The Giant Gila Monster (1959)

1950’s B movies are a pretty steady diet for me here at the ole coffin. Giant mutated insects, flying saucers over Los Angeles, swinging rock n roll and hot rods just make for some great fun viewing especially in black and white. One movie that has always stood out for me in B movie land is 1959’s The Giant Gila Monster. 

I first discovered The Giant Gila Monster on an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000 which is probably the worst way to first come across it. Joel and the bots point out all the bad and the run time is slam full of one liners. Granted it had me howling but it also had me wanting to see the movie in an unadulterated form. Yes Gila Monster is a “bad” film but it’s chock full of charm which puts it on the same level as Plan 9 From Outer Space (1959). Something about Gila warms the heart of this B movie lover.

Chase and the Sheriff discuss skid marks.....on the road of course.

Dance away! Never mind the big lizard outside.

The movie is centered around a very small town and a group of hot rodders whose friends have mysteriously disappeared. The audience knows what happened to them but it’s mystery all the same to the town Sheriff (Fred Graham) and local grease monkey Chase Winstead (Don Sullivan). As Chase helps the Sheriff search for his missing friends more strange things start to happen. One man claims to have seen something big, black and pink in the middle of the road causing him to wreck his car. Chase and his friends do find their missing friends car which looks to have been forced off the road but their friends are nowhere to be found (that’s because they became tasty treats for the giant Gila….shhh don’t tell anyone it’s a secret). The big hungry lizard, whose size is kind of explained away by its thyroid gland, forces a tanker truck off the road causing it to explode. But it’s not until it takes out a passenger train that the Sheriff begins to hear eye witness accounts of this big reptile.

So let’s put all our events into one basket and figure out what’s going on shall we? Missing teens (presumably eaten), crashed car with no driver (eaten), tanker truck wrecked no driver found (eaten or course) and passenger train derailed and some passengers missing (because they were eaten). The Sheriff believes the culprit to be a giant lizard based on eye witness accounts and the fact that according to a zoologist, Gila monsters can get big due to an over active thyroid condition. Sooooooo what to do, what to do, what to do…..I know! Let’s have a big sock hop!

The lonely Gila....again goes the dance stag.

I regret nothing!

Yes no 50’s movie would be complete without a good ole fashioned sock hop with some lively rock n roll and a bunch of teenagers dancing the night away at the ole barn. Even better it’s hosted by the hottest radio DJ this side of……wherever the hell this movie takes place. A perfect setting for…..yep you guessed it a giant Gila monster attack! Not to fear though Chase is a pretty heads up guy and thankfully has some jars of nitroglycerin at the shop. Chase packs it in his hot rod, rigs it up to steer straight into the behemoth and KABOOM!! 

All is well and everyone is saved. You really can’t ask for much more except for maybe an epilogue and a hint that another Gila could be on the prowl for a sequel but alas The Giant Gila Monster is a standalone little ditty that surely entertains.

Hot rods!!

Now you might be asking what is it that I love about this movie? Well for one thing the hot rods. I love the hot rods. I have always loved the look, the sound and the attitude that goes along with them. I truly expect to see a big rat fink driving one of these things in the back ground but I have yet to see it. I also like the characters believe it or not. Chase is a great character to be honest. He’s a grease monkey who works at the local shop but not a greaser if that makes any sense. He’s a good guy who gets a bad wrap because somehow he’s a “bad influence” on the other kids according to one of the prominent parents whose daughter is missing. Chase has a big heart and is saving up his money to buy leg braces for his disabled little sister. Now because he works at the local shop he is in charge of the wrecker. So this teen works many hours helping out those in need. I mean really all around Chase is a great guy who brings across that 50’s charm of a bygone era. He also has a newly found singing career by the final reel of the film. 

I....AM.....IRON MAAAAAN!

Which brings me to another good point of the movie. There are several scenes which include Chase singing. These are original songs sung by actor Don Sullivan who supposedly had his pick of what songs he got to sing. You also have to love the sci-fi Theremin score which permeates the soundtrack whenever the Gila monster is near. The movie also seems to have been made with the best intentions and with some genuine TLC. This is why I hold it on the same level as Plan 9. Ed Wood loved film making and this type of love is shared with Gordon McLendon who produced Gila. This film was shot back to back with another B movie classic “The Killer Shrews” (1959).

Gila squishes you puny human!.....and in color!

So while MST3K might have roasted this one, I find the theatrical version a joy to sit back and watch. It may be corny, it may be low budgeted (around the $175,000 mark) and may make no general sense but it makes me smile every time ole Gila makes his appearance on the screen! That ladies and gents, is what really counts! 

Billy the Kid Vs. Dracula (1966)

During this Halloween season, every Halloween season actually, I try my best to take in a few more fright flicks than I normally do. I also seem to have to work them in around television viewing as well since I am pretty much hooked on The Walking Dead and American Horror Story series. Fox’s Sleepy Hollow has also found its way into my DVR schedule as well.

However I took the time to sit down and watch a “real piece of crap”. I use this quote because that is exactly what actor John Carradine called this movie. What movie you may ask? Why a movie entitled “Billy the Kid vs. Dracula”.

Mixing up the old west with the undead is a great idea. It combines two totally different worlds. The “new” world of the early 19^th century and the “old” world horrors of Eastern Europe (where the vampire seems to hail). Two opposite worlds that have the ability to collide into a chilling cataclysmic explosion. It is a shame this film just exploded into a big pile of steaming poop. Okay that’s a bit harsh because I did actually enjoy this movie but on the level of enjoying Ed Wood’s 1959 sci-fi/horror classic “Plan 9 From Outer Space”.

And this is how you shoot an injun.

The Premise of this movie is pretty simple really. Billy the Kid (Chuck Courtney) is reformed and is living in a small town under the name William H. Bonney (as if no one knew the outlaw’s real name?). He has been smitten by Elizabeth Bentley (Melinda Plowman), owner of the ranch that Billy is employed. Elizabeth is waiting on the arrival of her Uncle James who is going to help run the ranch and hopefully give Billy the blessing of taking her hand in marriage. On route to the ranch Elizabeth’s Uncle and Aunt share a stagecoach with the immortal blood sucker himself Dracula (John Carradine). Dracula learns of the ranch and the beautiful young Elizabeth. During the traveling the Count slips away to have a snack on some German immigrants making their way to the same town.

The horror of not using Palmolive after a vampire attack.

 He also pays a visit to an Indian tribe which insights the Indians to attack the stage coach. At least that’s what I got out it. I could be wrong but at this point I didn’t expect the movie to make any sense anyway. Uncle James is killed which gives the Count the chance to play the role of Elizabeth’s Uncle whom she hasn’t met by the way.

The Count makes his way into town, during the day I might add, and immediately is met with some leery eyes, especially from the German immigrants who have made their way into town and just so happen to land jobs at the same ranch. Dracula finishes off the immigrants daughter and the talk of vampirism begins to be spread by the immigrants. Of course this idea is scoffed at. Even Elizabeth scoffs the idea when she delivers one of the best pieces of dialogue.

Dracula....schmoooozin' the popo.

“Vampires? Why that is just stupid. I’ve never even heard of a vampire”. 

Really? Then how can you comment on the existence or lack thereof? It’s just the tip of the absurd iceberg that is Billy the Kid vs. Dracula. Good ole Dracula decides that Elizabeth is to be his vampire bride and forbids Billy to see her. Billy begins to put two and two together, which is quite a feat, and takes the combined advice of the old world superstition from the immigrants and the new world scientific facts from the town Doctor. 

Bela eat  your heart out....or role over in your grave.

Once Drac’s identity is revealed he takes off to the abandoned silver mine and fully vampirize Elizabeth (on a bed that is in the mine, complete with red velvet comforter????). Billy comes to the rescue and realizing that bullets have no effect on the Lord of the Undead, throws the gun at Dracula…..which smashes him in the face rendering him unconscious. No really that’s what happens, I was completely baffled as well! Billy stakes the vampire, who turns into a bat and flees into the sun which now has some kind of effect on the bat and Dracula’s body turns into a pile of bones…..ooooookaaaaay.

The patented sleeper hold!

I have to concur with Mr. Carradine’s opinion of this film. It really is crappy but crappy in a way that makes it almost irresistible. Carradine delivers the hammy goods as usual and basically reprises his role from his days as the Count in Universal’s “House of Frankenstein” (1944) and “House of Dracula” (1945). Carradine’s “eyes of Dracula” are no match for that of Bela Lugosi however. I was lucky enough to see the Turner Classic Movie's presentation in HD which boats a beautiful transfer with nice colors. Why is it this piece of junk survives with a pristine print yet Lon Chaney’s “London After Midnight” (1927) is basically lost forever? The mind boggles and so will yours after taking a gander at this movie. This movie was released in 1966 on a double bill with another old west vs. horror legend film, “Jesse James Meets Frankenstein’s Daughter”. I guess I need to pop some more popcorn and spin that one next!

Monster Fest 10 - Chesapeake Central Library - Chesapeake Virginia Oct. 5th.

Ahhhh my favorite time of the year and my favorite convention came this past weekend to the Chesapeake Central Library in Chesapeake, Virginia.

For the past ten years on the first Saturday of October, Monster Fest has been an annual event. Monster Fest was created by Rob Floyd and Clayton Sayre out of their love for all things horror, monsters and cult. Monster Fest is a free event that is open to the public via the wonderful graces of the library and is appropriate for all ages. Did I mention it was free? This year marks the 10th anniversary of the convention and it was a blow out for sure!

Monsters galore!

The Fest always features, as most conventions do, vendors with plenty of cool swag and collectables. There are also local artists and authors selling their items. There are also plenty of costumes to behold as many attendees come dressed as their favorite horror characters or the product of their own incredible imaginations. Each year participants get to enter themselves into a costume contest judged by some of the guest T.V. personalities and vendors.

Dr. Madblood.

Local T.V. horror host Dr. Madblood always makes his presence known at Monster Fest and will makes his rounds throughout the convention documenting all the fun that is to be had for his Halloween special which airs towards the end of October.

Penny Dreadful (far right) attends her table.

 Other T.V. hosts come for the fun as well such as Penny Dreadful who hails from New England. Other past fests have seen the appearance of the Bowman Body from Richmond, Virginia and Dr. Sarcofiguy also from Virginia.

For those who like to get their geek on, like myself, there are also a slew of discussion panels and presentations ranging from zombie preparedness to discussions on horror film directors such as Mario Bava. This year monsterkid friend Josh Watson and I tackled George Romero's Night of the Living Dead and its impact on horror cinema and zombiedom.

The Cemetery Boys diggin up some creepy tunes!

There was also live entertainment! The Cemetery Boys made their third (I believe their third) appearance playing right out side the front doors. Performing some great spooky rock to set the mood for the days activities. This year's attendance set a record if I am not mistaken of 2,800 monster fans!!

The Sons of Frankenstein crankin out the jams at Fantasmo!

The convention winds down around 5 pm but don't worry because the doors open back up around 7:30pm for a double feature screening of classic horror films under the banner of Fantasmo Cult Cinema Explosion, which happens to be a bi-monthly event at the library all year round. This year's screening included Horror of Dracula (1958) and Frankenstein Meets The Wolfman (1943). Fantasmo was also the site of the first live appearance of the band The Sons of Frankenstein, a band I happen to play guitar in. We warmed up the already enthusiastic crowd of 130 with some fun rock n roll with a little bit of a monster edge.

So if you live in the Tidewater area come on over every October for Monster Fest! Also don't forget the bi-monthly Fantasmo Cult Cinema Explosion! Fun for monsterkids of all ages!!







Some more shots from Monster Fest 10!

Need a Vampire head?

Brother Shock (official mascot) welcomes you!

Such a lovely clown!

Some of the creations you will find lurking!

Monster Fest creator Rob Floyd and Uncle Felonious from Dr. Madblood.

The Wolfman is lurking

The Fright Shop staff will do you right! The Fright Shop

Costume contest!

Creepy bunny!

Mutant Rooster!

Some more vendors as Penny Dreadful shops around.

Coffindan and the official The Sons of Frankenstein guitar pick!

Rocking out with the Time Warp!