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On the storm wracked Cornish coast Ben Harris (Tab Hunter)
discovers a body washed up on a beach.
His companions tell him that it is a guest of the hotel,
which is perched high on the cliffs above them.
When Ben and the owner of the hotel Jill Tregillis (Susan
Hart) go to search the dead man's room they disturb a sea
creature that attacks then disappears into the darkness.
Later that night another of them kidnaps Jill. Ben and painter
Harold Tufnel-Jones (David Tomlinson) go in search of her
accompanied by the artist's pet hen, Herbert. They follow
the trail through secret passages down to a cavern where they
are dragged into a whirlpool and down to an underwater city
ruled by an insane despot (Vincent Price).
The first part of this film is atmospheric and excellent
until Jill is kidnapped then it plunges down as if caught
in a vortex of its own. It's a pity because most of the actors
are first rate.
I blame the witless individual who introduced the hen. Every
time a bit tension is created up pops Herbert and wrecks it.
If a film can have a split personality this one has it.
On the one hand: we have a good horror situation, a Poe poem,
Vincent Price, heroine in distress, murder and warfare beneath
the sea; on the other, phoney Disney.
David Tomlinson (a fine actor) deserves our sympathy for
being stuck with this turkey. Tab Hunter is handsome and has
a pleasant personality. Susan Hart looks very fetching in
the obligatory low cut dress. Unfortunately on the hot chip/cold
chip sex appeal scale she rates a 3 out of 10.
Vincent Price does what he can; I'd like to think he dreamt
up the one comedy theme where he eye's Herbert and muses that
chicken would be a pleasant change for dinner after centuries
of fish.
Conclusion: Movie 65% Extras - 20%
Continued:
DVD details at a glance >
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