Mini Movie Review: "The Black Scorpion" (1957)

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The atomic era of the 1950s was ripe with low budget science fiction films with rampaging giant insects and bugs. Filmed in Mexico with a mostly local cast, "The Black Scorpion" is better than anticipated thanks to special effects artist Willis O'Brien, the stop motion animation genius behind the original "King Kong." The countryside outside Mexico City has been rocked by a massive volcanic eruption and peasants are terrified due to superstition. Hank (Richard Denning) and Artur (Carlos Rivas) are performing scientific studies and catching Hank's eye is the form of local ranch owner Teresa (Mara Corday). Artur picks up a large chunk of obsidian with a scorpion embedded within. After cracking the obsidian, they are astonished the scorpion is still alive. From this point the film does not fool around. Telephone linemen are killed by a giant black scorpion unleashed from the bowels of the earth by the volcanic eruption. The film does not cheat audiences as effects are excellent and there are many terrific closeups of nasty dripping drool scorpion face. The centerpiece is a well done sequence in which Hank and Artur are lowered down into a chamber that is the scorpions' lair as well as other supersized creatures. It is amusing to see Hank using a big boxy camera rather than the now familiar video camera. "The Black Scorpion" is good cheesy fun.