DeadlyMantis

The Deadly Mantis (1957)

This is another of those giant bug movies from the ‘50s. This time around we find that the inconvenient truth about the polar ice melting is that occasionally a giant prehistoric insect is released. Of course it is an enormous mantis, otherwise the title wouldn’t make any sense would it? The mantis starts by causing trouble around the North Pole and Canada smashing a few shacks and downing a plane. Eventually the big bug makes it way to NYC where it is attacked by jets and hides in a tunnel. This allows the military to corner it and attack with gas and chemicals, finishing it off before it does any more damage. The hero kisses the girl and the credits roll.

The Deadly Mantis is a decent example of the kinds of sci-fi and horror movies that the ‘50s turned out. You have the creature that goes on a rampage destroying everything that gets in the way, this time out it is a big bug. There is some mayhem as the mantis does in several model buildings, cars, and an airplane. This also brings me to the look of the creature, which is obviously just a puppet. But for the ‘50s I think it looks pretty good and is convincing on screen as something that could kill you. Then again to be honest I remember the mantis from the late show when I was a kid and it always scared the crap out of me. So I’m a bit nostalgic about The Deadly Mantis. Though the end of the movie where they are driving around in the fog still works to create a great atmosphere.

We also get the familiar characters of the scientist, the hero (this time an air force colonel) and of course the love interest. This is predictable and none of them really are ever in danger, but I don’t mind that the movie follows the formula. The characters are likeable and the cast does well enough in their roles to keep things interesting. As is the case in many of these genre flicks from the ‘50s The Deadly Mantis also makes attempts at humor to lighten the mood now and again. But lets be honest. This is a creature feature and with this kind of movie the plot really isn’t the primary focus. And this very fact leads me to my main complaint about the movie.

The Deadly Mantis, while only 79 minutes long, is padded with a ton of stock footage. The movie starts off with a long explanation of the radar stations that protect the United States from sneak attacks over the North Pole. This is sort of used in the plot, but the history lesson isn’t necessary to enjoy the movie. Later when the mantis shows up we get lots of stock footage of jets taking off and control centers tracking them. There is even a bit with the mantis flying over an Eskimo village. All the reactions of the Eskimos were lifted from another earlier movie. The movie suffers from all this padding as it slows down the action. I wish we would have had more with the characters or even a few more scenes of the mantis tearing things up.

All in all The Deadly Mantis is worth checking out as an example of a fun ‘50s creature feature movie. While not as good as the classics (The Thing from Another World, Them) it is far from the worst.

2 ½ out of 4

reviewed by John Shatzer