Is It Worth the Watch?

When I sat down to watch 1964’s The Earth Dies Screaming I naturally thought I was going to see a schlocky sci-fi stinker. Surprisingly, this British production is stylish, atmospheric, and spooky, even thought provoking, despite a couple of slow moments.

When most of the population of a small village mysteriously drops dead all at once, a few survivors, looking for weapons and answers, gather in a local office building. As strange beings roam the streets and corpses reanimate, the group bickers, forms alliances and attempts to battle the strange forces confronting them.

The acting over-all is good, and the aliens and zombies are creepy and memorable. The film’s brief running time, just over an hour, gives director Terence Fisher space to create tension and suspense without overstaying his welcome.

The basic premise of a group of strangers huddled together while zombies attack, was recycled by George A. Romero four years later in Night of the Living Dead.

Is It Worth The Watch? It’s always pleasant when something you think is going to be cheesy turns out to be a pretty damn good film. 

1964

62 minutes

Starring – Willard Parker, Virginia Field, Dennis Price, Thorley Walters, Vanda Godsell, David Spenser, Anna Palk

Director – Terence Fisher

Screenplay – Harry Spaulding (as Henry Cross)