Terror desconocido

6.1/2 stars. Far better acting then often seen in B 1950s American sci-fi horror, and more moments of reasonably decent dialogue than one would expect. Similarly, the score is more serviceable then expected. The climactic sequence, which lasts longer than is often the case in this kind of low-budget feature, is full of fun if simple special effects.

Naturally, the movie, being very much a product of its time, contains liberal doses of sexism and racism, so be forewarned.

I remember seeing this as a kid on local TV and being somewhat put out by the fact that you never got a clear look at the infected natives (probably for good reasons) and that the killer fungus monster at the finale was obviously tons of soap suds mixed in with a little dry ice fog. Oddly enough it stuck with me and soon I was putting shampoo in my hair and screaming "The fungus,the fungus!" Still,the leads all do a good straight faced job and the script doesn't contain the amount of Ed Wood style howlers you'd expect it to.As far as I know this is also the last horror film to present calypso singer Sir Lancelot who had appeared in the Val Lewton Films I walked with a Zombie and Curse Of The Cat People. The song "You Got To Suffer To Be Born Again is a mix of genius and absurdity. Highly recommended to anyone who likes old B movies.

1957's "The Unknown Terror" was a production of Robert L. Lippert's Regal arm distributed by 20th Century-Fox, shot in Darryl F. Zanuck's new CinemaScope process under the working title "Beyond Terror" but redubbed RegalScope for these little 'B' pictures (other Regal efforts include "She Devil," "Kronos," "Ghost Diver," and this film's cofeature "Back from the Dead"). They only lasted three years before receiving a name change to Associated Producers ("Return of the Fly" and "The Alligator People" were among the first under this banner), but the week long schedule on a fixed budget of $100,000 apiece did not change. "The Unknown Terror" certainly looks poverty stricken, its depiction of a Caribbean island village consisting of one cramped street crowded with extras, starring John Howard ("The Invisible Woman," "The Undying Monster") as millionaire explorer Dan Matthews, determined to find his wife's missing brother lost in search of the fearsome 'Cave of Death' (which we see before the opening credits). The actual hero is Peter Morgan (Paul Richards, "Phantom of the Rue Morgue," "Beneath the Planet of the Apes"), who was crippled after selflessly saving Matthews from certain death, so Dan feels obliged to offer him the job of guide, his wife Gina (Mala Powers) insistent on coming with them. Things quickly take an ominous turn when the native who led the way to the tiny village disappears, the lone nearby American Dr. Ramsey (Gerald Milton) providing accommodations for the trio but remaining secretive about the dreaded cavern. There's a sacrificial altar, a fresh corpse (the victim's tongue already cut out), and death dealing islanders covered in fungus that the doctor has discovered; unfortunately, the special effects crew accomplished this by covering the actors in cotton wool and soap suds, which has earned the film a certain notoriety, though not enough to keep it from falling into near total obscurity after its 20 year TV run. This author confesses a nostalgic affection for this admittedly minor effort, despite the many questions that go unanswered, though it's no surprise to learn the fate of Gina's missing brother.

An explorer looking for the legendary "Cave of the Dead" doesn't return. So his sister, "Gina Matthews" (Mala Powers) and her husband, "Dan Matthews" (John Howard) decide to set out to look for him. Before they depart, a former acquaintance of both named "Pete Morgan" (Paul Richards) convinces them to let him come with them since he is an experienced spelunker. When they get to the village in South America where the cave is supposed to be near, they meet a strange American doctor, "Dr. Ramsey" (Gerald Milton) who denies knowing anything about it. At any rate, rather than detailing the entire story I will just say that this horror film is an obvious product of its time. And even though it is clearly a B-movie it isn't that bad. That said, while it isn't that scary it does manage to keep the suspense going for the most part. Recommended only for those who enjoy B-movies from the 50's.

I was able to acquire a copy of this little flick recently.I remembered it from my youth but still had some trepidation due to all of the snooty reviews of the flick.Well ol' evilskip is here to tell you that it isn't nearly as bad as it has been touted.

An expedition is lost somewhere in South America near the cave of death.Well a second expedition is mounted to find the first. Before long we've got some nasty looking zombies and a mad scientist who has created an unstoppable killer fungus.Granted, the fungus looks like it came from a dish washer with an overactive thyroid but what could you do with $12 for special effects?>

Again this isn't a classic by any means.But in the right frame of mind it is a pleasant way to pass 70 or so minutes.