Thiel-a-Vision Review: The Deadly Mantis

The Deadly Mantis is the heartwarming story of a hundred-foot-long prehistoric insect that thaws out of a glacier and flies around in search of human flesh.

While this is by no means a high-budget film, it was released by Universal and so I found it surprising just how much of it consisted of stock footage. I swear that fully half of its 80-minute running time was comprised of library film of radar stations, jets in flight, airplane spotters, anti-aircraft guns and fleeing Eskimos.

The mantis itself is pretty good for the time, though the main model--an oversized puppet--is a bit stiff. (Ironically, one of the most effective special effects shots has what is clearly a real-life mantis climbing a model of the Washington Monument.) Unfortunately, it doesn't show up all that often before the creatures hides in a New York City traffic tunnel and is promptly gas-bombed to death.

There's an unintentionally hilarious scene in which the military's chief scientific adviser on the case--a paleontologist, of all things--and his girl photographer discuss the mantis while the beast itself ever so slowly approaches outside the huge picture window, the two of them absurdly oblivious to its presence until the moment of impact.

This page, and all associated text pieces and photos are © David Thiel, unless otherwise noted. Do not reproduce or distribute this material without express written permission from the author.