It came from beneath the sea is a crazy science-fiction giant-monster action film. Stop-motion and clever video editing create a menacing Giant Octopus that rampages through the city of San Francisco.
The story is influenced with the advent of the nuclear age, which this film is set in. The writers, whom are fascinated by this new and awesome destructive power, asked themselves: "how can we incorporate this mysterious radiation magic into a story?"
The Premise
H-bomb tests carried out in the deep ocean turned a Giant Octopus radioactive. The creature was always giant - the radiation did not make it bigger. This radiation warded off other marine creatures, allowing them to escape being eaten. This caused the Giant Octopus to go hungry and venture from the depths in search of new food sources - ships, submarines and beach-goers are on the menu.
"And this is a photo of your grand-daddy Cthulu. He caught many a wandering ship!"
The Sub and the Ship
A naval submarine patrolling the ocean detects radiation, shortly after a transatlantic steamboat is attacked and dragged into the water by giant tentacles. A search-and-rescue team finds the survivors on a floating life-raft, and takes them to a naval base hospital.
The doctors suspect the survivors suffer from delusion when they speak of giant tentacles, but not Prof. Joyce, she knows the truth!
Meanwhile
A love triangle emerges between Cmdr. Pete Mathews, Prof. Lesley Joyce and Dr. John Carter. This seems a common theme in talkie films. And true to form, there is not much strife between the love interests. Snore.
"And one time I swam underwater without gear for 5 minutes, and another time ..."
The Science
It took a fair amount of convincing the navy that there was a monster lurking in the ocean, in the end Prof. Joyce and Dr. Carter succeeded admirably. The navy set up monitoring stations and sea patrols, but it was the disappearance of beach-goers that tipped them off to the monster's whereabouts.
The team travels to the beach. While waiting for Dr. Carter to arrive, Prof. Joyce and Cmdr. Mathews decide to have a swim in the ocean - at the monster attack site! Really now, nobody would go for a pleasure swim where a monster recently gobbled people.
"These suits make it really hard to see. Do we have to wear them?"
"Afraid so, for our safety."
"I am all for safety first, but ..."
"Is it really necessary while queuing at the canteen?"
The Attack
The Giant Octopus crawls onto land and stretches its very long, and very large, tentacles into the city. It smashes shop windows and squashes people as they run away from the awesome monster.
"Run!"
"Ahem, do you have any grey poupon?"
The army responds by fighting the tentacles off with flame-throwers. This is very effective, and the monster retreats back into the ocean.
"Take that you sucker!"
The Plan
The navy modifies a torpedo to penetrate the monster's flesh. They plan to detonate it remotely and ensure its total destruction. The torpedo hits the mark, but the Giant Octopus grabs hold of the submarine. They cannot detonate while that close!
"And this torpedo is filled with soy sauce, natural enemy of the octopus."
Cmdr. Mathews dons an aqualung, armed with an explosive spearhead, he goes off to force the monster to release its grip on the submarine. He concusses himself while failing to free the submarine.
Dr. Carter dons an aqualung to attempt as well. He succeeds by firing the explosive spearhead into the eye of the beast! This forces the monster to release the submarine, Dr. Carter saves Cmdr. Mathews and the navy detonates the torpedo!
End of story.
Conclusion
The animated monster is by far the most appealing part of this film. I wish there was more of the monster on-screen, it's a pleasure to watch it move and writhe, twisting around structures and squashing everything!
Sadly, I cannot say the same for the rest of this film.
It's a fun film if you want to see the special effects, or want to see some monster action on Halloween. Just don't expect any investment in the story.
Posters
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Crazy Coincidence
In the film The Thing, Margret Sheridan and Kenneth Tobey (Cmdr. Mathews in today's review) are in a scene where they talk about a date they had in San Francisco, and she mentions how he was "over her like an octopus".