The Unknown Terror
The Unknown Terror
| 12 August 1957 (USA)
The Unknown Terror Trailers

A woman leads an expedition into a remote jungle to find her long-lost brother, but instead finds a mad scientist who has created a fungus monster that feeds on the local inhabitants.

Reviews
GurlyIamBeach Instant Favorite.
Beystiman It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.
Hadrina The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful
Nayan Gough A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.
trimbolicelia Not too bad B-grade late 50's horror film. A trio of Americanos head for a Latin-American country where a family member disappeared while exploring a mysterious cave. When they get to their destination they find surly, silent locals, threats, no cooperation, and a thoroughly creepy, somewhat mad doctor who resides there for the excellent conditions for fungi. It seems the reason the natives are completely rattled is that there is a cave there. It's full of fungi that drips all over like a waterfall of oatmeal and victims, consigned there by our mad doc, who've become walking fungi freaks. A weird time is had by all.
Hitchcoc It's the old genre. Some guy has gotten himself trapped in some horrible caves in South America. His sister sets up an expedition to find him. They go to the Cave of Death. But there is an American doctor playing God who is in the way. He knows the superstitions of the native population. He is evil. Hs is also an expert at fungus. His experiments have led to a horrible mess in the caves that threatens the world. Off go the rescuers but they end up facing a group of mutants and an unending explosion of fungus. Actually, it looks like someone went crazy with giant bottle of dishwashing soap. This stuff absorbs human tissue. One problem is that the people are able to understand what they are facing, even though they shouldn't. It is a fight for survival with some scenes of bravery. An OK B-movie. Lots of overacting.
mark.waltz If hearing the rhythmic calypso music at the beginning of the movie gets your fingers snapping and your feet tapping, you just might miss the meaning behind the words. The small town Mexican setting may seem romantic and exotic, but there's horror inside the caves where an explorer (Charles Gray) disappeared, causing his sister (Mala Powers) to arrive to search for him. She finds help with the handsome John Howard who blames himself for her brother's disappearance. The natives become restless, are stirred up, storms brew, and horrific things begin to occur. Slow-moving and talky, this starts off as more psychological than downright horror, but when the cave is explored, the real terror starts, and the mystery of what is beyond those cave openings is really a metaphor of all of our human fears of the unknown. It also reminds us of the customs of those outside our own world and the fact that not all secrets are meant to be known. Decently acted but slowly plotted, this does increase in tension as the film moves along, but it takes a long time in getting there. I didn't quite love it or hate it, and unlike other horror/science fiction movies of the time, I couldn't find anything really to attack. My only complaint really is that it took a long time for me to really get into the film, and I too found myself snapping my fingers and tapping my feet when I heard that delightful music at the start. When the horror does strike, it's truly like a bat arriving out of hell, and you really don't expect it. That's what makes for good horror.
drystyx Only recently have movie makers started to make movies like this again. This movie was one of the hidden gems of science fiction. The plot was basic, with interesting characters, and an exciting story line. One outstanding feature was that the hero was actually disabled. Try getting a script like that past producers in the 70's through the 90's! And he was very likable, dignified character. A team, your basic hero, the girl, and the preppy glory seeking antagonist, search for the girl's brother in a remote cave, and find a few surprises. The monster fungus is scary by any day's standards, due to proper directing techniques. The film works. And it leaves you with a sense of excitement and enjoyment. It is a truly fun movie.