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''The Creeping Terror'' (a.k.a. ''The Crawling Monster'') is a 1964
horror Horror may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Genres *Horror fiction, a genre of fiction ** Japanese horror, Japanese horror fiction **Korean horror, Korean horror fiction * Horror film, a film genre *Horror comics, comic books focusing o ...
science fiction film Science fiction (or sci-fi) is a film genre that uses speculative, fictional science-based depictions of phenomena that are not fully accepted by mainstream science, such as extraterrestrial lifeforms, spacecraft, robots, cyborgs, interstellar ...
directed and produced by, and starring, Vic Savage. The plot is centered upon an extraterrestrial, slug-like creature that attacks and eats people whole in a small American town. Widely considered to be one of the worst films of all time, ''The Creeping Terror'' has become a
cult film A cult film or cult movie, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a cult following. Cult films are known for their dedicated, passionate fanbase which forms an elaborate subculture, members of which engage ...
.


Plot

While driving along a highway in fictional Angel County in
California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
, a sheriff's deputy, Martin Gordon (Vic Savage) and his wife Brett (Shannon O'Neil) meet Martin's uncle, sheriff Ben (Byrd Holland), and together they investigate a reported plane crash site. At the site, the group encounters the abandoned truck of a forest ranger, the ranger's hat, and an
alien Alien primarily refers to: * Alien (law), a person in a country who is not a national of that country ** Enemy alien, the above in times of war * Extraterrestrial life, life which does not originate from Earth ** Specifically, intelligent extrater ...
spacecraft that resembles a camping trailer; a large, slow-moving, slug-like creature had earlier emerged from the craft and departed prior to the group's arrival. Believing the absent ranger might be inside, Ben enters the craft by crawling underneath it. Shortly thereafter loud screams, along with growls like those of a lion, are heard from the craft, after which Martin radios for help. In response to Martin's request for assistance, a "special unit" of military troops, commanded by Col. James Caldwell (John Caresio) and traveling in the back of a light-duty, civilian truck arrives at the site. Two of the troops enter the craft, examine its contents, and report back to Caldwell the presence inside of a large, tethered creature. The next day, "the world's leading authority on space emissions," Dr. Bradford (
William Thourlby William Leo Thourlby (January 22, 1924 – April 15, 2013) was an American actor, model and writer. He was known for his rugged, cowboy look, when he appeared as the face of the Marlboro Man campaign in the 1950s. This ad campaign was one of the 20t ...
), arrives to direct the ongoing investigation, which includes an examination of the creature and the spacecraft's
analog device Analog devices are a combination of both analog machine and analog media that can together measure, record, reproduce, receive or broadcast continuous information, for example, the almost infinite number of grades of transparency, voltage, re ...
s. As the investigation proceeds, the departed creature stalks the countryside and, despite its markedly awkward and slow pace of ambulation, successfully approaches, attacks, and eats a bikini-clad girl, a housewife hanging laundry, Grandpa Brown (Jack King) and his grandson Bobby (Pierre Kopp), picnickers at a " hootenanny" (one of whom attempts to stop the creature by swatting it with a guitar), numerous teenage couples, including a blonde girl in gold pants (Louise Lawson), at a community dance hall (at which time some attendees engage each other in fisticuffs), and couples in their cars at a lovers' lane (about which the film's narrator states that "anyone who experienced that catastrophe, and survived, would never go there again.") Following the lover's lane incident, Caldwell orders his troops to attack the creature, telling Bradford that the creature would be captured alive if possible. This attack is accomplished by the troops standing close together, walking slowly toward the creature as a unit, and firing their small
caliber In guns, particularly firearms, caliber (or calibre; sometimes abbreviated as "cal") is the specified nominal internal diameter of the gun barrel Gauge (firearms) , bore – regardless of how or where the bore is measured and whether the f ...
firearm A firearm is any type of gun designed to be readily carried and used by an individual. The term is legally defined further in different countries (see Legal definitions). The first firearms originated in 10th-century China, when bamboo tubes ...
s. The attack proves ineffective, however, and failing to retreat or otherwise walk away, all but two of the troops are devoured. Caldwell then decides to throw a live grenade, with the resultant explosion destroying the creature. After briefly examining the dead creature's tissue, Bradford hurriedly returns to the spacecraft and therein somehow triggers an explosion. Although this explosion mortally injures Bradford, it does not damage the craft or its instrumentation, and it allows the tethered creature to exit. As the creature prepares to devour Bradford, it is killed in a collision with Martin's arriving
police car A police car (also called a police cruiser, police interceptor, patrol car, area car, cop car, prowl car, squad car, radio car, or radio motor patrol) is a ground vehicle used by police and law enforcement for transportation during patrols a ...
. Bradford then explains to Martin and Brett that the creatures were "mobile" laboratories designed to consume human beings, analyze the bodies chemically to detect weaknesses, and from the spacecraft transmit the acquired information into outer space. Although Martin fails to destroy the spacecraft's transmitter equipment, the dying Bradford says that the creatures' home planet might not even exist anymore, concluding that "only God knows for sure."


Cast

* Vic Savage as Martin Gordon * Shannon O'Neil as Brett Gordon *
William Thourlby William Leo Thourlby (January 22, 1924 – April 15, 2013) was an American actor, model and writer. He was known for his rugged, cowboy look, when he appeared as the face of the Marlboro Man campaign in the 1950s. This ad campaign was one of the 20t ...
as Dr. Bradford * John Caresio as Col. James Caldwell *
Brendon Boone Norman Brendon Boone Jr. is an American actor and writer. Early life and education Born in Meridian, Mississippi, Boone is the son of Rev. Norman Boone and Leola Speed Boone. His father was a pastor in the United Methodist Church. Boone was a stu ...
as Barney the Deputy (credited as Norman Boone) * Byrd Holland as Sheriff * Jack King as Grandpa Brown * Pierre Kopp as Bobby * Louise Lawson as Blonde Girl in Gold Pants


Production

''The Creeping Terror'' was directed, produced and edited by "Vic Savage" (an alias) under the name A. J. Nelson. Although Robert Silliphant is the credited writer, the original story was written by his younger brother Allan Silliphant (later known as Al Silliman Jr., and who would go on to write, produce, and direct the 1969 softcore comedy film ''
The Stewardesses ''The Stewardesses'' is a 1969 American 3D softcore comedy film written and directed by Allan Silliphant (credited onscreen as Alf Silliman Jr.) and starring Christina Hart, Monica Gayle, Paula Erickson and Donna Stanley. Produced on a budget ...
''). Silliphant's other brother, Stirling, was at the time a successful writer, having written extensively for television shows that included ''
Alfred Hitchcock Presents ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, aired on CBS and NBC between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers and mysteries. Between 1962 and 1965 it was ren ...
'' and '' Perry Mason'', and he co-created '' Naked City'' and ''
Route 66 U.S. Route 66 or U.S. Highway 66 (US 66 or Route 66) was one of the original highways in the United States Numbered Highway System. It was established on November 11, 1926, with road signs erected the following year. The h ...
''. Savage used this familial association to attract potential investors for the film: in exchange for receiving any of the film's profits, for a few hundred dollars Savage reportedly offered these investors a small part in the film. When interviewed by director
Pete Schuermann Pete Schuermann is a Colorado-based director, producer, editor and cinematographer. Career Pete Schuermann began making movies at 19 with the Star Trek parody ''Hick Trek: The Moovie'', which was released to home video in 1999. In 2005, Walt ...
for ''The Creep Behind the Camera'' (aka ''Creep!'') (2014), a
docudrama Docudrama (or documentary drama) is a genre of television and film, which features dramatized re-enactments of actual events. It is described as a hybrid of documentary and drama and "a fact-based representation of real event". Docudramas typic ...
film about the making of ''The Creeping Terror'', Allan Silliphant claimed he was paid $1,500 by Savage. Following this payment, the then 21-year-old Silliphant returned three days later with the original nine-page film treatment that he had "made up" based only on an earlier, vague idea for the story. Later in the production, there was conflict between writer and director, with Silliphant frustrated that Savage did not share his vision that the story was intended to be outrageous. This conflict, and Silliphant's belief that the film would harm, rather than enhance, his family's reputation, especially that of his brother Stirling, ultimately led to his departure from the production.Snoonian, Mike
"An interview with Pete Schuermann, director of 'The Creep Behind the Camera'."
''filmthrills.com'', September 17, 2014. Retrieved: May 10, 2016.
Principal photography began in late 1962, but instead of shooting at scenic
Lake Tahoe Lake Tahoe (; was, Dáʔaw, meaning "the lake") is a Fresh water, freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada (U.S.), Sierra Nevada of the United States. Lying at , it straddles the state line between California and Nevada, west of Carson City, Nevad ...
as Silliphant had expected, a muddy pond at Spahn Ranch in Simi Valley, California was used. When the film's special effects creator was not paid for his work, he allegedly stole the original creature costume a day prior to shooting, forcing Savage and his remaining crew to assemble a poorly constructed replica. In John Stanley's ''Revenge of the Creature Features Movie Guide'' (1988), the resultant creature is described as "...an elongated alien monster resembling a clumsy shag rug..." Because of Savage's difficulties in securing financing, filming was episodic and did not conclude until 1963. There is minimal dialogue in the film, with nearly all vocalization provided in
expository Narrative exposition is the insertion of background information within a story or narrative. This information can be about the setting, characters' backstories, prior plot events, historical context, etc. In literature, exposition appears in t ...
format by a narrator. This is because Savage either shot scenes without regard to the professional quality of the sound, the sound was improperly transferred (or not transferred at all, as a cost-saving measure) to
35mm 35 mm may refer to: * 135 film, a type of still photography format commonly referred to as 35 mm film * 35 mm movie film, a type of motion picture film stock * 35MM 35 mm may refer to: * 135 film, a type of still photography format ...
mag
stock In finance, stock (also capital stock) consists of all the shares by which ownership of a corporation or company is divided.Longman Business English Dictionary: "stock - ''especially AmE'' one of the shares into which ownership of a company ...
, or the original soundtracks were lost."Trivia: 'The Creeping Terror'."
''Turner Classic Movies''. Retrieved: May 10, 2016.
Having insufficient funds to pay for basic sound transfers or extensive
post-production Post-production is part of the process of filmmaking, video production, audio production, and photography. Post-production includes all stages of production occurring after principal photography or recording individual program segments. The ...
dubbing, Savage ultimately hired Larry Burrell, a radio news reader whose other film credits include ''
They Saved Hitler's Brain ''They Saved Hitler's Brain'' is a 1968 TV movie directed by David Bradley. It was adapted for television from a shorter 1963 theatrical feature film, ''Madmen of Mandoras'', produced by Carl Edwards and directed by David Bradley. The film was ...
'' and the nudie cutie ''
Not Tonight Henry ''Not Tonight Henry'' is a 1960 American film. It was one of the first American "nudie cutie" films along with ''The Immoral Mr. Teas'' and ''Eve and the Handyman''. It cost $71,000, was filmed over nine days and featured Hank Henry.NUDITY FEATURED ...
'', to narrate the entire film. Although a minor amount of poor-quality re-dubbing was performed, the narrator speaks over most of the dialogue in the film, and long intervals devoid of dialogue have no narration, similar in style to many educational films produced in the 1950s and 1960s. Savage might have checked into a motel with a silent picture-only Moviola to quickly assemble the finished film. Prior to the film's alleged release, however, Savage was repeatedly sued, and facing a possible indictment on charges of fraud, he vanished. Savage/Nelson/White was apparently never heard from again in the context of film production, and he reportedly died of liver failure in 1975, aged 41. In 2009, his wife Lois wrote a "tell-all" novel that featured her life with Savage, albeit using aliases.


Reception

With Savage having disappeared, the main financier, William Thourlby (who appeared in the film as Dr. Bradford), acquired the remaining film stock and had an edited version created in an attempt to recoup some of his investment.Schuermann, Pete
"The Creep Behind the Camera (Documentary Movie),"
''YouTube''. Retrieved: May 10, 2016.
Sound reels for a later portion of the film had gone missing, so Thourlby added constant and occasionally intrusive narration. Some parts of the film he could not explain because of their lack of apparent narrative purpose, and the plot gets hazy. Because ''The Creeping Terror'' would not be suitable for wide release and would, at best, have been relegated to drive-in theaters and second run showings, it was sold in 1976 as part of a syndication package of films for local television stations. In 1994, ''The Creeping Terror'' was featured in episode #606 of ''
Mystery Science Theater 3000 ''Mystery Science Theater 3000'' (abbreviated as ''MST3K'') is an American science fiction comedy film review television series created by Joel Hodgson. The show premiered on KTMA-TV (now WUCW) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on November 24, 1988. ...
''; the cast, crew and viewers of the program became noted critics of the film. '' TV Guide'' described ''The Creeping Terror'' as "pure camp," and claimed it might be the second-worst horror film ever made, behind only ''
Plan 9 from Outer Space ''Plan 9 from Outer Space'' is a 1957 American independent science fiction-horror film produced, written, directed, and edited by Ed Wood. The film was shot in black-and-white in November 1956 and had a theatrical preview screening on March 15 ...
''.


See also

* List of films considered the worst * List of films featuring extraterrestrials


References


Explanatory notes


Citations


General and cited references

* Beaulieu, Trace. ''The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Amazing Colossal Episode Guide''. New York: Bantam Books, 1996. . * * Medved, Harry and Michael Medved. ''Son of Golden Turkey Awards''. New York: Random House/Villard Books, 1986. . * Smith, Michael and Eric Kasum. ''100 of the Worst Ideas in History: Humanity's Thundering Brainstorms Turned Blundering Brain Farts''. Chicago: Sourcebooks, 2014. . * Stanley, John. ''Creature Features: The Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Movie Guide''. New York: Berkley Boulevard Books, 2000. . * Wiseman, Lois A. ''Hollywood Con Man''. Bloomington, Indiana: IUniverse, 2009. .


External links

* * * * *
MST3K treatment on ShoutFactoryTV
{{DEFAULTSORT:Creeping Terror, The 1964 horror films 1964 films American black-and-white films 1960s English-language films Giant monster films Crown International Pictures films American science fiction horror films Films about extraterrestrial life American exploitation films American monster movies 1960s monster movies Films shot in Los Angeles County, California 1960s American films