Reptilicus (1963)

I love this movie so much

The Worst Film Ever

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

The only real thing I can fault this movie for is everything relating to the monster, and sadly this is a monster movie. The acting was alright and the plot was slightly unique. Sadly even as monster movies go though this monster is very.... lets say aged. The monster is purely a set of different puppets that have no movement. In a single scene they show a leg moving to stomp a car but past that you just see a crude puppet being dragged behind buildings, in forests, or submerged in water. I was impressed at the scale of WW2 props used when fighting the monster, I just wish that effort was redirecting into the actual monster. At first it was so bad it was good but over time it just became painful to watch. Even the viewer is relieved when the monster is finally taken down just so we don't have to see it "act".

I actually saw this movie in the theater when it was first released. The movie was so bad, and so badly marketed, that promo stills in the theater lobby never appeared in the film! The "not so" special effects are as bad as they can get, the acting is universally poor (especially Carl Ottosen as the American General Grayson) and portions of the movie involving the monster are filmed in different stages of focus/clarity. However, the scenes involving the cast of live characters are of high quality stock and have survived quite well over the past 50+ years. It is a film that will give you a few laughs and may be a way spend a rainy Saturday afternoon. The best (and maybe the only way) to watch Reptilicus is via MST3K!

Being a Dane and being born in the 1970s, then I would eventually get acquainted with "Reptilicus", especially since it is a cult movie here in Denmark. But I will try to keep a neutral viewpoint on my review here.Taking into consideration that the movie is from 1961, then of course the effects were bound to be limited and also to be nothing compared to the effects of modern day movies. With that in mind, then lets just put it out in the clear; the movie had horrible effects. No doubt about it.The creature, Reptilicus, might have worked in thought and concept idea, but brought to the big screen in 1961 it was an eyesore to look at. It was so obviously fake that it fooled no one. And it is fun to witness how there are no scenes with actual people interacting with Reptilicus. Sure there were some scenes where Reptilicus was in the backdrop of scenes with people, but even then it looked painfully fake. And in my lifelong track record of watching movies, then I have never seen anything as fake and laughable than the scene where Reptilicus eats a farmer that decides to bolt and leave his wife and children to fend for themselves in a crumbling farmhouse. It was awful to witness, and I keep laughing every time I watch the movie.Should you decide to sit down and watch "Reptilicus", then make sure that you don't get a fully dubbed English language version, because it it just insulting to the movie. "Reptilicus" should be watched in its original Danish language (albeit there still is some English in the original Danish version as well). And to further add insult to injury then the English dubbed version is left with the spontaneous song by actor Dirch Passer cut out. I was outraged by that editing, because that song is great. Yeah, I have watched the original Danish language version and the English dubbed version of course.Aside from a very questionable reptilian creature which moves about by pulled strings and spewing some equally fake green slime, then the scenes with Reptilicus was also sporting very fake buildings, toy cars and train model trees."Reptilicus" is one of those types of movies that are so bad that they are fun to watch, and that is the reason why I have watched the movie three times by now. It is fun to return to watch it every now and then with years in between, because it never stops to amuse me.This movie might certainly have put Denmark on the monster creature features map of the world, but sadly it is not because the movie was a great movie. But hey, even crappy movies can make a lasting impression.And even though I am rating "Reptilicus" a mere four out of ten stars, then it is still a movie that is entertaining and one that it well-worth to be able to say "yes, I have seen that one!".

A frozen tail of a giant reptile is found in Denmark. It is then brought to Copenhagen to be studied but(of course) due to a screw-up is accidentally thawed out and regrows into the full-size dinosaur that proceeds to destroy the city, until the military and a group of scientists try to stop it(assuming of course they can...)Shoddily made film(Denmark's sole contribution to the genre) is utterly clichéd, tacky and preposterous, with an embarrassing looking, and goo-spewing monster that will likely provoke laughter with the viewer, though it has become a cult classic with its fans, who cherish its awfulness!