From Hell it Came (1957)

The film begins with a tasteful and culturally sensitive depiction of a pacific island ceremony. The actors all appear to be of Polynesian descent, that is to say, brunettes. They are selecting a new chief in the traditional manner, by killing the old chief’s son after framed him for murder. The son curses the new chief and as you know, these things are binding.

There are also Americans here. They are trying to cure the natives of a plague that has gripped the island. Also, checking out the nuclear fallout that drifted there, which isn’t a real problem and totally not their fault! Anyhow these backwards and simple natives distrust the fine, upstanding Americans, blaming them for their troubles.

The film introduces Linda Watkins in only her seventh feature film appearance. She sports an English accent that is totally spot-on. Spot-on, I tell you! It’s unclear why she’s even there. The team is led by Doctor Arnold who is in love with the pretty Terry (also a doctor, but a woman). She doesn’t want to settle down and live a traditional life, instead opting to do her silly doctor research stuff. Will she ever learn and catch a man? She should marry the elderly and alcoholic Doctor Arnold so she can wash his skid marks while he does his doctor research stuff. You know, tradition!

Anyhow, back at the grave, there is a strange tree stump. Strange because it wasn’t there the day before. Also because it has a face and a human heartbeat. Anyhow, our heroes decide to cut it free from its roots and take it back to the lab for study. It seems to be dying, maybe because it was cut from its roots. So, Terry pretends to be a doctor, because she is, and gives it an IV of her special formula X-37. That’s right. They gave a tree stump an IV. I would have top dressed it with compost, but what do I know. Anyhow, it crashes out of the lab and terrorizes the natives, who call it Tabanga, Creature of Revenge. Our heroes use the scientifically appropriate term ‘Monster’. Can the white people save the day?

This Drive-In fodder is little different from others in the sub-genre but seems more hostile than most towards the natives. Also, it’s interesting how they want to use nuclear fallout (“devil dust”) as a possible cause while tip-toeing around Americans taking the blame. In the end the actual nature of the creature is not resolved. Maybe the filmmakers wanted the viewer to decide for themselves, or maybe they didn’t care.

From Hell it Came is fun nonsense. Full of continuity errors, bad acting (sometimes horrible acting), and outdated attitudes. But at least if you become confused, the characters will drop into exposition mode to explain it all. Our heroes don't behave at all logically, the natives make Tarzan appear sophisticated, and the monster, while cool in a retro 50's way, was utterly unfrightening. And as far as this film is concerned, AMRU 2.5. Sadly, more enjoyable than anything I've seen recently.