Horror 2024 Countdown: The Lost Continent (1968)

The Lost Continent (1968), dir. Michael Carreras, Hammer Films/Seven Arts Productions 

Moving into the Hammer section of our countdown and the late 1960's was an interesting period. The beginning of the end, if you will. 

Captain Larsen (Eric Porter) is reading a funeral hymn as a motley group is collected on deck. As the body is given to the sea, the captain thinks back to how they got there.

The tramp steamer Corita leaves Freetown for Caracas. The ship, captained by Larsen, is in a rush as the captain is smuggling some high yield explosives. His passengers are a mixed bunch:

Dr. Webster (Nigel Stock) is fleeing Freetown with his daughter Unity (Suzanna Leigh). It seems he had a pinch too much fun with his patients. 

Harry Tyler (Tony Beckly) is a drunk. His reasons for traveling are none of your business. Why is his jacket stuffed with money? Also none of your business. 

Eva Peters (Hildegard Knef) is your typical trophy wife. She's a thief, having stolen some bearer bonds to pay for her son's ransom. 

Mr. Ricaldi (Ben Carruthers) says he's a lawyer. He's also looking for bonds Eva stole. 

The captain's explosives explode at the worse moment during a hurricane. The captain, a few officers, and most of the passengers manage to escape. They soon find themselves adrift in the Sargasso Sea. They make their way back to the Corita, which is hopelessly stuck thanks to the seaweed clogging the propellors. 

That's when they met Sarah (Dana Gillespie). She lives on the island. She can walk across the seaweed thanks to a nifty pair of shoes and some ballons. She's also being chased by some barbarians, who live in the remains of a Spanish galleon and are ruled by El Supremo (Darryl Read). The Inquisitor (Eddie Powell) is the one really calling the shots.

Did I mention the monsters that occasionally attack?

Honestly this a nutty film and that's what makes it good. Conquistadors, sea monsters, and a lost world? Perfect. You almost have too much plot. Seriously, you can make three films over the first hour alone.