Revenge of the Creature (1955)

Fifties monster and sci-fi movies hold an abiding fascination for certain film fans. Shot on low budgets, cast usually with B-level actors (or A-level actors at the beginnings or ends of their careers), and shot from scripts the imagination and clever ideas of which are frequently done in by clichéd characterizations and stilted dialogue, they nonetheless can be a lot of fun. And sometimes their creators -- usually the director -- imaginatively twist the limitations under which they work to make interesting and personal films. Revenge of the Creature is a minor effort, and much less valuable than its predecessor, but aficionados will want to make sure they catch it. The change in venue -- from the Amazon to a marine park -- gives Revenge a different flavor, and audiences may feel more sympathy for the Creature in this one, as they see him chained up, starved and otherwise mistreated. There's also a rare (for the period) attempt to humanize the female lead (described in a news break as a "pretty little scientist!") by having her feel uncertain as to whether she should be a career woman or a wife. And fans of his later work will be thrilled to see a very young Clint Eastwood in a small comic part. Overall, though, there's not much that's original or engaging here, and while Jack Arnold's direction is solid, it's atypically uninspired. Perhaps sensing that this was not his finest work, Arnold would leave the final film in the Creature trilogy to other hands. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide