The Unknown Terror

As others have noted, this is not great, but not terrible. There is something about it that just makes it fun to watch. I, too, remember it from my youth on Dr. Shock (a Philly-based horror movie show).

I recently scored a DVD copy of the film and thoroughly enjoyed it after a 35 year hiatus. I still enjoyed it.

It's one of those movies in which you can see that they spent some money on it, made sure to use real actors who were decent, write a decent script, and make sure they used good sets and locations.

Also, like others, the main thing I remember is the fungus. Oozing down cave walls, looking a bit like bath bubbles with an attitude! Fun stuff.

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.

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.

When an explorer goes missing, a team is assembled to track him down, leading to the dreaded "Cave of Death". On their way, they encounter the bizarre Dr. Ramsey (Gerald Milton). He's a scientist of the mad variety, who also cans his own fruit. Ramsey is working with local fungi. He's very enthusiastic about his work.

We soon discover that something sinister and unnatural is going on.

THE UNKNOWN TERROR sort of plods along, becoming a caving adventure / rescue mission. This goes on up until the final revelation of the "terrible truth". Is it worth the wait? Well, not really. That is, unless gurgling soap bubbles freak you out. To be fair, they're somewhat effective in a low-low budget way.

Recommended for sci-fi fans who love sentient sludge and / or seeping slime...

Charles Marquis Warren was a western specialist; he directed nearly all this except two horror films, this one and BACK FROM THE DEAD, an adventure thriller: FLIGHT TO TANGIERS and a Foreign Legion movie DESERT HELL, now totally unavailable. Unfortunately. So this one is a pretty good surprise, especially in LBX excellent copy. The story itself is not really exceptional but from a film maker for whom it was not the speciality, this is for me a tour de force, a very good B picture. I dream to purchase all the Regal movies in LBX from this period: late fifties and early sixties. Many and many gems to find.