THE UNKNOWN TERROR

Powers, Grey, Howard, Richards, Milton

THE UNKNOWN TERROR (1957). Director: Charles Marquis Warren. NOTE: Some plot points are given away.

Wealthy Dan Matthews (John Howard) has been searching for his brother-in-law, who disappeared while trying to find the infamous "Cave of the Dead" in Mexico. On one such jaunt seasoned spelunker Peter Morgan (Paul Richards) was badly injured but managed to save Matthews' life. Morgan also has some sort of history with Matthews' wife, Gina (Mala Powers of Man on the Prowl), and she insists on going with them to Mexico, where they stay with Dr. Ramsey (Gerald Milton) and his gorgeous native wife, Concha (May Wynn). Ramsey experiments with different species of fungi, although he claims absolutely no knowledge of the Cave of the Dead. However, an offer of $10,000 may get someone in the village -- perhaps Ramsey's sinister servant, Lino (Duane Grey of Female Jungle) -- to take them to the cave where dread horror awaits them. 

fungus on the move!

The Unknown Terror was one of several Cinemascope/black and white movies made by Regal Films and released by 20th Century-Fox. I have seen the film several times over the years but this is the first time I've seen it in the full widescreen version. Besides that, one of the film's assets is the excellent cinematography of Joseph F. Biroc, who manages to light cave sequences so that you can see what's going on without ever over-lighting them. The cavern sets in the movie are fairly elaborate. The suspenseful picture takes a bit of a dip when certain monsters are introduced -- these are wisely kept in the shadows -- but the dripping fungus, although an effect produced rather cheaply, is fun and effective enough. 

Paul Richards and Mala Powers

The acting in the flick is very uneven. John Howard and Gerald Milton actually come off as amateurish during their more dramatic moments, but the ladies Wynn and Powers fare better. Paul Richards is fine, as are Duane Grey as Lino and Richard Gilden as another frightened native who comes to a bad end. The influences on this film seem to be everything from H. G. Wells' Morlocks to the Boogie Men from Laurel and Hardy's Babes in Toyland. Whatever its obvious flaws and moments of sheer illogic, The Unknown Terror is fun. It may seem bizarre that the Cave of the Dead, whose entrance is miles away, is right below the doctor's house, but the characters spend hours -- and quite a few miles -- getting there through various underground passages. A highlight of the film is when Calypso singer Sir Lancelot offers his rendition of the strange and snappy "You Got to Suffer to Be Born Again," which supposedly relates to the Cave of Death. 

Verdict: Best seen in widescreen, this is a hoot! ***.