From Hell It Came (Warner Archive Collection) (1957)

[The Great Owl]

On a South Seas island, a native prince is wrongly accused of murdering an old chief after he attempted to treat the chief by using modern medicine provided by American scientists, who are on the island to investigate radioactive fallout from nuclear testing. The prince is executed in a gruesome ritual, but not before he swears revenge on the true killers of the chief and promises to come back from the dead to avenge himself. Sure enough, the prince eventually rises up from the grave in the form of a terrifying walking tree stump who lumbers after his victims and efficiently puts them to their deaths. The American scientists find themselves fighting for their own lives as the walking tree, the "Tabanga", continues its rampage.

At 71 minutes, From Hell It Came is flawed and often illogical, but nonetheless fast-paced and wildly fun. I rather liked the story element involving the distrust of many of the natives toward the modern medicine treatments, because, sadly, it invites comparisons with the bewildering anti-vaccination movement that is proliferating here in America today. The lead character, the Tabanga, is rather wooden...har har har...but it's certainly never boring to watch. The special effects of the Tabanga, which pretty much involved putting a man in a large tree suit, complete with an enormous scowling face, are crude, even by 1950s standards, and this is the main cause of the critical animosity toward this film, but, as a fan of these old-school monster movies, I found its rampage scenes to be entertaining.

This Warner Archive Blu-ray sports an impressive audio and video presentation, since the 2K restoration of this modest-length film is given plenty of heft by the BD-25. There are no extras, aside from the original trailer, but this film sells itself, and no supplements are needed.

From Hell It Came is not a lost masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination, but it delivers for what it is, and I'm grateful to Warner Archive for giving it to us by way of such a strong presentation.

[The Great Owl]

Apologies if a thread has already been started for this fine film, but I could not find any such thread by way of the forum searches. Feel free to merge my review into an initial thread if one exists.

[Rockercub]

This movie FREAKED ME OUT as a kid. I watched a bootleg not too long ago though, and it was horrible. Not in a fun way either. I'm tempted to give it another shot, because it really is one of those memorable movies from my childhood, but I'm wary. I think it may be the case that my recent viewing was tainted by high expectations and I'll be able to have more with it on another go. For now, I'm watching for a good sale price.

[The Great Owl]

Honestly, I was expecting a godawful unwatchable film, based on the reviews here and elsewhere, so I am surprised at how entertained I was by From Hell It Came.

This movie doesn't reinvent the wheel, and it doesn't make me want to change the direction of my life, but it does bring a smile to my face.
More importantly, though, I am now compelled to view seemingly innocuous tree stumps with the caution and respect that they so rightfully warrant.

[yellowcakeuf6]

I never got the Archive DVD, so I'll probably get this.
I grew up seeing this on our local Saturday night creature feature from time to time. I always got a good laugh out of it.

[evilive]

Totally forgot this came out.

[ergumat]

I pick up most WAC titles but have been hesitant about this one as it seems almost a bit too ridiculous. I'll take some time to make my mind up and see what others think of it but probably will get it at some point..

[bigshot]

It really isn't a very good movie. It's the kind of thing you put on in the background and only pay attention to when the tree is marching around. It's more of a curiosity than anything else.

[The Great Owl]

[Show spoiler]

[redrunner97]

If this movie can get a blu-ray release, why can't Wild Women of Wongo?

You're review sold me on picking this one up Mr. Owl.

[RICKBONDOO7]

So many Great movies in their Library, and they release low budget junk like this ! Unbelievable !

[bigshot]

At least it isn't as bad as The Creeping Terror.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by bigshot

At least it isn't as bad as The Creeping Terror.

The Creeping Terror is a bad movie, but it's not the worst. At least it shows some decent upskirts when the women are being eaten by the creature.

(There's probably a good reason why I'm not an official reviewer for this site.)

[JoeBuck]

Originally Posted by rickbondoo7

so many great movies in their library, and they release low budget junk like this ! Unbelievable !

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[yellowcakeuf6]

Originally Posted by RICKBONDOO7

So many Great movies in their Library, and they release low budget junk like this ! Unbelievable !

If it wasn't for the apparently large group of vocal fans, it probably wouldn't have been released.

[bigshot]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

The Creeping Terror is a bad movie, but it's not the worst.

Curse of Bigfoot? Lemon Grove Kids Vs The Monsters? Rat Fink A Boo Boo? Frankenstein Vs The Space Monster?

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by bigshot

Curse of Bigfoot? Lemon Grove Kids Vs The Monsters? Rat Fink A Boo Boo? Frankenstein Vs The Space Monster?

There were some pretty bad flicks in those Mill Creek Sci-Fi Classics 50-Pack and Mill Creek Sci-Fi Invasion 50-Pack DVD box sets.

The fact that I cannot remember the names of all of them offhand is probably a good thing, but I remember that The Creeping Terror was not the worst.

[bigshot]

Mesa of Lost Women!

Thanks for the suggestion of the Mill Creek sets. I just picked up the two giant Mill Creek box sets... 400 sci fi, horror and exploitation movies on 100 discs for $110. Some of them have bugs in the corner, but if I like them I can go digging for a cleaner copy.

[yellowcakeuf6]

I had always thought The Creeping Terror had served its purpose as drive-in fodder, but the Wiki article makes it unclear and it sounds like this didn't see the light of day until syndicated TV in the 1970s.

[Jobla]

I think it's been established that THE CREEPING TERROR did not play theatrically (I can't imagine why!).

It probably made its debut in a Crown International TV package.