“Men like Lombardi put hypnosis back 25 years.”  (Um, a lot further than that…)

Story: Creepy side-show psychic Carlo Lombardi uses the young Andrea Talbot (get it?) as his unwilling assistant, for the “delight” of paying customers. That is, when Lombardi isn’t predicting murders by a hideous “she-creature”. Dr. Erickson, “one of the leading exponents in psychic research”, thinks something’s fishy. Little does Erickson know, things are fishier than anyone could have supposed…

Scares: It’s a 1950s horror movie. So, only for the extremely faint of heart.
Splat Factor: A few dead bodies, but violence is tempered by the black-and-white visuals.

Subgenre: Classic Man-in-Suit Monster Mashes
Year Released: 1956
Remake, Sequel or OG (Original Ghoul)?: A Samuel Z. Arkoff original

Trick or Treat?: Creature is one of the best monster movies Sam Arkoff ever produced. It’s wonderfully campy, with over serious dialogue played 100% straight. It’s glorious. 

Lombardi’s bloodthirsty predilections and his cruel abuse of his assistant Andrea is portrayed perfectly by Chester Morris. As the beleaguered hypnotist’s victim, Andrea, Marla English is ethereal. She’s gorgeous, sure, but that floaty white nightgown/dress is perfection. I sympathized with poor Andrea, for being a pawn in Lombardi’s game. And for having to endure that guy’s creepy obsession. English is yet another gorgeous 1950s B-movie actress whose considerable acting talent was ignored in favor of solely focusing on her looks. While she’s great here, she deserved meatier roles.

Creature has a mix of monster and mystery tropes that give this film a touch of gravitas many similar films of the time lack. The clichés are thick and heavy, and the silly premise is definitely over-the-top, and let’s not forget those stupid monster boobies. But taken as pure fun, it’s wonderful. This is a classic of the subgenre, and one that even the most horror averse can enjoy with a gang of friends and a tub of popcorn. Make it an authentic double-feature with it’s original second-feature, It Conquered the World, and enjoy.

Score: 4.5 out of 5 pumpkins.