The She-Creature (1956)

The beach is alive with the sound of screaming!?  You’ve heard about Beach Blanket Bingo, well, now - thanks to Scream Factory’s love of all things schlocky and science fiction - get a load of what washes ashore to party with the rest of the beach bums in The She-Creature, a low budget monster movie from the middle of the 1950s.

"If you are ANY fan of campy creature features thanks to its spectral effects and its monster design, The She-Creature deserves a place in your collection"


Completely out of its gourd with scientific gobbledygook and full of many walks along the beach cut short by either screaming or a rubber-suited monster attack at night, The She-Creature comes roaring off the silver screen of the drive-in and lands on blu-ray, complete with its own Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode, thanks to AIP-loving efforts of Shout! Factory, albeit in limited quantities.

If you are ANY fan of campy creature features thanks to its spectral effects and its monster design, The She-Creature deserves a place in your collection.  Specifically, that monster design from Paul Blaisdell is worth every penny spent on this purchase.  Rejoice in it and in Chester Morris’ paper-thin mustache.  That do not make movies as fun as this anymore.The She-Creature (1956)

Released by American International Pictures and written by Lou Rusoff, The She-Creature was produced by Alex Gordon, and directed by Edward L. Cahn, and sees its stars - which includes the aforementioned Morris, Marla English and Tom Conway - confront a prehistoric humanoid monster as it does the deadly bidding of the dastardly Dr. Lombardi.

Opening with a horrific - and not-so random - attack alongside the Pacific Coast, The She-Creature concerns itself with a carnival hypnotist who uses past life regression theory to commit personal attacks against those who plan to bring him to justice.  And it is done through his patient, Andrea Talbott (Marla English) as she is his pawn.  Using Andrea to commit shocking and vengeful murders, Lombardi's crimes go unchecked ... until his assistant-turned-assassin slowly begins to take control of her hideous new form.

The beach is closed until further notice!  The She-Creature is back!

4/5 beers

The She-Creature (1956)

Blu-ray Details

Home Video Distributor: Shout Factory
Available on Blu-ray
- June 28, 2022
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles
: English SDH
Audio:
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; single disc
Region Encoding: Locked to Region A

The stunningly lovely assistant to a fiendish hypnotist finds the beast within her unleashed in the drive-in classic The She-Creature!  

Video:

With a crisp black-and-white transfer, The She-Creature lands on blu-ray thanks to the crackling efforts of Scream Factory.  Shadows, while not too terribly detailed, are thick and atmospheric throughout. Presented with an aspect ratio of 1.85:1, the film looks marvelous and easily beats the poor appearance on television and on home video DVD that has previously dogged it. The blacks and grays are handled expertly by the transfer.  Beads of sweat are visible on the victims of the monster and the monster itself is very detailed.  

Audio:

The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track won’t blow you away, but the theremin in the score just might do the trick.

Supplements:

Commentary:

  • None, which is truly a disappointment.  

Special Features:

  • Mystery Science Theater 3000 Presents The She-Creature
  • Radio Spot
  • Photo Gallery

Blu-ray Rating

  Movie 4/5 stars
  Video  3/5 stars
  Audio 2/5 stars
  Extras 3/5 stars

Composite Blu-ray Grade

3/5 stars


Film Details

TThe She-Creature (1956)

MPAA Rating: Unrated.
Runtime:
76 mins
Director
: Edward L. Cahn
Writer:
Lou Rusoff
Cast:
Chester Morris; Tom Conway; Cathy Downs
Genre
: Fantasy | Horror
Tagline:
The STARTLING disclosures about REINCARNATION and AGE REGRESSION!
Memorable Movie Quote: "I had no idea how small time I was until I met you."
Theatrical Distributor:
American International Pictures
Official Site: https://www.shoutfactory.com/product/the-she-creature?product_id=7850
Release Date:
May 10, 2019
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
August, 1956.
Synopsis: Andrea Talbott (Marla English) becomes a pawn in the deadly intentions of Dr. Carlo Lombardi (Chester Morris), who uses his sinister powers to regress her to a past life ... as a prehistoric humanoid monster from the ocean's depths! Using Andrea to commit shocking and vengeful murders, Lombardi's crimes go unchecked ... until his assistant-turned-assassin slowly begins to take control of her hideous new form.

Art

TThe She-Creature (1956)