El sonido de la muerte

With this type of film there always seems to be a sentimental this-scared-me-as-a-kid review. And I supposed this one is no exception. I saw it once on TV as a kid. It scared me. I've never forgotten it. And I never saw it again until recently when I picked it up as a discount DVD.

As others have said this is a very low budget effort from Spain that employs a cheap gimmick to scare it's audience. It's monster is not seen, only heard. And what is heard is a particularly creepy series of sounds.

But the problem for the film's detractors is that this gimmick seems to work.

Like the famous swimming pool scene in the superior Cat People, it tricks the audience into imagining something more horrible than what could be shown.

The movie's greatest asset is that it's director seems to know how to scare his audience. For instance there are long, sustained shots in which very little happens. But this serves to create tension, causing us to wonder, "What is coming next?"

In watching it again, I kept thinking how well this would have worked as a radio play. The way it uses only sound and narrative to frighten the audience, it reminded me of Wyllis Cooper's classic The Thing on the Fourble Board.

For those who need vivid color, big stars and intrusive CGI effects, let them rent Anaconda.

And for those who have trouble suspending disbelief over the film's gimmick: Who's to say there weren't any invisible dinosaurs? How would we know?

Back in the old days of television, with no cable and only 3 channels available, I was still very lucky to be able to catch some fine horror gems like this one, along with other more-scary films such as 'Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things' and 'Twisted Brain'. For years I never knew what the title of this film was, I just knew it was an invisible monster who screeched loudly and slashed people's faces & bodies apart! I loved the scene with the flour, where they had layed it across the floor, so you could see the creatures' foot-steps coming closer to them, holed-up in the cabin....it's a far-fetched film, but I loved it as a kid but could never place the title & never saw or heard of it again...until a few months ago! There is a video dealer in NYC who helped me discover its' title and I was able to buy it off ebay (oldies .com has it also) and am proud to have been able to find this old gem! It may not be for everybody, but there's something about a horror film, when seen as a kid or teen....it will always stay with you and to find it again is kind of like finding a lost love or family member! I give it 6 out of 10 stars ******

If you are a fan of vintage, cult horror movies like I am then you will absolutely love this movie. I cannot believe that it has no cult following! I can't even find a movie poster for it. Although it is a low budget, dubbed, Spanish movie it has a great story with very good acting and the effects are as cool as can be.

Overall it is made in the typical fashion of horror movies of this period but has some real surprises along the way. The acting and dubbing is far superior than most. The sets are good. The camera work is average or a little above. But the story is very good and interesting with many scenes that I do not want to give away. The black and white make it moody and pretty scary. There are some rather gory effects especially for the time. The monster is invisible for the most part yet you can really imagine it from some cool footprints and the blood curdling noise that it makes. You really worry for the people in this movie. It also has one of the most surprise endings that I have ever seen in a movie of this era.

Another reason that I can't understand why this movie is not out there is that it is Ingrid Pitt's first movie role. She is lovely as ever but looks a lot different than her 1970's roles.

This movie is a must for vintage horror fans.

Don't know why I'm bothering to compile this review as obviously no one is ever likely going to read it, seeing as how the film has to date attracted just ONE other review and no votes in all the years it must have been here!!

Let me tell you something...dubbed it may be, but for what was obviously an ultra low-budget entry in the horror film genre (I mean, how cheap can the fx for an invisible dinosaur be???) it delivers both suspense and horror, even in black and white, which strangely adds to, rather than detracts from, the events at hand.

Comparable I suppose (and not necessarily favorably) to the invisible monster from the Id in FORBIDDEN PLANET, this newly hatched dinosaur takes out, quite unpleasantly I may add, several of the would-be treasure hunters that disturb its cave somewhere in Greece. It also emits quite a chilling noise during its approach, giving rise to the title which in most countries outside its native Spain, was THE PREHISTORIC SOUND (not surprisingly).

Some really long lasting images here. The scientist who first has his face slashed to pieces as he enters the cave. The survivors plight as they surround their refuge with flour (or something similar) to give them at least some warning of the beast's proximity. This sequence is especially well-done and highly suspenseful. The concluding scenes I will not divulge but are, let me say, unexpected and a cut above the usual (no pun intended!)

Decent little movie folks - trust me, I'm a reviewer!

This is a cool Spanish horror film from the 6os finely directed by Jose Antonio Nieves Conde , a slick craftsman . A group of isolated people expert on archeology in the Greek mountains formed by three adventurers "André" (Antonio Casas), "Asilov" (James Philbrook) and "Dorman" (Jose Bódalo), seeking a hidden treasure in a cave in a remote rural area of Greece . Accompany them in their search "Pete" (Arturo Fernandez), a hired driver in Athens, "Sophia" (Ingrid Pitt), the Asilov lover , and "María" (Soledad Miranda), daughter of "Andre" . Ignoring the warnings from local residents, who claim that the cave is cursed, and following an old map, "André", "Asilov" and "Dorman" use dynamite to open unexplored caves. They set off a cave explosion , one blast exposes two major prehistoric eggs that are apparently petrified . They are menaced by an invisible shrieking dinosaur that had been buried for eons . "André" leads one to the cabin where he is staying in the care of a local employee, "Calliope" (Lola Gaos). The egg opens and escapes inside a prehistoric monster invisible beeps awful, capable of causing death. As a dinosaur egg hatches and out lashes an invisible predator .

Thrilling film in low budget plenty of chills , suspense , screams and lots of blood . I admire creative effort to keep budget down , but this time is too little . The invisible monster is an original and imaginative resource that lets you play with a certain ambiguity and , at the same time, contributes mightily to create an oppressive ambient and haunting atmosphere . Predictability of the plot, written by Americans named Gregg Tallas and Sam X Abarbanel outlining causes of settings and characters , but not hidden at any time a script perfectly constructed, that transcends its status monster movie to approach the field of cosmic terror. Science has a role in the development of anecdotal history, full of mythological references and legendary as the legend of the Golden Fleece , the monster as a symbol of moral punishment of greed . You'll have to use your imagination as archaeologist are slashed to bits by the show terror carried out by the estrange creature . The spectator does not know at any time the dimensions and physical characteristics of the monster , but the abominable sound emitted is more than enough to imagine the horror it represents. This is an effective and simple movie ; it results to be an acceptable Spanish-American co-production with a Spaniard all-star-cast such as Arturo Fernandez , Lola Gaos , Francisco Piquer and Jose Bodalo-Antonio Casas , both of whom played many Spaghetti Western ; in addition a B Series American star as James Philbrook . Furthermore two cult female stars as the British Ingrid Pitt , Hammer's ordinary , and Spanish Soledad Miranda , Jesus Franco's usual . Passable cinematography in black and white by notorious cameraman Manuel Berenguer who photographed several American movies , though being necessary a right remastering ; it was filmed at Samuel Bronston studios and on location in Hoyo de Manzanares , La Pedriza , Madrid . Intriguing and suspenseful musical score by the classical composer called Luis De Pablo . The motion picture efficiently produced by Gregorio Sacristan was compellingly directed by Jose Antonio Nieves Conde , a director of great quality . He was a drama expert (Surcos, El Inquilino , Marta , Casa Manchada) , religious cinema (Balarrasa, Cotolay) , Comedy (Don Lucio Y Hermano Pio) and even terror as¨ Sounds of horror¨ , one of the least known and appreciated films but is nowadays best considered .