Attack of the Crab Monsters
A 1957 sci-fi horror film about radiation-mutated giant crabs.
In 1957, Roger Corman produced and directed the independently made black-and-white science fiction-horror film *Attack of the Crab Monsters* through his Los Altos Productions. Starring Richard Garland, Pamela Duncan, and Russell Johnson, it was released by Allied Artists as the main feature on a double bill with Corman’s *Not of This Earth*. The story follows a second scientific expedition sent to a remote Pacific island to find out what happened to the first. Upon arrival, they discover the island is home to two giant crabs mutated by radiation. These crabs have not only eaten the first expedition but also absorbed their minds, and they plan to reproduce in large numbers.
The plot begins as a group of scientists and five sailors land on a remote Pacific island. Led by Dr. Karl Weigand, the team includes geologist James Carson and biologists Jules Devereaux, Martha Hunter, and Dale Drew, along with technician Jack Chapman. They are searching for a missing earlier expedition and studying radiation effects from Bikini Atoll nuclear tests on local plant and sea life. Soon after landing, a sailor named Tate is killed in the water, his decapitated body surfacing. Two sailors stay behind to guard the explorers, while the others, led by Ensign Quinlan, try to return to the mainland, but their seaplane explodes. A storm prevents them from reporting the incident, so they continue their research. They read journal entries from the previous team that mention killer worm creatures. Martha and Dale go scuba diving, and that night Martha hears the voice of the previous expedition’s leader, McLane, calling to her. Carson falls into a pit that opens during an earthquake.
The expedition learns the earlier group was killed and eaten by two intelligent, mutated giant crabs that have absorbed their victims’ minds and can speak telepathically in their voices. The monsters systematically attack and kill members of the current expedition, and because of their mutated cell structure, they are now invulnerable to most standard weapons. The remaining scientists discover the crabs are causing the island’s earthquakes and landslides by undermining it with tunnels, slowly destroying it. They focus on stopping the mating pair from reproducing. They kill one crab in a cave by detonating explosives that shake loose a rock, crushing its head.
As the island continues to collapse into the
- Release year
- 1957
- Director
- Roger Corman
- Production company
- Los Altos Productions
- Distributor
- Allied Artists
- Budget
- $70,000
- Estimated earnings
- $1 million
- Starring
- Richard Garland, Pamela Duncan, Russell Johnson
Quick Facts
- Director
- Roger Corman
- Writer
- Charles B. Griffith
- Starring
- Richard Garland / Pamela Duncan / Russell Johnson / Mel Welles / Ed Nelson
- Music
- Ronald Stein
- Cinematography
- Floyd Crosby
- Editing
- Charles Gross
- Studio
- Los Altos Productions
- Distributor
- Allied Artists
- Released
- 1957 · 02 · 10 · U.S.
- Runtime
- 62 minutes
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The film concerns a second scientific expedition sent to a remote Pacific island to discover what happened to the first. Unknown to them, the island is inhabited by a pair of radiation-mutated giant crabs that consumed the first expedition, absorbed their minds, and plan to reproduce. The script was written by Charles B. Griffith, who also directed underwater sequences and appeared in a small role. Griffith described the scripting process: Roger Corman wanted suspense or action in every scene, no scene without it. The film's budget was $70,000.
Reader's Guide
Attack of the Crab Monsters is significant as an early example of Roger Corman's low-budget horror filmmaking, demonstrating his approach of structuring every scene for horror and suspense. Corman attributed the film's success to the 'wildness of the title,' the construction of the storyline, and editing for pace. The film was part of a wave of 'cheap teen movies' released for the drive-in market. Its legacy includes a proposed remake by Jim Wynorski, which Corman declined because he thought too much of the original. The film holds a 67% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 6 reviews.
Did You Know?
- The film was distributed as a double feature with Corman's Not of This Earth.
- Charles B. Griffith wrote the script and also directed underwater sequences and appeared in a small role.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who made Attack of the Crab Monsters?
Roger Corman both produced and directed the 1957 black-and-white sci-fi horror film through his own Los Altos Productions company. Allied Artists handled distribution, releasing it on a double bill alongside Corman's earlier picture Not of This Earth.
What can the Crab Monsters do?
The two giant crabs were deformed by radiation and feed by swallowing human victims whole, then regurgitating and reabsorbing their flesh to grow larger over time. Their mutated biology also allows them to reproduce, which is why the island is overrun with smaller crabs as well.
How does Attack of the Crab Monsters end?
The surviving expedition members set both giant crabs ablaze, killing them, and then flee the island by boat. The island is subsequently destroyed by a volcanic eruption as the survivors escape.
Why is Attack of the Crab Monsters significant in monster-film history?
Corman shot the entire picture for roughly $70,000, yet it reportedly grossed around $1 million at the box office, proving that a tiny independent monster feature could be enormously profitable. That financial success helped validate the low-budget sci-fi and horror model that would define much of 1950s independent cinema.
Who are the main characters in Attack of the Crab Monsters?
Richard Garland plays the leader of the second scientific expedition, while Pamela Duncan and Russell Johnson portray two of the team members sent to the remote Pacific island. Their mission is to discover what happened to the first expedition that went missing there.
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