The Hideous Sun Demon

This semi-professional low-budget horror film is worth seeing for two reasons: The tormented performance of Robert Clarke in the title role, and the terrific creature makeup. The film does have its weaknesses; the low budget shows, and we see (or, rather, we hear) several good examples of why a film's dialog track is rarely recorded on location but usually dubbed in later in a studio: Several of this film's locations were acoustically unsuitable, as the soundtrack clearly reveals. Nevertheless, I still insist that this film, with a title creature that's certainly original, offers rewards for patient viewers.

After being exposed to radiation, a scientist (Dr. Gilbert McKenna; Robert Clarke)) develops a peculiar form of sun-sensitivity: daylight devolves him into some kind of lizard-man. The provenance of this film is interesting: star/director Clarke made more money than he expected as the star of the abysmal 'Astounding She-Monster' (1957) and decided to produce his own low-budget sci-fi/horror film (ironically, he lost most of the immediate profits when company distributing the film folded). Considering that 'The Hideous Sun Demon' was a bargain-basement, near-amateur production, shot on weekends by film students, helmed by a first-time director, and featuring a cast made up mostly of friends and family, it's surprisingly entertaining (and far better than the film that inspired it). The simple monster-on-the-loose plot flips the usual 'hunts by night' trope for a threat that only appears in the sunlight (requiring a somewhat better creature costume than do nocturnal nemeses). The pseudo-science buttressing the plot is nonsensical (the combination radiation and sunlight causes Gil to revert to an earlier form of life, a premise supported by the now rejected 'ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny' theories of the 19th century) and no explanation is ever offered as to why the change is reversible. Most of the characters exist simply to hang the plot on but Clarke does a better than genre-average job in humanising Gil, who early on is shown with a drinking problem and, as the film progresses becomes frightened and upset (somewhat hammily) by his actions when in lizard-man mode. The score is pretty good for the sci-fi/noir look of the film and the final scenes on the immense gas tank are very well done, with lots of interesting camera angles and cuts back and forth between the events at the top and the view from the ground (the scene in which the policeman's hat is knocked off when tussling with the creature, then seen falling from the top of the towering tank is much better that would be expected in this level of production). The monster outfit is OK for the budget and Clarke, who did his own stunts, puts a lot of energy into running around in the supposedly very hot costume. The film was generally panned upon release but seems to have found a minor cult following. Not being over-the-top loopy like 'Plan 9 from Outer Space' (1959) or 'Robot Monster' (1953), it hasn't become a classic 'bad movie' but it is watchable by fans of the genre and Clarke deserves some small acclaim for his frugal effort.

6 reasons why you should watch it?

1. Robert Clarke's quasi convincing performance during the "why me? Why Me? WHY ME?" scene. Quasi. 2. The worst fake-piano playing (by Trudy-Nan Peterson) in the history of cinema. Mind you, you don't notice it the first time round. You're too busy looking at something else. 3. Watch the Sun Demon slaughter a dog. Definitely not politically correct. 4. Does the Sun Demon make love with Trudy on the beach? We'll never know. 5. The Sun Demon's car. It's brilliant. Too bad we don't know the make. 6. The Sun Demon didn't really run over the policeman. Or did He?

I could go on but I don't want to spoil the movie.

I bought the movie and watched it yesterday..I thought it was above average for a B-movie..I have seen recent movies a lot worse then this..a little slow in parts but I felt kind of saddened for the guy/monster in the end for him,since he didn't ask for this radiation accident..but all in all I felt it was worth the money and to have it as a collection,since I am a huge fan of 50's science fiction movies.Just remember,you have to realize this was made back in the 50's..so the special effects aren't like they are computerized or anything like now,but I thought they did a good job with the costume as a lizard man.Actually it was harder work for everyone then to make a monster then now.There certainly where some very exciting/creepy/scary moments throughout the movie and making it black and white really added to the horror of it all.

Robert Clarke wrote, directed, and starred in this film about a scientist that is exposed to a special radioactive isotope that makes him change into a lizard-like man everytime he is touched by the rays of the sun. Clarke is the scientist that has a drinking problem and an overactive libido as well. The film is VERY cheaply made, and most of the actors(okay, all of the actors) could have really benefited from a few acting lessons. The film nonetheless is very entertaining. There are some scenes which will make you laugh and cry( a higher level of laughter) because of their ineptitude and improbability. The scene where our evolution from fish and lizards being described is a gem, as are the two scenes where Clarke really goes overboard screaming "Why Me!" and the like. There are some well-shot scenes too. The ending is very nicely done, and the scenes with Clarke and a little girl have some poignant moments. The gal playing Trudy, a night club singer that Clarke dates in the middle of an evening trying to help him forget his plight no doubt, is Nan Peterson and a REAL knockout! Peterson shows more than ample cleavage to keep even the most hardened of critics entertained. All in all required film viewing for the aficionado of le bad cinema.