Attack of the Crab Monsters

Movie Information

In Brief: Roger Corman's Attack of the Crab Monsters (1957) is a perfect — and perfectly enjoyable — example of the type of movie that was being churned out in the late 1950s. Surprisingly, it's also frequently stylish and has a remarkably well-written screenplay. Bear in mind, however, that we’re talking well-written within the context of movies about giant mutant telepathic crabs bent on world domination. (In the case of the latter, I’ve never been quite clear on what they planned on doing with the world once they got ahold of it.)  Attack of the Crab Monsters is fun. Plus, unlike many films of the '50s (including some of Corman’s), it actually delivers what its title promises: crab monsters. Are they the most believable monsters imaginable? Probably not, but at least they’re there. Anyway, giant mutant telepathic crabs ... what more do you want?
Score:

Genre: Sci-Fi Horror
Director: Roger Corman
Starring: Richard Garland, Pamela Duncan, Russell Johnson, Leslie Bradley, Mel Welles
Rated: NR

The Thursday Horror Picture Show will screen Attack of the Crab Monsters Thursday, Jan. 28, at 8 p.m. in Theater Six at The Carolina Asheville, hosted by Xpress movie critics Ken Hanke and Scott Douglas.

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About Ken Hanke
Head film critic for Mountain Xpress from December 2000 until his death in June 2016. Author of books "Ken Russell's Films," "Charlie Chan at the Movies," "A Critical Guide to Horror Film Series," "Tim Burton: An Unauthorized Biography of the Filmmaker."

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3 thoughts on “Attack of the Crab Monsters

  1. leonard pollack

    Don’t you think adding a B as in Bad movie,would be more accurate, you wrote this is an ” example of the type of movie that was being churned out in the late 1950s.” Really? There were excellent films in the 50’s.

    • Ken Hanke

      I tend to believe that the reader is smart enough to know that anything called Attack of the Crab Monsters is a B movie.

    • sally sefton

      Does B movie imply a bad movie? I assumed it had to do with the budget. I have enjoyed many movies that are classified as B movies.

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