Friday Favorites: Underrated Unusual Monsters

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Our series of Friday Favorites dedicated to Underrated Films continues this week with the … unusual. We’re talking monsters, but not the usual fare, like vampires or werewolves, but one where someone came up with something pretty creative, such as a half-man / half jellyfish creature in Sting of Death (1966), or the chlorophyll-blooded monster from Mad Doctor of Blood Island (1968)? But then is one that you just love but is just not getting the love that you think it deserves. Now these don’t need to be cheesy or schlocky, those were the first two that came to mind. But even something like the film Splinter (2008), which had a very unique and amazing monster in there, not to mention being a great little film. Remember though, we’re talking about UNDERRATED monsters, so as original and unique Alien might be, it definitely ain’t underrated. So dig deep here, people.

So let’s here those titles! Give us some movies to add to our watch list!

18 thoughts on “Friday Favorites: Underrated Unusual Monsters”

  1. I will look at this deeper later but 3 that jumped out to me immediately were:
    1. Ehlmyr from Brain Damage- Everyone talks about Basket Case but no one mentions this one.
    2. The fish people from Dagon- especially the creepy high priestess
    3. The animal men from the 77 version of The Island of Dr. Moreau

    Bonus: I have mentione it before but I think it would count as underated as I dont hear it talked about much: The genetic spliced creature of Splice.

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    • I would totally agree that Dagon in general doesn’t seem to get a lot of love and it is one of my favorite Gordon films. As much as I do like the beast men in the ’77 version of Moreau, I am still amazed at the makeup job in the original version.

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  2. Deadly Spawn is the first monster that comes to mind. Low budget but very effective.
    Others that come to mind Humanoids from the Deep and Sting of Death as you mentioned.

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  6. I have fond memories of three films that featured “unusual, underrated monsters”: Island of Terror(1967) with the great Peter Cushing, featured some pretty creepy “Silicate” monsters with snake-like tentacles. The Creeping Flesh (1973) also with Cushing, featured a hulking ancient monster that terrorized the local community when it was accidently re-animated by coming into contact with water! The third film, and my favorite, once again with Peter Cushing, is Horror Express (1972) which featured a prehistoric, shape-shifting monster which wreaked havoc aboard the Trans Siberian Express.

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    • Once again, totally agree that Island of Terror, while it does have a good reputation, doesn’t seemed to be talked about a lot. I love that movie and the creatures. Reminds me of a Dr. Who episode but still a lot of fun and a great cast.

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    • I need to rewatch this one again. I liked it when it first came out but seems I was in the minority because a lot of people were hating on it. The creature is great and the one shot where it is running towards the camera and grabs a security guard or copy and bites its head off, all in one shot I believe, was fantastic.

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      • I dug the film and the design of the Kothoga! I have a display figure of it on top of one of my book shelves.
        I was a fan of the book before the movie was made and, of course, it’s much better, but they did a solid job with the film overall. Especially that awesome scene that Jon mentioned!

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