Behemoth, the Sea Monster begins as American scientist Steve Karnes (Gene Evans) lectures his British counterparts in London about the threat of Nuclear testing & the resultant radioactive materials released into the atmosphere, the British upper-class idiots scoff at his theories. Meanwhile in Cornwall a Fisherman named Tom Trevethan (Henri Vidon) has a close encounter with a giant radioactive sea monster & ends up dead, shortly after lots of dead fish wash up onto a beach. Back in London Steve hears the news on the TV & thinks that atomic radiation may be responsible so he heads over to his mate & Government minister Professor James Bickford (Andre Morell) who heads the Atomic Energy Commission, together they decide to check the situation in Cornwall out & upon examination of the dead fish their worst fears are realised when it is confirmed that they are radioactive. Karnes eventually discovers that a 70 foot tall, 200 foot long prehistoric Dinosaur has been revived by radiation & is heading towards London destroying all in it's path, it's up to Karnes & Bickford to find a way to destroy it...
This English American co-production was directed by Eugene Lourie who also co-wrote & gets a production design credit as well together with Douglas Hickox who according to the IMDb was uncredited, well not that it matters but I promise you now the version I saw yesterday definitely credited both directors. The script by Lourie & Daniel James is your standard 50's giant monster/Dinosaur created by radiation on the loose causing huge amounts of property damage type film, Behemoth, the Sea Monster isn't the best example in the genre but it's far from the worst & it's watchable if nothing else. The first half is pretty slow going with lots of people trying to act very seriously & warn all of us about the dangers of radiation (you see even horror films have messages!) but it just about held my attention before the behemoth himself rises from the Thames & attacks a ferry & eventually London itself. This part of the film is pretty fun as we get to see a giant Dinosaur walk through the streets of London, it doesn't do much other than walk around a bit but it's still cool to watch although I'm not sure about this radiation nonsense. I mean every so often the monster emits loads of radiation along with an annoying computer beeping sound when it does! Films have come a long way since Behemoth, the Sea Monster & anyone who has seen any monster film post Jurassic Park (1993) will be disappointed, extremely unimpressed with the somewhat stiff looking stop-motion special effects & probably bored but I thought the monster & the film as a whole had a certain likability & innocent charm about them plus it runs for less than 80 minutes so that means it won't take too much of your life up.
Directors Lourie & Hickox do alright, most of the film isn't anything special & their overall ambitions were probably fairly low in a 'lets make a monster film where a Dinosaur tramples it's way through London' sort of way. The monster itself looks OK, it's a bit rubbery & looks a bit too much like a model at times but for the majority of the time it's on screen it's a reasonably decent looking thing animated by Willis H. O'Brien & his team. I particularly liked the shot at night when the monster walks in front of a silhouetted Houses of Parliment & Big Ben, it's actually quite a cool looking scene. The shots of it rising up from the water were achieved using a glove puppet which was so cheap the jaw doesn't even move. Just in case your wondering the monster doesn't get to eat anyone which definitely loses it a star.
Technically Behemoth, the Sea Monster is OK, the special effects are alright & it's competently made if nothing else. The acting was OK & everyone did their best.
Behemoth, the Sea Monster won't go down as a classic in the genre of giant radiation mutated monsters & Dinosaurs on the rampage films but manages to hold it's head above water & is a decent, fun & entertaining little monster film in it's own right. Don't expect the Earth, don't spend too much money on it & you may just enjoy it.
This English American co-production was directed by Eugene Lourie who also co-wrote & gets a production design credit as well together with Douglas Hickox who according to the IMDb was uncredited, well not that it matters but I promise you now the version I saw yesterday definitely credited both directors. The script by Lourie & Daniel James is your standard 50's giant monster/Dinosaur created by radiation on the loose causing huge amounts of property damage type film, Behemoth, the Sea Monster isn't the best example in the genre but it's far from the worst & it's watchable if nothing else. The first half is pretty slow going with lots of people trying to act very seriously & warn all of us about the dangers of radiation (you see even horror films have messages!) but it just about held my attention before the behemoth himself rises from the Thames & attacks a ferry & eventually London itself. This part of the film is pretty fun as we get to see a giant Dinosaur walk through the streets of London, it doesn't do much other than walk around a bit but it's still cool to watch although I'm not sure about this radiation nonsense. I mean every so often the monster emits loads of radiation along with an annoying computer beeping sound when it does! Films have come a long way since Behemoth, the Sea Monster & anyone who has seen any monster film post Jurassic Park (1993) will be disappointed, extremely unimpressed with the somewhat stiff looking stop-motion special effects & probably bored but I thought the monster & the film as a whole had a certain likability & innocent charm about them plus it runs for less than 80 minutes so that means it won't take too much of your life up.
Directors Lourie & Hickox do alright, most of the film isn't anything special & their overall ambitions were probably fairly low in a 'lets make a monster film where a Dinosaur tramples it's way through London' sort of way. The monster itself looks OK, it's a bit rubbery & looks a bit too much like a model at times but for the majority of the time it's on screen it's a reasonably decent looking thing animated by Willis H. O'Brien & his team. I particularly liked the shot at night when the monster walks in front of a silhouetted Houses of Parliment & Big Ben, it's actually quite a cool looking scene. The shots of it rising up from the water were achieved using a glove puppet which was so cheap the jaw doesn't even move. Just in case your wondering the monster doesn't get to eat anyone which definitely loses it a star.
Technically Behemoth, the Sea Monster is OK, the special effects are alright & it's competently made if nothing else. The acting was OK & everyone did their best.
Behemoth, the Sea Monster won't go down as a classic in the genre of giant radiation mutated monsters & Dinosaurs on the rampage films but manages to hold it's head above water & is a decent, fun & entertaining little monster film in it's own right. Don't expect the Earth, don't spend too much money on it & you may just enjoy it.