Attack of the Crab Monsters (1957) – Review

In the atomic age of giant monsters, Attack of the Crab Monsters proves that not all crustaceans are just shells and pincers – some have a wicked sense of humour too! This is a key ingredient if you’re going to make a monster movie on the cheap, and when it comes to cheap there is no better than producer\director Roger Corman.

“And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.” If you’re making a cheap monster movie it costs you nothing extra to class things up a bit by opening with some nice Biblical narration. Produced and directed by legendary B-movie director Roger Corman, Attack of the Crab Monsters tells the story of a group of scientists and their support crew of five sailors who land on a remote island in the Pacific Ocean to find out what happened to a previous expedition that disappeared without a trace. Needless to say, the reason for their disappearance isn’t due to a storm or the island’s rampant seismic activity, it’s a pair of giant crab monsters.

 

“You were expecting a forty-foot woman, perchance?”

Our cast of characters is led by Dr. Karl Weigand (Leslie Bradley) and includes geologist James Carson (Richard H. Cutting) and biologists Jules Deveroux (Mel Welles), Martha Hunter (Pamela Duncan), and Dale Drewer (Richard Garland). This group also includes technician and “Jack of all Trades” Hank Chapman (Russell Johnson) who will be the voice of reason and the one voted most likely to sacrifice himself to save the party. Their mission is to discover what effect the recent atomic testing on a nearby island has had both biologically and geologically on this particular Pacific Island. Unfortunately, geological instability is the least of their problems as they soon learn that the earlier group had been killed and eaten by two mutated, intelligent giant crabs, who have eaten and absorbed the minds of their victims and can now speak telepathically in their voices.

 

“Does anybody know how to treat a bad case of crabs?”

The plot is as nutty as a squirrel’s secret stash of acorns. Giant crabs that absorb intelligence? Really? It’s like the writers played Mad Libs with sci-fi tropes, and we ended up with a script that’s part horror, part comedy, and all parts crustacean chaos. But who cares about logic when you’ve got crabs with attitude? From the opening scenes, it’s clear that Attack of the Crab Monsters doesn’t take itself too seriously. The dialogue is delightfully cheesy, filled with classic B-movie one-liners and exaggerated reactions. Despite its low budget, the film makes the most of its limited resources, creating a surprisingly eerie atmosphere through clever lighting and location shooting. This is what makes Roger Corman’s films so entertaining. So, with a few stoic scientists, a damsel in distress and enough bad science to sink the Titanic we have a ragtag team of adventurers who are determined to outwit the crabs and save the day, even if it means sacrificing their dignity in the process.

 

“I know we should have visited the Island of Doctor Moreau instead.”

Stray Observations:

• For a group that is studying the effects of radioactive fallout from atomic tests they don’t seem all that concerned with radiation, they don’t even bother checking a Geiger counter.
• Hank Chapman refers to biologist Martha Hunter’s study of marine life as “The woman handles the seafood” and he’s supposed to be one of our heroes.
• If you are awoken by the voice of a lost and presumed dead person calling out “Help me” maybe don’t wander off into the jungle alone to investigate.
• Going by films like The Thing from Another World and Killdozer the best way to get rid of a monster is electricity and Roger Corman doesn’t disappoint with this outing.
• We did get a decent giant crab movie a few years later in the form of Ray Harryhausen’s Mysterious Island (1961).
• Seven years later, actor Russell Johnson would be trapped on another island as The Professor on Gilligan’s Island.

 

“Who wants to go on a three-hour tour?”

The screenplay, written by Charles B. Griffith, injects a touch of humour into the story, unintentionally creating a sense of campiness that has since become a trademark of 1950s creature features. The dialogue often leans towards the cheesy side, with characters delivering lines that may elicit unintentional laughter from modern audiences. But it’s not just the dialogue that’s a riot; the special effects are a sight to behold. Sure, by today’s standards, the giant crabs might look more like oversized plush toys than terrifying monsters, but that only adds to the charm. And let’s not forget about the classic B-movie tropes—shaky sets, dramatic music cues, and actors running from rubbery claws in slow motion. It’s a recipe for hilarity!

 

“Could we get some melted butter over here?”

While Attack of the Crab Monsters may not have the polish of a big-budget Hollywood production, it more than makes up for it with its sheer entertainment value, it revels in its campiness and embraces the absurdity of its premise. The actions of our protagonists often defy logic – the amount of time they spend wandering dark caves inhabited by monsters is quite impressive – the result is a film with a severely diminished emotional impact, leaving little room for empathy or investment in the outcome of these sometimes-moronic heroes. For fans of classic B-movies and creature features this is a must-see cult classic that gave the world a very unique monster. Additionally, the film’s brisk runtime prevents it from overstaying its welcome, ensuring that its flaws are at least somewhat mitigated by brevity. It stands as a testament to the creativity and resourcefulness of Roger Corman, a man who could make almost anything for the cost of a sandwich.

 

“Up on the shore, they work all day. Out in the sun they slave away.”

It’s these kinds of outings where Roger Corman demonstrates a certain level of creativity in his direction, effectively utilizing the film’s tropical island setting to create an atmosphere of isolation and claustrophobia, raising the end product to a surprising degree. In the end, Attack of the Crab Monsters is a quaint relic of its time, worth watching for its historical significance in the B-movie genre, but not necessarily for its cinematic merits. You either love the giant crab puppet or you don’t, but if you are a fan of Roger Corman’s school cheap movie-making, I’m betting you’ll love it.