The Monster That Challenged the World is the misleadingly title for one of the more well-regarded second-echelon horror films of the 1950s. An underwater earthquake in the Sargasso sea yields up the eggs of a long-extinct sea monster. Once hatched, the monster's offspring (which resemble huge snails) sustain themselves by sucking the life forces of various unlucky human land dwellers. Even worse, these horrendous creatures procreate at an incredible rate, laying 3000 eggs per sitting. Eventually, the monsters are neutralized by Modern Science, save for one stray snail that very nearly lunches on a little girl.. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review by All Movie Guide
All Movie Guide
is neutral about it.
An underwater earthquake in the Salton Sea uncovers a nest of giant prehistoric sea snails that hatch after exposure to radiation. The ravenous, blank-eyed mollusks drain the blood from several swimmers and sailors until hard-bitten Navy man
Tim Holt steps in to combat the menace. One of the more suspenseful entries in the "big bug" subgenre of '50s science fiction, The Monster That Challenged the World benefits from the capable hand of mainstream director
Arnold Laven, who brings a degree of gravity and logic to the proceedings that's usually missing from most B monster movies. The film is also aided by a solid cast, especially Holt (a long way from
Treasure of the Sierra Madre, but still game) and character actor
Hans Conried in an atypically serious role, as well as special effects man Augie Lohman's unnerving, 11-foot-tall mechanical creature. MGM's full-frame DVD presentation, part of their "Midnite Movies" series, is regrettably bereft of any extras. ~ Paul Gaita, All Movie Guide