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From Hell it Came
[Warner Bros.]
1957; b&w
Directed by Dan Milner
Starring: Tod Andrews, Tina Carver, Linda Watkins & John McNamara
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From Hell It Came comes to us courtesy the Warner Brothers' archive, an archive I can only assume to be as vast and deep as the ocean itself. Unlike this week's other entry though, the creature featured in this creature feature is not born of the ocean. Nor is it technically from hell, as the title would imply. This bark covered vessel of vengeance in this particular film is born of the soil. At least if my elementary school level of understanding of how trees form and grow serves me correctly. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. When the film opens we become witness to a somewhat bizarre voodoo ritual in progress, replete with spear and torch bearing on-looking natives, a crudely made doll, a fellow in a cumbersome headdress sitting cross-legged in front of a fire, and a another guy tied up to some stakes in the dirt, spread eagle, with a few chickens sitting around his head. (The chickens actually have nothing to do with anything, I only mention them because the fact they just kind of sit there while all of this is going on made me giggle. Although I will mention I was also glad none of them were part of the ritual part.) During the course of the ceremony the guy with the headdress thoughtfully fills everyone in on the backstory of why this unfortunate fella is about to meet an unfortunate fate; in short he is accused of killing his own father, aka the tribe's chief, with the help of the oh so evil white man and the unholy devil dust associated with their presence. (This gets explained further, later in the film, by the scientists who are also temporarily calling the island home as a result of some sort of nuclear fall out. Apparently researching the effects of this unnatural disaster is what brought them to the island in the first place.) The accused swears his innocence, additionally swearing it was really headdress guy and the local witch doctor who conspired to and eventually succeeded in killing his father in order to take control of the tribe. Then he rounds out his swan song speech by declaring his intent to seek revenge on all those who wronged him. (In a nice twist of multi-tasking fate, by my estimation thus allowing him to avenge both his and his father's death simultaneously.) And, as we all know from watching Paul Naschy movies, this is as easy as one, two, buckle your shoe then reanimate yourself into whatever form of oogly-boogley is native by way of ancient folklore to the region in question - in this case an evil tree monster named Tabonga. And once his revenge seeking roots take hold of a dusty roadway, no man or woman is safe! Well, actually, many people wind up being safe. The tree doesn't move that quickly. But that's neither here nor there. Besides, I wouldn't want to spoil the fun for you. While It Came From Hell is certainly quite tame by today's monster movie standards, not to mention the monster kind of looks like it was a costume borrowed from a production of children's fairy tale, fans of ye olde fashioned Saturday afternoon / late night horror movie oriented TV programming will likely revel in it's kitschy charm. I know I did!
—Bunny
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