First Man Into Space

The film doesn't have much to make it stand out, except for its sci-fi/horror hybrid story and that it probably inspired Stan Lee to create the Thing.

I just love the procedural approach to monster movies.

More grounded than most '50s space monster movies but it was surprisingly dull.

Solid 1950s sci fi

The _Fiend Without a Face_ producers strike again with this somewhat less successful but still pretty creepy sci-fi/horror hybrid. Like _Fiend_, this starts slow but builds to some really scary moments, like when the monster is pulled over by the cops for speeding (don't ask) and comes roaring out of the car to tear apart the policemen, leaving behind the bloody body of a woman in the passenger seat.

There's no glossing over the film's shortcomings. The effects are cheap, the science is preposterous, the dialogue is bad, and Marshall Thompson is a poor man's Sterling Hayden. But it's ridiculous fun perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon. The shorter a movie is, the more forgiving I tend to be, especially when I've got 20 others to watch. Predictable, yes, but in a comforting way. The cinematography is also much better than one would expect.

Half a cool movie about getting in to space, half a mediocre horror movie. Not particularly worth watching unless you are very interested in the genre but the criterion cover is excellent, whatever that's worth.

Had no idea that there would be a blood thirsty monster in this. Was pleasantly surprised.