Movie Monsters We Love
Seems like only yesterday, but it was 35 years ago this summer that moviegoers were bitten by Jaws. Directed by Steven Spielberg, the great white menace tore up the box office to the tune of $470 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo, and spawned sequels (Jaws 2, Jaws 3). As Piranha 3D strikes some summertime mayhem, we thought it would be nice to give a nod to movie monsters of yore (hello Godzilla, King Kong), notably in the Nature-Run-Amok department. Because we all know that couldn't happen in real life. Right?
- Mothra (1961): Not content to just chomp holes in sweaters, this giant winged monster terrorizes the citizens of Tokyo. Comic actor Frankie Sakai and Hiroshi Koizumi, veteran of several Godzilla flicks, star in this must-see movie for vintage monster fans.
Willard (1971): Rat becomes man's best friend in this creep show starring Bruce Davison as the Pied Piper of Rodents. The 1972 sequel, Ben, featured more rat-boy mayhem and an awesome title song by Michael Jackson. Crispin Glover was perfectly cast in the 2003 remake of Willard.
- Night of the Lepus (1972): Awww, who doesn't love a little bunny rabbit? When an experimental hormone tested on one of these little cuties turns it into a supersized man-eater, a new breed of badass bunny is born. Stuart Whitman, DeForest Kelley, Janet Leigh and Rory Calhoun star in this drive-in camp classic.
Frogs (1972): Good, corny fun meshed with a little suspense in a film that will have you wondering how a little frog could wreak havoc on humanity. Well, part of the answer is there's strength in numbers. Starring Ray Milland, Sam Elliott and Joan Van Ark. Watch the trailer here.
- Cujo (1983): A good-natured Saint Bernard goes berserk after being bit by a rabid bat and turns on his loving owners (Dee Wallace and Danny Pintauro). Although the special effects aren't slick by today's standards, there's solid suspense in the final minutes of this film based on a Stephen King novel.
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Arachnophobia (1990): A deadly tarantula spawns a new breed of killer spider in this thriller that will have you putting your feet up on the furniture – just in case. Jeff Daniels and John Goodman star.
Anaconda (1993): A documentary film crew (Eric Stolz, Ice Cube and Jennifer Lopez) has their Amazon River trip hijacked by a nutty hunter (Jon Voight) and a battle with an enormous snake ensues. The CGI is A+ in this film.
怀淰＠＾过厾 on August 22, 2010 at 10:40 PM
The CGI is A+ in this film.
Matt on August 23, 2010 at 09:43 AM
Don't forget Black Sheep, a NZ offering from about 3 years ago, with FX by Peter Jackson's WETA shop. Hilarious and gory.
michael on August 23, 2010 at 04:09 PM
Monsters? Weenies is more like it. What about the Creature from the Black Lagoon, perhaps the greatest man-in-a-monster-suit creature of all time. Or Day of the Triffids- certainly the best monsters ever to arise from the vegetable kingdom!
Mike V. on August 23, 2010 at 04:11 PM
The Creature From The Black Lagoon. The most memorable of the movie monsters of my childhood.
Lord Whorfin on August 23, 2010 at 04:25 PM
My favorite- "Caltiki, the Immortal Monster"- stolen from "The "Blob".
Jim on August 23, 2010 at 04:26 PM
Someone forgot a movie about some birds.
Foobarista on August 23, 2010 at 04:29 PM
I think you missed a genre by skipping Godzilla and friends...
David on August 23, 2010 at 04:35 PM
Tremors? "This valley is just one long smorgasbord."
flataffect on August 23, 2010 at 04:37 PM
Them! in 1954 about giant mutant ants loose in the L.A. storm sewers scared the heck of me when I was 6. The only ones that topped that were The Blob (with Steve McQueen!) and the first Alien movie.
Will Collier on August 23, 2010 at 04:38 PM
Any monster movie list that does not contain "Alien" is not worth the slime it was spawned in.
Bruno on August 23, 2010 at 04:48 PM
The Thing with Kurt Russell.
Jones on August 23, 2010 at 05:00 PM
cloverfield monster
wolfman
obama campaign ads from 2008
Karen Black on August 23, 2010 at 05:03 PM
The Rah Rah Man from Trilogy of Terror
Robbins Mitchell on August 23, 2010 at 05:07 PM
"Tarantula" and "The Blob" and "Rodan"
Dave on August 23, 2010 at 05:12 PM
Any list that doesn't include the Cloverfield monster, various Aliens, various Predators, or Hannibal Lecter, just doesn't deserve to be thought complete. I've got no problem with nostalgia, but in some things modern times simply are better.
Romance Movies on August 23, 2010 at 05:17 PM
Can't forget Wes Craven's "Swamp Thing" and how about werewolves before they were popular in "The Howling" and the original "The Wolf Man"!
WayneR on August 23, 2010 at 05:22 PM
Nancy Pelosi?
Phillip on August 23, 2010 at 05:31 PM
"Mothra" made evident to me the truth of the phrase "the inscrutable East".
Blake on August 23, 2010 at 05:56 PM
Oh come on, and you guys are into monster flicks? How about the Sci Fi classic "The Forbidden Planet?"
The creature attacking the perimeter shield is a monster masterpiece.
Norman LeDonne on August 23, 2010 at 06:01 PM
How about the monster from "The Lost Skeleton of Cadavera"?
Neal Scroggs on August 23, 2010 at 06:05 PM
Jeez, what a ridiculous list of movie monsters.
Here's the real list for Real Men:
"Them" (I know it's been mentioned, but I second the motion) -- A real classic with good acting, a hell of a good script with intelligence and taste, and not bad FX.
"The Thing from Another World" (the original) -- Not the best monster (basically James Arness with a Frankenstein flat-top), but the acting, the script and the taut direction (by Howard Hawkes, credits not withstanding) more than make up for the el cheapo monster makeup.
"The Beast from 20000 Fathoms" -- The first and the best of the "dinosauroid creature stomps modern city" genre. Ray Harryhausen's debut effort and the first screen credit for Harryhausn's best friend, Ray Bradbury.
"It Came from Outer Space" -- Another Bradbury credit. This one's about monsters who are better "humans" than we are. One-eyed jellyfish guys, please come back! We've improved a bit since 1956...
"Rodan" If you've got to have a Kaiju movie in the list this is the one I'd pick.
"Invasion of the Body Snatchers" -- (the original with Kevin McCarthy) You're next!!
Hucbald on August 23, 2010 at 06:16 PM
@ Michael nailed it. The Creature from the Black Lagoon is one of the all-time greatest monster movies. It scared the heck out of me when I was a little kid, and when we were in Hollywood, my parents took me to some place that had the original costume. I was about nine years old, and I was in awe.
Of course, your list is also a non-starter without Frankenstein's monster and Dracula... but I could see how vampires could be a whole other category.
The Thing, The Blob, Godzilla, Basket Case... I could go on.
flataffect on August 23, 2010 at 06:19 PM
I'll second Neal's list. There's trailer for "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms" at http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi585958425/
Isn't that the one that climaxes at a roller coaster?
djl4570 on August 23, 2010 at 06:20 PM
Sheesh: This list must be a troll to get us to cite our faves. :)
The monster from the id in Forbidden Planet is among the best ever. Made even better by the eerie electronic soundtrack.
Alien. Who can forget the slime coated jaws on the end of the tongue or the face hugger and the larval alien that exploded from John Hurt's chest.
Angry Red Planet:
The rat-bat-spider-crab freaked me out when I was eight. Thank you Bob Wilkins. I had nightmares about that for a month.
Bryan Frymire on August 23, 2010 at 06:26 PM
The most terrifying movie monster ever was in a film called "Exit to Eden". Oh wait - that was Rosie O'Donnell wearing bondage gear. Still gives me nightmares. Somewhat balanced by a full-frontal shot of Dana Delaney who was NOT wearing any bondage gear.