Directed by: Robert Gordon
Starring: Michael Gough, Jeanne Cooper, Rod Lauren, Virginia Grey, Jerome Cowan, Elisha Cook, Jr.
Distributed by: Warner Bros. Archive
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running time: 88 minutes
Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars
“When Creature Attack” movies are always fun especially ones that are from the 50’s and 60’s. This one is a little different since they are being controlled by a human. I enjoyed the film quite a bit and I am surprised I have never seen this film in the past. The animal to human interactions are fantastic and probably and also very risky since it looks very real and up close. What drew me most to the film was the amazing old fashioned poster art. Such a classic! The plot is a little cookey with the main baddie being involved with a animal cult…besides that this is a fun romp.
We meet Michael Conrad who is a zookeeper but also leads a cult group who worship animals. Michael cares for the following animals in his zoo: a lion, a lioness, a pair of cheetahs, a tiger, and a black panther; as well as a gorilla but he also uses them to kill anyone who gets in his way. Things get out of control when the cops and his wife catch on to plans and he gets a taste of his own medicine.
This is the first time that this film has been released on DVD, thanks to Warner Bros. Archive Collection. They are responsible for releasing some really great gems and this is definitely one of them. Unfortunately there are no special features on this disc but at least we have a decent transfer to DVD on this disc.