A museum's storehouse burns, leaving just one statue. After director Grove is found dead, assistant Pimm learns the statue was made by Rabbi Loew and is indestructible. Pimm plans to use thi... Read allA museum's storehouse burns, leaving just one statue. After director Grove is found dead, assistant Pimm learns the statue was made by Rabbi Loew and is indestructible. Pimm plans to use this information.A museum's storehouse burns, leaving just one statue. After director Grove is found dead, assistant Pimm learns the statue was made by Rabbi Loew and is indestructible. Pimm plans to use this information.
- Pimm
- (as Roddy MacDowall)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
An enjoyable oddity of British horror.
Well-made British horror film is an engaging and unique treat for those that enjoy clever and untraditional genre films. The story is solidly engulfing and nicely paced, pulling the viewer into the mystery of the Golem statue and its deranged master. The late great Roddy McDowall does a splendid performance, as usual, as our lead who's on the verge of madness. The supporting cast isn't half bad either, though they admittedly pale compared to McDowell. The other big star of this film is the Golem statue itself. The makeup work on the imposing statue is quite good and the image of that statue is something that's stayed with me for over 10 years.
All around, a solid genre film that's definitely worth tracking down for both fans of British horror and fans of McDowell.
*** out of ****
Norman Bates has a Golem!!
" Created for a good, it's purpose is nothing short of ultimate destruction "
A very modern reworking of an old folktale
"It!" is a very nice update to the old story. While the creature is a bit hard to believe at times, watching McDowell play such a crazy guy was actually a lot of fun. Overall, a very good horror film provided you suspend disbelief and just enjoy.
By the way, during the film McDowell's character refers to the movie "The Golem" but apparently incorrectly says that it's a 1924 film. A minor mistake, I understand.
What a Weird Little Movie
This unpretentious not scary horror film, sort of silly too, has a strange fascination on me. Roddy McDowall's preserved dead mother on a chair is not original ("Psycho" was first and better by far); the Golem is no big deal as a monster and doesn't even look menacing enough; no frightening situations really; McDowall has done many better jobs in his career and though Jill Haworth is a beautiful woman no doubt she is not quite my type. In fact the only interesting sequence I can rescue out of "It!" is when the stone arms of the Golem appear in different positions between shots at the museum in front of an amazed Arthur Pimm (Mc Dowall).
A great film? not at all; a good film? not in my opinion; a watchable one? I wouldn't say that either. Yet I don't know why I am interested, perhaps because I find it sort of original and really odd. Who knows?
Did you know
- TriviaJill Haworth detested this film and only made it for the money, but she enjoyed working with Roddy McDowall. Years later, when she was visited by McDowall, he brought her a poster for this film, took out a pen and wrote "SH" before the title.
- GoofsStar Roddy McDowall is credited as Roddy 'MacDowall' in the opening credits.
- Quotes
The Old Rabbi: This is a most rare thing. I don't believe that you got it off some stone as you said. If I translate it for you, will you agree to tell me the truth?
Arthur Pimm: Yes.
The Old Rabbi: He who will find the secret of my life at his feet, him will I serve until beyond time. He who shall evoke me in the 17th century, beware! For I cannot by fire be destroyed. He who shall evoke me in the 18th century, beware! For I cannot by fire or by water be destroyed. He who evokes me in the 19th century, beware! For I cannot by fire or by water or by force be destroyed. He who in the 20th century shall dare evoke me, beware! For neither by fire nor water, nor force, nor anything by man created, can I be destroyed. He who in the 21st century evokes me, must be of God's hand himself, because on this Earth, the person of man existeth no more.
The Old Rabbi: Now, tell me, where did you get this?
Arthur Pimm: I traced if off an old statue that came from Czechoslovakia. Does it have any significance?
The Old Rabbi: Significance? That statue is the Great Golem, believed to have been destroyed centuries ago. If it is still in existence, if, I say, it is probably the most powerful force on Earth today.
Arthur Pimm: More powerful than the H-bomb?
The Old Rabbi: [scoffs] A bomb is finished when it has exploded. But the Golem will go on and on forever, serving or destroying.
Arthur Pimm: What do you mean "serving"?
The Old Rabbi: It will obey whoever places a magic scroll beneath its tongue.
Arthur Pimm: Where does one get this magic scroll?
The Old Rabbi: If I knew that, I would not reveal it to you. Power destroys.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Out of this World Super Shock Show (2007)
- How long is It!?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime
- 1h 36m(96 min)
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1




