As an illustrator and graphic designer, I've always had a special place in my heart for the incredible, hand-lettered fonts and titles used in the 50s. The poster for this movie is a perfect example. It's fantastic.
My friends and I saw this at the movie theature when we were 10. Scared the heck out of all of us. Nothing like watching a horror movie on the big screen. Popcorn went flying and we were afraid to look. 😄 Great memories.
This review concentrated on the film itself, instead of the campy nature that some people talk about. Congratulations, that was a step above what I expected.
JW, I'm SO PSYCHED to hear your review! I saw this on UHF, somewhere in the later stages of my elementary school years. I was so scared for the characters! When they made their do-or-die escape attempt, I found that I had strained the tendons of my inner-upper-arms, because I was sympathetically 'holding on', trying to help them grasp their protective equipment. Oh, and its a ridiculous film, too! [EDIT: But a serious ridiculous film. It does work the situation for all its worth].
oh, cool! you always review fun stuff. i really love this movie! panic in the year zero is great too, and you are spot on about the claustrophobic night of the living dead vibe. we just got a new goldendoodle puppy named henry, and whenever he gets into a teething/bitey phase i call him my little killer shrew! i giggle every time i see those collies in their shrew costumes ☺️ teeth teeth teeth yip yip yap chitter chitter bite! (tail wag) but i genuinely like it and back in the day before cable i was always happy to see it show up in the late night tv guide. silly yes, but sometimes silly is my favorite. happy weekend!
Thinking about the dogs being dressed up as killer shrews always reminds me of the bit in The Simpsons where they're filming the Radioactive Man movie in Springfield and some of the kids see crewmembers are painting horses to look like cows: "Uh, sir, why don't you just use real cows?" "Cows don't look like cows on film. You got to use horses." "What do you do if you want something that looks like a horse?" "Usually we just tape a bunch of cats together." It also makes me think that although the shrews maybe weren't very convincing, the film industry sometimes still uses animals in costumes. Of course in the original Star Wars they used an elephant and then more recently in Solo: A Star Wars Story, some alien 'hounds' were, in part, played by real dogs in monster suits.
My goodness, I remember watching this movie on my B&W TV when I was about 5-6 years old. I am not afraid to admit that it scared the crap out of me. I distinctly remember a scene where a character (I don't remember which one) is attacked in the forest by the 'shrews' and most of it takes place in darkness. It's a scene that speaks volumes to a young viewer.
This was featured on MeTV's "Svengoolie" recently. Sven had a lot of fun with this one! Good background info and his pacing and additional schtick made it worthwhile sitting through his rather long show.
I have to say that I enjoyed Killer Shrews more than I thought I would. The expectations bar was set very low, so I was pleasantly surprised. I watched the whole movie without realizing that it was Ken Curtis playing Jerry Farrell! I always get so much background information from your reviews as well as things that I hadn’t noticed while watching he movie.
Right after this movie, the same producers made "The Giant Gila Monster" using the same sets from Shrews. I've grown to love Gila Monster over the years and for me it falls in the so bad its good category. I would give that one another try. Keep in mind these were made primary for drive-ins and that's what makes them so cool and unique. Boy, do I miss drive-ins.
When I lived near Philadelphia, I remember seeing this movie on "Chiller" on channel 11 (WPIX) in NYC 8PM at night. (We had a big directional antenna.) I saw Gila Monster years earlier on (then WFIL) channel 6 in Philly after 11:30 PM on Saturday night on "Double Chiller", in my little bedroom. The second film was "Screaming Skull" which scared the hell out me. I remember being in bed, wanting to turn the TV off, but I just couldn't get in up during the commercials. My mom finally came in at 3AM to shut the TV off and scold me.
Lol ! Whaaaat ? Great review JW. I've never heard of this one. Seeing your thumbnail, I was thinking, "Oh, a sequel to Shakespeare?" Looks like lots of fun.
I've seen this a few times, the MST3K version and late-night television. That was the era when movies could get made fast and with low budgets. Seven is apparently the optimal number for people thrown together to deal with a situation. Two things in THE KILLER SHREWS advantage; a unique solution to the problem and no horrible singing.
I've never been able to figure out why this movie is so rewatchable, because there is much about it one could easily disparage and dismiss. But, I continue watching it, and it never gets old. When I was younger, I could match them, drink for drink.
I've seen Shrews a couple times and I like it. It's a pretty decent low-budget horror which I like. I agree with you on the case that a low-budget movie if done well can be quite good. Val Lewton, Romero, even some Roger Corman not to mention many film noirs.
I found your channel on reddit and love your reviews. I know this movie , like a lot of movies from mst3k. But I love you're reviews. You bring a lot of information and kinda no nonsense commentary that we need :)
Thanks for the review JW. I have never seen this movie, and I'm not sure if I'll put it on my list. One thing that intrigues me is the interior scenes. They almost seem like a live play format at a community theater, with the limited angles, sparce props, and frugal production.
They budgeted $100 dollars for special effects, but with some unexpected cost overruns it ballooned up to $125. The good news is that it's all on the screen. Amazing!
A great review of this film, which I haven't seen for many years, but if it's on here I shall give it a rewatch. I like what I remember about it, like you I thought that the characters all coming into the room in such a way and them all standing next to the bar odd, but it didn't spoil my enjoyment of it too much.
Nice review. I have not seen this one, but have heard of it. I like low budget B movies. They can be a lot of fun. That is why I am trying to get small collection of them.
Excellent review JW. This is a fun movie. As you said, not great by any means, but still a serviceable low budget horror. I agree with you on Giant Gila Monster. One of the worst movies I've ever seen. It seemed like they fed a salamander sleeping pills then rolled the camera.
I have witnessed The Killer Shrews. Scientific research was really taking some chances in the 50's. Making everything bigger,meaner and munchier. So glad you and other commenters have mentioned the similarities to Night of the Living Dead. That classic had a very noticeable jump cut in the scene with the bickering couple in the basement. It went on too long and they had to reduce the talk to tighten the pacing. I didn't mind The Giant Gila Monster. Some fun moments. Shrews is more accomplished. I hope the dog performers were well compensated with chicken and steak. Our canine overlords do not generally care to be costumed. I would be very interested to see a ranking of 1950's monsters. I wonder where The Killer Shrews would fit on this list? Thank you.
This so one of those movies that gave me and my brother nightmares as small kids! This movie and "Them!" were two of my favorite b&w scifi horror flicks.
One of my favorite low-budget movies, one that I've lost count of the times I've seen it. Not really "bad"; cheesy, yes, cheap, certainly, but entertaining and even horrifying in spots. Strange to see you so early (3:09 pm Central).
This is another one of those scenarios where I have to wonder how the job listing went. "WANTED: Laboratory Assistant to work on unholy experiments on the genetics of potentially lethal carnivorous animals. Must live on a remote island cut off from the outside world. Room, board, and open bar included"
I discovered Mystery Science Theater 3000 in 1991, and this was one of the few movies I actually sought to watch without their treatment, and yes it's actually watchable.
Great review. As usual, I really enjoyed the behind the scenes info. I don't know how many times I've watched and enjoyed this film despite it's short comings.
Saw this as a teenager on tv in the 70s. Strange that I still remember it after all this time. Maybe that means it was better than I thought. It's a shame James Best didn't have more of a career, as he did fine work as a supporting actor in movies like Ride Lonesome (one of my all time favourite westerns) and The Rack and even played the lead in Sam Fuller's flawed but interesting Verboten.
Best also played in Hooper (1977) next to Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jan Michael Vincent, Brian Keith, and director Hal Needham. One of Needham's better efforts next to Smokey And The Bandit.
Mistie here (MST3K fan), and I have watched both Shrews and Gila multiple times, and I am partial to Gila. I love the hep teens, hot rods, and two excellent character actor performances. I also love the dreary setting and dreary theremin score. (Just to give you some idea of how goofy I am, I own a "The Giant Gila Monster" t-shirt that features the original movie poster. It looks fantastic on me!)
This is a good movie. My grandmother saw it when if first came out and liked it because of the setting and acting. The creature effects did not bother her. Our family wanted the creep to get eaten. Some of the best and scariest movies can be low budget since the starkness and isolation can be unsettling in itself.
The Giant Gila Monster film has some low budget charm to it. I can't stand the wimpy song he sings to his sister and the pace in general is slow but I can't say I hate it. I like the teenagers all getting together to figure out the problem kind of like the way they did it in The Blob. This movie, The Killer Shrews was always a bit of a joke because of the disguised dogs. I dig your reviews, Miss Weiselberry, keep up the good work. Nice to see you coming back to low budget horror.
The Producer hoped to make actor Don Sullivan a teen idol and rock and roll star. He failed in both; but Sullivan acted in movies until 2012, coincidentally in the Giant Gila Monster sequel.
Thank you for sharing this video. Honestly and this may be odd to say but this movie always makes me laugh every time I watch it. Not much else I can say
By an odd coincidence I saw this movie recently on YT. I couldn't decide if it was a good movie badly made or a bad movie goodly made. What I did decide was the reason people are coming and going from that one room so much is the inevitable outcome of their excessive drinking. I didn't find any of the characters particularly likeable but the method devised to finally escape the island was quite ingenious.
Ken Curtis was part of John Ford's collection of actors that he used in his movies. The one I I remember most was "The Searchers" starring John Wayne and Jeffrey Hunter . Watching your videos, I know you like Jeffrey Hunter.😊
Another terrific and comprehensive movie review. Your approach to reviews is unique and very effective - there is no one on YT who compares. Your joyous takes on films and books is so pleasing! Keep up your great work!
I wish I lived in a time where someone made a movie about Killer Shrews. I fear we shall not see amazing times like those until I have shrugged off this mortal coil. Sad.🤪
Another good review from Jerome Weiselberry. By the way, did you ever do a take on Night Of The Lepus?? Another one of those great (cough) great movies. Of course, added bonuses include that shower Psycho lady and Dr Leonard McCoy.
If you haven't done so already, please check out The Monster That Challenged the World (1957), one of the very best giant bug shockers with great special effects that really terrified me as a kid.
The 1966 British sci-fi/horror Island of Terror, with Peter Cushing, might be up your alley. The budget was (a little) higher but has the same guilty-pleasure sort of charm.
Jerome Weiselberry-You mentioned Emil Cadkin and Harry Bluestone as composers. A Great deal of their music cues at the time were lifted from the classic Capitol Records Hi-Q Production Library. A Lot of independent movie production companies and some of television shows produced through Universal (Revue) and Columbia ( Screen Gems ) would use that library from time to time. Bluestone and Cadkin did have their music in other libraries, however at that period, Capitol did possess a lot of it.
I found this film to be really entertaining and thought the dogs as shrews worked surprisingly well, it was obvious they were dogs but like you’ve mentioned the shot choices were cleverly put together, I’d like to see a making of doc because it must’ve been a nightmare to shoot the costumed dog sequences, then again maybe having a bunch of dogs chasing everyone around wanting belly rubs was the most fun part of filming, when the dogs would come to someone on the ground I’d bet there was lots of excited licks and lots of “ that’s a good dog” Our human characters were a little less believable at times because some of their dialogue and interactions were bizarre like when Ann pulled the gun on Thorne and threatened him and his nonchalant response like stuff like that happened every Tuesday, Ann strangely cosying up to Thorne right in front of Jerry and Dr. Marlowe calmly puffing his pipe even when their circumstances looked dire, having the actors gather in certain areas didn’t help with the feeling of naturalism but I wouldn’t say these things were faults because they add to the film’s quirkiness. I’d seen this film years ago but only remembered the part with the tanks but couldn’t place which film it was in, it was a good memorable sequence. The scene in Tremors where the group attempt to get to the mountains in the digger has a similar feel so I wonder was it inspired by The Killer Shrews, there’s a moment when it’s mentioned that the power supply was located outside the gate and I was reminded of Jurassic Park. Reruns of Dukes of Hazard would air here when I was a child so I’ve seen an episode or two, I have a clear memory of my older brother getting ready to go out on a Saturday night in the mid-90s and Dukes of Hazard was on TV and I’d never have guessed the actor in that was the actor in this film. Ken Curtis as Jerry was so ridiculous that I found him funny, his character would go from tough broody guy to whinging and snivelling and then back again, it was funny when Thorne almost threw him over the gate lol. The jealousy aspect to the story did get a bit tedious. Thank you for this review and sharing how to watch the film because I really enjoyed both :) I also liked hearing how and why the film exists and about the creatives behind it. Off topic. My niece loves Anime and Manga and was using my iPod to edit clips together with creepy AI narration and she wanted me to do one too so I relented and began to make a short video of classic film clips to please her and then they somehow became Jerome Weiselberry fan edits or fan promos, not really sure what they are 🤷🏻 I was going to delete them but thought maybe I should show you first and don’t worry it’s not a new hobby hahaha. Uploading videos isn’t me, I’ll leave it to the pros like you. I told my niece that she should probably avoid using AI but she wouldn’t listen so I sneakily told her mum haha. th-cam.com/video/QI_VGEfsn9s/w-d-xo.htmlsi=OD1HAlHTFmPk0exN th-cam.com/video/fS9z3yBuE8s/w-d-xo.htmlsi=CA2s6-Tjm7JtV8F7 ~ Thank you Ms Weiselberry ~
Glad you enjoyed watching the film again. I also wondered if the dogs were cooperative on set or not. And yes, haha, I had the same thought about his reactions. When she spills the beans about the shrews, he's like, "Oh, is that all? You could have just told me!" He takes it awfully well! WOW, how fancy! Those must have been so fun to make! Great choice of clips. Ronald Colman thrown in at the end made me laugh. I'm shocked the AI said the name right. And what a cute owl at the end! Thanks for letting me see those! :D
@@Weiselberry The AI worked okay right up until Weiselberry lol, it couldn’t pronounce it correctly at all and for a brief millisecond I considered attempting the narration myself :0 but then thought what if I split Weiselberry in two, Weisel berry to allow the AI to tackle each part of the name separately and it worked. Had to slip that clip of Ronald Colman in haha. :) ~ Goodnight Ms Weiselberry and thank you ~
These 2 movies, Shrews & Gila Monster are sure connected. Both produced by Gordon McClendon and shot in Texas to play the drive-in circuit. Although I like "Shrews", I prefer "Gila Monster". At least it had an actual Gila Monster in it and not a chameleon disguised as a Gila. Love the songs too! The Mushroom song will stay in your head no matter how you try to forget it. BTW, I thought it was cute the way you pronounced "Gila" with a hard G. Actually, the G is pronounced as H so it is "Hila Monster". I love 50's horror and Sci-Fi. Maybe consider 2 movies with classic monsters with a sci-fi twist. I'm speaking of The Werewolf from 1956 and The Vampire from 1957. Both really good with good acting.
If I remember correctly, my mini review of The Yellow Sky is the one where I ranted about colorization. Here's a link: th-cam.com/video/Yk_bH3Qw6Gw/w-d-xo.html (My apologies in advance if that's not the right one!)
Thoughtful review, JW - I've always liked this film since I first saw it as a kid and found it very atmospheric and creepy, despite of its' obvious flaws. The ending is surprisingly inventive. I will disagree with you about the GIANT GILA MONSTER, which has its' own low-budget 50's charms. You should watch it again and post a review, be curious what you think.
Hi! I decided to watch this movie on TH-cam before I watched your review, but I am ashamed to say I chose a colorized version (hangs head in shame). Once the story was up and running, it was engaging as long as you were willing to check your logic at the door. Do Adobe houses turn to mush in the rain? Is a rickety wood fence impervious to rabid mutant vermin who are good at digging? Yes and yes! I liked how resourceful James Best's character was, and while the upside down metal cans soldered together looked pretty dumb moving along, it got them to the water! This was a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Thanks!
I just LOVE movies about a group of people who are put in a hopeless situation, against outside forces (like NOTLD). Some have happy endings; most do not. I can't think of 20 right now, but the latest one I can remember was "Skyline". Also some TV episodes, like the Outer Limits episode "A Feasibility Study".
Agree on the whole colorization of film. No. Just no. Also agree that there are shades of Night of the Living Dead in The Killer Shrews, from the production, to the setting, to the get bitten and you did. But did you also notice how much the circumstances for the giant shrews escaping mirror the exact circumstances that led to the release of the Africanized Bees in Brazil back in 1975? An influence on Simms' script perhaps? Maybe. If so, that would mean The Killer Shrews is also an analog for every Killer Bee movie that followed, too. The mind boggles. I would also encourage you to give The Giant Gila Monster another try. It is terrible, for sure, but delightfully so. And if not that, I highly recommend giving Kathryn Ptacek (as Les Simons) novel Gila! a read as soon as possible. A delightful giant monster movie throwback where a knot of giant Gila monsters lay waste to New Mexico rather gruesomely. One of my faves. Always a good day when a new Weiselberry vid drops. Thanks for sharing!
It is one of the better movies that MST3K ever made use of. Kind of weak praise, but it has that going for it. Love your willingness to take a look at the some way off Broadway entertainment.
I can't believe it, but I've actually seen this recently. You have great breadth of interest, I see. I'm a new subscriber and it seems you cover a lot of genre. I get the impression you avoid films with too much use of drugs, sex or graphic violence, am I right? Most of my favorites precede the 1970s anyway. These reviews are clever and informative. Keep it up! RR
I like this movie, despite the dog shrews. You should mention that Ken Curtis had a role in John Ford’s The Searchers, as the fiance of Vera Miles character. Haw haw haw haw!
I had to re-watch this as I was not sure if it was the one where they made a crate to move about in but the pesky Shrews got under. Another unlikely protagonist would be in night of the lepus 1972
A similarly improbable movie title is Night of the Lepus, in which giant sized rabbits attack a small town... not exactly recommending just saying. Particularly as I cannot confirm or deny that no fluffy bunnies were harmed in the making of. Genuine movie stars Janet Leigh and Stuart Whitman, and ex Dr Bones McCoy, DeForset Kelley, probably assumed it would never be seen more than once
I recommend watching "The Giant Gila Monster" again just to compare the two. I would like to know your opinion. It's actuality not that bad. Anyway another great review. Thanks!
@garymarshall2606 Yes, I'm thinking I may be confusing it with Attack of the Giant Leeches, which I saw around the same time. I would be willing to give it another shot, even though I'm not fond of reptiles of any kind. :)
Hi Jerome, I'm Brian & I live in Belfast, Northern Ireland; I enjoy listening to you, whatever you're reviewing, because you're such a cheerful person - and very knowledgeable about many obscure movies. I like sci-fi & horror, especially from the Fifties, and couldn't believe you were dedicating a whole review to 'The Killer Shrews' (1959) I saw this for the first time back in October 10th 1963 in the Willowfield cinema (A.K.A 'The Flea Pit) in Belfast, this was a matinee & it was on a double-bill with 'House of Dracula' (1945) I have quite a good collection of original British Quad Film posters, including that movie, so here's a link to my Flickr Photostream Please keep reviewing, I look forward to hearing what you have to say . . . . . . . .Thank you !
Now that's a classic movie! Not really but its fun. "Creation Of The Humanoids" is actually an interesting movie and "Panic In The Year Zero" is good too!
Actually, if you look into how size influences structure, the idea of shrews growing to giant size developing a physique similar to dogs makes perfect sense.
I also saw the colorized version of Dragonwyck recently. Forgot how awful those are! Perhaps if they were colored using modern technology it might not be quite so objectionable. But it just feels like somebody scribbled on a classic work of art to make it more appealing to a modern audience.
![ILLSLICK - KILLSHOT REMIX [FULL VERSION]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/RIK8RrqIAzE/mqdefault.jpg)
As an illustrator and graphic designer, I've always had a special place in my heart for the incredible, hand-lettered fonts and titles used in the 50s. The poster for this movie is a perfect example. It's fantastic.
My friends and I saw this at the movie theature when we were 10. Scared the heck out of all of us. Nothing like watching a horror movie on the big screen. Popcorn went flying and we were afraid to look. 😄 Great memories.
Your videos are a breath of fresh air and your reviews are excellent.
Very tiring and stressful week. That "Hello everyone" has made everything better!
I hope you get some rest this weekend!
I see Killer Shrews and I click! This is a great video with some good trivia.
That was one of my late mother’s favorite films from the 50’s. I love the movie for its earnestness and effort. A classic!
Best Movie Poster ever! Saw the movie in 1959 at the drive-in and it scared 11-year-old me. Great review!
This review concentrated on the film itself, instead of the campy nature that some people talk about. Congratulations, that was a step above what I expected.
JW, I'm SO PSYCHED to hear your review! I saw this on UHF, somewhere in the later stages of my elementary school years. I was so scared for the characters! When they made their do-or-die escape attempt, I found that I had strained the tendons of my inner-upper-arms, because I was sympathetically 'holding on', trying to help them grasp their protective equipment. Oh, and its a ridiculous film, too! [EDIT: But a serious ridiculous film. It does work the situation for all its worth].
I know it wasn't a comedy, but the way you described the set and activities of the actors had me laughing!
Jerome is back for the last review of the summer. Autumn awaits, season of mists, mellow fruitfulness, and Wieselberry. Can’t wait.
Saw this when I was little on late night TV. At the time those "shrews" were terrifying, lol.
oh, cool! you always review fun stuff. i really love this movie! panic in the year zero is great too, and you are spot on about the claustrophobic night of the living dead vibe.
we just got a new goldendoodle puppy named henry, and whenever he gets into a teething/bitey phase i call him my little killer shrew! i giggle every time i see those collies in their shrew costumes ☺️ teeth teeth teeth yip yip yap chitter chitter bite! (tail wag)
but i genuinely like it and back in the day before cable i was always happy to see it show up in the late night tv guide. silly yes, but sometimes silly is my favorite. happy weekend!
Thinking about the dogs being dressed up as killer shrews always reminds me of the bit in The Simpsons where they're filming the Radioactive Man movie in Springfield and some of the kids see crewmembers are painting horses to look like cows:
"Uh, sir, why don't you just use real cows?"
"Cows don't look like cows on film. You got to use horses."
"What do you do if you want something that looks like a horse?"
"Usually we just tape a bunch of cats together."
It also makes me think that although the shrews maybe weren't very convincing, the film industry sometimes still uses animals in costumes. Of course in the original Star Wars they used an elephant and then more recently in Solo: A Star Wars Story, some alien 'hounds' were, in part, played by real dogs in monster suits.
My goodness, I remember watching this movie on my B&W TV when I was about 5-6 years old. I am not afraid to admit that it scared the crap out of me. I distinctly remember a scene where a character (I don't remember which one) is attacked in the forest by the 'shrews' and most of it takes place in darkness. It's a scene that speaks volumes to a young viewer.
This was featured on MeTV's "Svengoolie" recently. Sven had a lot of fun with this one! Good background info and his pacing and additional schtick made it worthwhile sitting through his rather long show.
I have to say that I enjoyed Killer Shrews more than I thought I would. The expectations bar was set very low, so I was pleasantly surprised. I watched the whole movie without realizing that it was Ken Curtis playing Jerry Farrell! I always get so much background information from your reviews as well as things that I hadn’t noticed while watching he movie.
Right after this movie, the same producers made "The Giant Gila Monster" using the same sets from Shrews. I've grown to love Gila Monster over the years and for me it falls in the so bad its good category. I would give that one another try. Keep in mind these were made primary for drive-ins and that's what makes them so cool and unique. Boy, do I miss drive-ins.
When I lived near Philadelphia, I remember seeing this movie on "Chiller" on channel 11 (WPIX) in NYC 8PM at night. (We had a big directional antenna.) I saw Gila Monster years earlier on (then WFIL) channel 6 in Philly after 11:30 PM on Saturday night on "Double Chiller", in my little bedroom. The second film was "Screaming Skull" which scared the hell out me. I remember being in bed, wanting to turn the TV off, but I just couldn't get in up during the commercials. My mom finally came in at 3AM to shut the TV off and scold me.
I may be conflating my memories of The Giant Gila Monster with my memories of Attack of the Giant Leeches. I watched them around the same time...
what a lovely saturday. great to see your latest review.
Lol ! Whaaaat ? Great review JW. I've never heard of this one. Seeing your thumbnail, I was thinking, "Oh, a sequel to Shakespeare?" Looks like lots of fun.
Hi Jerome! Another great review! 😊
Looks fun. I might watch this at work tomorrow. You know, when I'm not working extremely hard, of course.
Thanks for the review! I enjoyed this flick; in fact, saved it and have watched it several times.
I've seen this a few times, the MST3K version and late-night television. That was the era when movies could get made fast and with low budgets. Seven is apparently the optimal number for people thrown together to deal with a situation. Two things in THE KILLER SHREWS advantage; a unique solution to the problem and no horrible singing.
I've never been able to figure out why this movie is so rewatchable, because there is much about it one could easily disparage and dismiss. But, I continue watching it, and it never gets old. When I was younger, I could match them, drink for drink.
I've seen Shrews a couple times and I like it. It's a pretty decent low-budget horror which I like. I agree with you on the case that a low-budget movie if done well can be quite good. Val Lewton, Romero, even some Roger Corman not to mention many film noirs.
I found your channel on reddit and love your reviews. I know this movie , like a lot of movies from mst3k. But I love you're reviews. You bring a lot of information and kinda no nonsense commentary that we need :)
Always knowledgeable... Always cool.
Peace on earth.
Love this and Giant Gila Monster. I bought the remastered Blu-ray !!.thanks a million
Thanks for the review JW. I have never seen this movie, and I'm not sure if I'll put it on my list. One thing that intrigues me is the interior scenes. They almost seem like a live play format at a community theater, with the limited angles, sparce props, and frugal production.
Classic movies just have such a homely feel to them.
Would love to see any bloopers made during this film!
Nice review of this movie. I've never seen it but remember as a kid a friend telling me about it ~45 years ago. He kept calling them "screws".
I have a hard time not calling it The Killer Shoes.
They budgeted $100 dollars for special effects, but with some unexpected cost overruns it ballooned up to $125. The good news is that it's all on the screen. Amazing!
A great review of this film, which I haven't seen for many years, but if it's on here I shall give it a rewatch. I like what I remember about it, like you I thought that the characters all coming into the room in such a way and them all standing next to the bar odd, but it didn't spoil my enjoyment of it too much.
I’ve never seen this one, but knowing that James Best was in it peaks my interest. I was a huge Dukes of Hazzard fan in the eighties.
Nice review. I have not seen this one, but have heard of it. I like low budget B movies. They can be a lot of fun. That is why I am trying to get small collection of them.
Excellent review JW. This is a fun movie. As you said, not great by any means, but still a serviceable low budget horror. I agree with you on Giant Gila Monster. One of the worst movies I've ever seen. It seemed like they fed a salamander sleeping pills then rolled the camera.
I've never heard of this movie and in my 56 years, never heard of shrews. Thanks for the review. "Off we go, into the wild blue yonder :) ......"
I have witnessed The Killer Shrews. Scientific research was really taking some chances in the 50's. Making everything
bigger,meaner and munchier. So glad you and other commenters have mentioned the similarities to
Night of the Living Dead. That classic had a very noticeable jump cut in the scene with the bickering couple in the
basement. It went on too long and they had to reduce the talk to tighten the pacing. I didn't mind The Giant Gila Monster.
Some fun moments. Shrews is more accomplished. I hope the dog performers were well compensated with
chicken and steak. Our canine overlords do not generally care to be costumed. I would be very interested to see
a ranking of 1950's monsters. I wonder where The Killer Shrews would fit on this list? Thank you.
This so one of those movies that gave me and my brother nightmares as small kids! This movie and "Them!" were two of my favorite b&w scifi horror flicks.
One of my favorite low-budget movies, one that I've lost count of the times I've seen it.
Not really "bad"; cheesy, yes, cheap, certainly, but entertaining and even horrifying in spots.
Strange to see you so early (3:09 pm Central).
This is another one of those scenarios where I have to wonder how the job listing went. "WANTED: Laboratory Assistant to work on unholy experiments on the genetics of potentially lethal carnivorous animals. Must live on a remote island cut off from the outside world. Room, board, and open bar included"
I discovered Mystery Science Theater 3000 in 1991, and this was one of the few movies I actually sought to watch without their treatment, and yes it's actually watchable.
Thanks for the heads up .
I will have to explore this one .
Cheers !
Great review. As usual, I really enjoyed the behind the scenes info. I don't know how many times I've watched and enjoyed this film despite it's short comings.
Saw this as a teenager on tv in the 70s. Strange that I still remember it after all this time. Maybe that means it was better than I thought. It's a shame James Best didn't have more of a career, as he did fine work as a supporting actor in movies like Ride Lonesome (one of my all time favourite westerns) and The Rack and even played the lead in Sam Fuller's flawed but interesting Verboten.
Best also played in Hooper (1977) next to Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jan Michael Vincent, Brian Keith, and director Hal Needham. One of Needham's better efforts next to Smokey And The Bandit.
Mistie here (MST3K fan), and I have watched both Shrews and Gila multiple times, and I am partial to Gila. I love the hep teens, hot rods, and two excellent character actor performances. I also love the dreary setting and dreary theremin score.
(Just to give you some idea of how goofy I am, I own a "The Giant Gila Monster" t-shirt that features the original movie poster. It looks fantastic on me!)
This is a good movie. My grandmother saw it when if first came out and liked it because of the setting and acting. The creature effects did not bother her. Our family wanted the creep to get eaten. Some of the best and scariest movies can be low budget since the starkness and isolation can be unsettling in itself.
When we were teenagers, me and my friends did a funny dub of The Killer Shrews. I remember this movie much more vividly than many others.
I’m 75 & I saw this movie when I was about 14. Costume: dogs with door mats.
Saw this about 12 years old in the double feature at the 25cents matinee.
Thanks for this neat movie review!
Well, that 0:04 is certainly a killer POSTER at least.
The Giant Gila Monster film has some low budget charm to it. I can't stand the wimpy song he sings to his sister and the pace in general is slow but I can't say I hate it. I like the teenagers all getting together to figure out the problem kind of like the way they did it in The Blob. This movie, The Killer Shrews was always a bit of a joke because of the disguised dogs. I dig your reviews, Miss Weiselberry, keep up the good work. Nice to see you coming back to low budget horror.
The Producer hoped to make actor Don Sullivan a teen idol and rock and roll star. He failed in both; but Sullivan acted in movies until 2012, coincidentally in the Giant Gila Monster sequel.
Thank you for sharing this video. Honestly and this may be odd to say but this movie always makes me laugh every time I watch it. Not much else I can say
By an odd coincidence I saw this movie recently on YT. I couldn't decide if it was a good movie badly made or a bad movie goodly made. What I did decide was the reason people are coming and going from that one room so much is the inevitable outcome of their excessive drinking. I didn't find any of the characters particularly likeable but the method devised to finally escape the island was quite ingenious.
Random find, love the owls!
Ken Curtis was part of John Ford's collection of actors that he used in his movies. The one I I remember most was "The Searchers" starring John Wayne and Jeffrey Hunter . Watching your videos, I know you like Jeffrey Hunter.😊
@@davidearls1926 Indeed, I do! :)
Great review of a fun movie.
Another terrific and comprehensive movie review. Your approach to reviews is unique and very effective - there is no one on YT who compares. Your joyous takes on films and books is so pleasing! Keep up your great work!
Thanks for the review.
I wish I lived in a time where someone made a movie about Killer Shrews. I fear we shall not see amazing times like those until I have shrugged off this mortal coil. Sad.🤪
Another good review from Jerome Weiselberry. By the way, did you ever do a take on Night Of The Lepus?? Another one of those great (cough) great movies. Of course, added bonuses include that shower Psycho lady and Dr Leonard McCoy.
@scottjo63 No, I've seen it once or twice, but I haven't talked about it here. I probably will at some point, though!
Jerome, love your 50s movie reviews! It’s definitely your calling card!
If you haven't done so already, please check out The Monster That Challenged the World (1957), one of the very best giant bug shockers with great special effects that really terrified me as a kid.
@@jlovebirch I've seen it, but that was ages ago. I've got it on my list!
Thank you for the proper subtitles
The 1966 British sci-fi/horror Island of Terror, with Peter Cushing, might be up your alley. The budget was (a little) higher but has the same guilty-pleasure sort of charm.
I did a mini review of that one last October; here's a link: th-cam.com/video/bIN66Z9Ia3w/w-d-xo.html
@@Weiselberry Thanks! Just watched your mini-review. Glad you (more or less) liked it. I recall the scene to which you refer...
Jerome Weiselberry-You mentioned Emil Cadkin and Harry Bluestone as composers. A Great deal of their music cues at the time were lifted from the classic Capitol Records Hi-Q Production Library. A Lot of independent movie production companies and some of television shows produced through Universal (Revue) and Columbia ( Screen Gems ) would use that library from time to time. Bluestone and Cadkin did have their music in other libraries, however at that period, Capitol did possess a lot of it.
I found this film to be really entertaining and thought the dogs as shrews worked surprisingly well, it was obvious they were dogs but like you’ve mentioned the shot choices were cleverly put together, I’d like to see a making of doc because it must’ve been a nightmare to shoot the costumed dog sequences, then again maybe having a bunch of dogs chasing everyone around wanting belly rubs was the most fun part of filming, when the dogs would come to someone on the ground I’d bet there was lots of excited licks and lots of “ that’s a good dog” Our human characters were a little less believable at times because some of their dialogue and interactions were bizarre like when Ann pulled the gun on Thorne and threatened him and his nonchalant response like stuff like that happened every Tuesday, Ann strangely cosying up to Thorne right in front of Jerry and Dr. Marlowe calmly puffing his pipe even when their circumstances looked dire, having the actors gather in certain areas didn’t help with the feeling of naturalism but I wouldn’t say these things were faults because they add to the film’s quirkiness. I’d seen this film years ago but only remembered the part with the tanks but couldn’t place which film it was in, it was a good memorable sequence. The scene in Tremors where the group attempt to get to the mountains in the digger has a similar feel so I wonder was it inspired by The Killer Shrews, there’s a moment when it’s mentioned that the power supply was located outside the gate and I was reminded of Jurassic Park.
Reruns of Dukes of Hazard would air here when I was a child so I’ve seen an episode or two, I have a clear memory of my older brother getting ready to go out on a Saturday night in the mid-90s and Dukes of Hazard was on TV and I’d never have guessed the actor in that was the actor in this film. Ken Curtis as Jerry was so ridiculous that I found him funny, his character would go from tough broody guy to whinging and snivelling and then back again, it was funny when Thorne almost threw him over the gate lol. The jealousy aspect to the story did get a bit tedious. Thank you for this review and sharing how to watch the film because I really enjoyed both :) I also liked hearing how and why the film exists and about the creatives behind it.
Off topic. My niece loves Anime and Manga and was using my iPod to edit clips together with creepy AI narration and she wanted me to do one too so I relented and began to make a short video of classic film clips to please her and then they somehow became Jerome Weiselberry fan edits or fan promos, not really sure what they are 🤷🏻 I was going to delete them but thought maybe I should show you first and don’t worry it’s not a new hobby hahaha. Uploading videos isn’t me, I’ll leave it to the pros like you. I told my niece that she should probably avoid using AI but she wouldn’t listen so I sneakily told her mum haha.
th-cam.com/video/QI_VGEfsn9s/w-d-xo.htmlsi=OD1HAlHTFmPk0exN
th-cam.com/video/fS9z3yBuE8s/w-d-xo.htmlsi=CA2s6-Tjm7JtV8F7
~ Thank you Ms Weiselberry ~
Glad you enjoyed watching the film again. I also wondered if the dogs were cooperative on set or not. And yes, haha, I had the same thought about his reactions. When she spills the beans about the shrews, he's like, "Oh, is that all? You could have just told me!" He takes it awfully well!
WOW, how fancy! Those must have been so fun to make! Great choice of clips. Ronald Colman thrown in at the end made me laugh. I'm shocked the AI said the name right. And what a cute owl at the end! Thanks for letting me see those! :D
@@Weiselberry The AI worked okay right up until Weiselberry lol, it couldn’t pronounce it correctly at all and for a brief millisecond I considered attempting the narration myself :0 but then thought what if I split Weiselberry in two, Weisel berry to allow the AI to tackle each part of the name separately and it worked. Had to slip that clip of Ronald Colman in haha. :)
~ Goodnight Ms Weiselberry and thank you ~
These 2 movies, Shrews & Gila Monster are sure connected. Both produced by Gordon McClendon and shot in Texas to play the drive-in circuit. Although I like "Shrews", I prefer "Gila Monster". At least it had an actual Gila Monster in it and not a chameleon disguised as a Gila. Love the songs too! The Mushroom song will stay in your head no matter how you try to forget it. BTW, I thought it was cute the way you pronounced "Gila" with a hard G. Actually, the G is pronounced as H so it is "Hila Monster". I love 50's horror and Sci-Fi. Maybe consider 2 movies with classic monsters with a sci-fi twist. I'm speaking of The Werewolf from 1956 and The Vampire from 1957. Both really good with good acting.
Killer Shrews was the name of my band in high school!
Is there any particular upload of yours that sets out your views on colourisation? I am curious to hear what you have to say.
If I remember correctly, my mini review of The Yellow Sky is the one where I ranted about colorization. Here's a link: th-cam.com/video/Yk_bH3Qw6Gw/w-d-xo.html (My apologies in advance if that's not the right one!)
Gonna give this awatch. Thnx.
i remember seeing this a kid,we threw an old rug on our dog and let him run around the neighborhood.never did find that rug.true story.
Always liked this, ever since I was a kid. Own a dvd. Own gaint gila monster dvd, too
Thoughtful review, JW - I've always liked this film since I first saw it as a kid and found it very atmospheric and creepy, despite of its' obvious flaws. The ending is surprisingly inventive. I will disagree with you about the GIANT GILA MONSTER, which has its' own low-budget 50's charms. You should watch it again and post a review, be curious what you think.
Love how chaotic your film choices are, amazing
Got this movie as part of a 50 horror film "classics" box set; it was a lot of fun for what it is.
Hi! I decided to watch this movie on TH-cam before I watched your review, but I am ashamed to say I chose a colorized version (hangs head in shame). Once the story was up and running, it was engaging as long as you were willing to check your logic at the door. Do Adobe houses turn to mush in the rain? Is a rickety wood fence impervious to rabid mutant vermin who are good at digging? Yes and yes! I liked how resourceful James Best's character was, and while the upside down metal cans soldered together looked pretty dumb moving along, it got them to the water! This was a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Thanks!
Ah, well, I guess that can be forgiven, haha. I'm glad you had a good time with the movie. :)
I just LOVE movies about a group of people who are put in a hopeless situation, against outside forces (like NOTLD). Some have happy endings; most do not. I can't think of 20 right now, but the latest one I can remember was "Skyline". Also some TV episodes, like the Outer Limits episode "A Feasibility Study".
You might like 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016).
Ah, one of the great bad movies I've read about but never seen - should get round to checking it out.
This is a watchable movie. By the way, James Best and Ken Curtis are two of my favorite character actors of that period.
Most people would agree with you about THE GIANT GILA MONSTER.
Agree on the whole colorization of film. No. Just no.
Also agree that there are shades of Night of the Living Dead in The Killer Shrews, from the production, to the setting, to the get bitten and you did. But did you also notice how much the circumstances for the giant shrews escaping mirror the exact circumstances that led to the release of the Africanized Bees in Brazil back in 1975? An influence on Simms' script perhaps? Maybe. If so, that would mean The Killer Shrews is also an analog for every Killer Bee movie that followed, too. The mind boggles.
I would also encourage you to give The Giant Gila Monster another try. It is terrible, for sure, but delightfully so. And if not that, I highly recommend giving Kathryn Ptacek (as Les Simons) novel Gila! a read as soon as possible. A delightful giant monster movie throwback where a knot of giant Gila monsters lay waste to New Mexico rather gruesomely. One of my faves.
Always a good day when a new Weiselberry vid drops. Thanks for sharing!
It is one of the better movies that MST3K ever made use of. Kind of weak praise, but it has that going for it. Love your willingness to take a look at the some way off Broadway entertainment.
I can't believe it, but I've actually seen this recently. You have great breadth of interest, I see. I'm a new subscriber and it seems you cover a lot of genre. I get the impression you avoid films with too much use of drugs, sex or graphic violence, am I right? Most of my favorites precede the 1970s anyway. These reviews are clever and informative. Keep it up! RR
Welcome to the channel! You are correct that there are certain kinds of content I prefer to avoid.
I like this movie, despite the dog shrews. You should mention that Ken Curtis had a role in John Ford’s The Searchers, as the fiance of Vera Miles character. Haw haw haw haw!
I had to re-watch this as I was not sure if it was the one where they made a crate to move about in but the pesky Shrews got under. Another unlikely protagonist would be in night of the lepus 1972
Sounds like Deep Blue Sea with furry varmints.
A similarly improbable movie title is Night of the Lepus, in which giant sized rabbits attack a small town... not exactly recommending just saying. Particularly as I cannot confirm or deny that no fluffy bunnies were harmed in the making of. Genuine movie stars Janet Leigh and Stuart Whitman, and ex Dr Bones McCoy, DeForset Kelley, probably assumed it would never be seen more than once
have you seen The Car from 1977? I would like to hear your take on that one,thanks.
Have you seen Deadly Eyes? They had wiener dogs in little costumes to look like giant rats. It was surprisingly effective... and adorable.
No, I'd never heard of it until someone else mentioned it here.
I recommend watching "The Giant Gila Monster" again just to compare the two. I would like to know your opinion. It's actuality not that bad. Anyway another great review. Thanks!
@garymarshall2606 Yes, I'm thinking I may be confusing it with Attack of the Giant Leeches, which I saw around the same time. I would be willing to give it another shot, even though I'm not fond of reptiles of any kind. :)
Hi Jerome, I'm Brian & I live in Belfast, Northern Ireland; I enjoy listening to you, whatever you're reviewing, because you're such a cheerful person - and very knowledgeable about many obscure movies. I like sci-fi & horror, especially from the Fifties, and couldn't believe you were dedicating a whole review to 'The Killer Shrews' (1959) I saw this for the first time back in October 10th 1963 in the Willowfield cinema (A.K.A 'The Flea Pit) in Belfast, this was a matinee & it was on a double-bill with 'House of Dracula' (1945)
I have quite a good collection of original British Quad Film posters, including that movie, so here's a link to my Flickr Photostream
Please keep reviewing, I look forward to hearing what you have to say . . . . . . . .Thank you !
Now that's a classic movie! Not really but its fun.
"Creation Of The Humanoids" is actually an interesting movie and "Panic In The Year Zero" is good too!
Actually, if you look into how size influences structure, the idea of shrews growing to giant size developing a physique similar to dogs makes perfect sense.
Mst3k episode was hiliarous 😂
I wonder why the walls are smudged. "The Screaming Skull" has that same characteristic.
I suppose shrews being giant would be more threatening than regular sized ones
I just watched (or tried to) a version of Dragonwyck. Talk about lousy colorization!
Oh, that definitely doesn't need to be colorized!
Oddly, early colorization worked for King Kong (1933), although the weak pastels turned it into a different movie. More dreamlike.
I also saw the colorized version of Dragonwyck recently. Forgot how awful those are! Perhaps if they were colored using modern technology it might not be quite so objectionable. But it just feels like somebody scribbled on a classic work of art to make it more appealing to a modern audience.
Oh yes sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane meets Festus Hagan