The Deadly Mantis (1957), dir. Nathan H. Juran, Universal-International
Hey, it was the 1950's. Vampires and werewolves were passe; giant monsters were in so why wouldn't Universal want some of that kaiju pie?
Seven minutes of stock footage greets us but it ends with a talk about the radar fences near the Candian/Artic border. Why is this important? Because one of those fences goes down with no contact with the crew.
In short order a team is dispatched. They find quite a few things but no crew. Colonel Packman (Craig Stevens) takes the evidence all the way to Washington, DC. They quickly call in Dr. Jackson (William Hopper) and in his opinion the thing they found in the ice is part of a claw, possibly from a mantis or similar insect.
While they deduce this, the mantis in question is heading south, tearing up parts of Maryland and continuing on to our nation's capital. Can it be stopped in time?
Well, it has some charm I guess? Too much like a documentary and not enough monster for my tastes. Honestly this could have been better if Bert I. Gordon tackled it.
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