The Trollenberg Terror (1958)
A cloud formation mysteriously hovers around the peak of Mount Trollenberg, high in the Swiss Alps. Unbeknown to the guests of a remote skiing lodge, something from the clouds interior starts to kill unwary climbers. A UN investigator played by Forrest Tucker is drawn into the mystery along with two sisters who have a mind reading stage act.
A classic alien invasion monster movie. Whilst clearly a science fiction film, The Crawling Eye as it is otherwise known, is also a horror film. From the remote, timeless mountain lodge locations to the unknown horrors lurking in the mists, and the desperate bunch of people attempting to survive. The Crawling Eye owes much to classic Hammer sci-fi / horror films of the time such as the Quatermass series, X - The Unknown, and probably because of the mountainous locations and the casting of Forrest Tucker, The Abominable Snowman. In fact the creatures themselves owe a lot to the great sci-fi horror author HP Lovecraft with their tentacled octopus like appearance.
It would be easy to criticize the film for its effects but i really like them, the model work is very good and i think the creatures are iconic creations making The Trollenberg Terror one of those films that are great to curl up in a cosy place to watch, the perfect feel good / feel warm movie that will never tax your brain yet is always great to relax with. Especially on a lazy afternoon or in my case a cold Autumn night.
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