small desert town. The story is both engaging and thought-provoking, touching on themes of human hubris and nature's retaliation. Solid Performances: Though the film may not boast an A-list cast, the actors deliver convincing performances that suit the tone of the film. Their commitment to the material adds authenticity to the outlandish plot. Effective Special Effects: Considering its age, "Tarantula" offers surprisingly effective special effects. The giant spider's movements are impressively animated, and the film employs clever techniques to make it appear menacing and real. Atmospheric Direction: Directed by Jack Arnold, "Tarantula" benefits from skilled filmmaking that builds tension and maintains interest. The direction uses shadows, music, and pacing to create an atmosphere that supports the horror and intrigue of the story. Nostalgic Charm: For those who remember watching "Tarantula" in their youth, revisiting the film can be a delightful trip down memory lane. Its vintage style and classic storytelling offer a charm that transcends generations. A Lesson in Classic Sci-Fi Horror: As a piece of 1950s cinema, "Tarantula" serves as a fascinating study in how filmmakers of the era approached science fiction and horror. It offers a window into the fears, imagination, and creativity of the time. Summary: "Tarantula" may not be a masterpiece, but it's a solid, enjoyable film that continues to entertain decades after its release. Its engaging story, commendable performances, and skillful direction make it a standout in the classic sci-fi horror genre. Whether you're revisiting it from your youth or discovering it for the first time, "Tarantula" provides a satisfying, nostalgic experience that's worth a watch. It's a testament to a time when storytelling and creativity could turn even the most improbable premise into a captivating film.

This is about a scientist who is trying to solve the "feed the world" problem with a special nutrition involving nuclear elements. At the time the film was done, this was, of course all cutting-edge stuff making these films seem very up-to-date. Unfortunately, it only works sporadically. It works fine on rabbits, rats, hamsters, and tarantulas -- but not so well on humans. Which brings police involvement and a young local doctor into contact with an attractive young female grad student hired as an assistant. As might be imagined, everything goes wrong: the scientist gets his, and the tarantula can only be stopped by the USAF. The story worked for me, and the action gets quite exciting toward the end. This is no /Them!/, but even today, few films are, and it was fun to watch.

Guter Film von Jack Arnold. Ein echter Klassiker. Preis top. Volle fünf Sterne.

第二次怪獣ブーム華やかなりし1971年、NET(現テレビ朝日)で拝見して大変面白かった作品。 デジタルリマスターと当時の日本語吹替え入りにてうれしい初ＤＶＤ化です。 当時感動したSFXが、今の目で観るとかなり安っぽく観えるのではないかと懸念致しましたが、杞憂で実にスリリングで楽しい作品でした。 特殊栄養剤によって徐々に怪物化していく博士と、最初は大型犬位だったタイトルロールのタランチュラが画面に現れる毎に巨大化して行き徐々に恐怖感を盛り上げる手法はユニバーサル御家芸の怪奇映画調で味わい深いです。 後にアカデミー特殊効果賞を二度も受賞するクリフォード・スタインの特撮が実に丁寧で、実写の背景に合成されたタランチュラが動く際に出来る影が整合感を失わず映っています。 タランチュラが山の稜線を歩く時にはちゃんとそれに合わせて体の角度が変わっていますし、一番怖いのは、巨大な怪物の「スローモーだが速い。」感じが良く出ている点です。 人間が必死に走っても、小山の様なタランチュラの緩やかな歩幅の方が遥かに広い為、追いつかれてしまう…。 当初、ハイスピードカメラで撮影したのか、と思って居ましたが、洋泉社「あなたの知らない怪獣秘大百科」内の本作について述べた山田誠二氏によると薬を使って動きを鈍くしたとの事。 道理で映画の最後には「本作制作中にいかなる動物も傷つけられていません。｣表示は出ませんでした。 「放射能X」の巨大アリと同様、姿が見えない時に聴こえるタランチュラから発せられる鈴の様な音も見せないで恐怖を煽る事に貢献しています。 後、博士の実験室で、檻に入れられた小動物達がちょっと目を離してふと観るとパンパンに大きくなっている様子は単純なトリックながらドキリと致しました。 俳優陣もこの手の映画の信頼すべき常連が多く、髪型は古臭いが顔はカイル・マクラクランに良く似た主演のジョン・エイガ―や、悲劇の天才科学者を演じるヒチコック映画やナポレオン・ソロシリーズの常連レオ・G・キャロル、そしてキャストにも載らない端役ながら格好良いクリント・イーストウッド等が手抜き無しの誠実な演技を見せてくれます。 完全に怪奇映画風だが見事に画面を盛り上げる音楽にも文句無しです。 50年代アメリカSF恐怖映画の佳作です。お薦め。

Altro film indispensabile per gli amanti del genere, il vintage è sempre il vintage ed ha il suo fascino. Non male, consigliato.

Excellent

Well, I love this movie (which is why I bought the DVD), and it's a perfect movie for a twelve year-old. A gigantic, carnivorous bug gets loose and starts eating people, and then the people get even. Here we have a movie that is best enjoyed when drunk so, in addition to it being a really good show, you can keep it around as an excuse to get drunk. This movie was made and released in 1955, so you get an interesting demonstration of how popular entertainment was structured, socially speaking. All the characters in the movie have Anglo-Saxon surnames, for instance. The big bug menaces a small town, which apparently has no children in it. In fact the youngest person in the town is about twenty-two, and it's the pretty girl character, whose job is to scream when the monster threatens. And she always wears a skirt. I think she's the only female character too. (This may be a gay movie. Nobody seems to notice that the girl is pretty.)