The Black Scorpion Movie Review

King Kong’s Willis O'Brien co-designed the effects in this above-average giant insector. Huge and hungry subterranean scorpions get a whiff of human flesh and rush to the surface through pathways created by devastating volcanic eruptions. Once there, are they content to crunch and munch the humans they so crave? Heck no! Wreaking havoc on Mexico City, these larger-than-average arachnids derail a train (an amazing effects sequence requiring 15 different camera set-ups), de-sky a helicopter, and even chomp on one another. Though not as intense as the earlier giant ant thriller Them, O'Brien's stop-motion effects place this flick near the top of all ‘50s big-bug sci-fi thrillers.

1957 85m/B Richard Denning, Mara Corday, Carlos Rivas, Mario Navarro; D: Edward Ludwig; W: Robert Blees, David Duncan; C: Lionel Linden. VHS WAR, MLB, FRG