A giant lizard terrorizes a rural Texas community and a heroic teenager attempts to destroy the creature.A giant lizard terrorizes a rural Texas community and a heroic teenager attempts to destroy the creature.A giant lizard terrorizes a rural Texas community and a heroic teenager attempts to destroy the creature.
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Did you know
- TriviaThe voice heard on the other end of the phone, when Chase eavesdrops on a phone call to the police department, is that of Ken Curtis, who served as producer on this film. He is more famous for having played scruffy deputy Festus Hagen on Gunsmoke (1955).
- GoofsChase is seen taking white wall tires off a wrecked car and putting them on his own. In the next scene, he has black wall tires on his car. The white wall tires change back and forth several times from scene to scene after that. (additional info) During the making of the film, several times Chase's car broke an axle. It was common for this car because of its high speed. Also due to rough country roads. This may be why the frequent tire changes noticed in the movie.
- Quotes
Sheriff Jeff: *What* did you hit him with?
Chase Winstead: My brand new, 100% completed hot rod.
Sheriff Jeff: You'd have had to start in the next county to get up enough momentum to do that to him.
Chase Winstead: Not with 4 quarts of nitro glycerin riding with me.
Mr. Wheeler: You drove across that rough field carrying nitro?
Chase Winstead: Yes sir!
Sheriff Jeff: Do you realize what could have happened?
Chase Winstead: It did. I lost my car!
Sheriff Jeff: Don't worry about that, the railroad will be *glad* to buy you a new one.
- Crazy creditsThe title "The GIANT GILA MONSTER" is printed in letters covered with reptile scales
- Alternate versionsA colorized version was released in 2007, as part of a double feature with The Killer Shrews (1959).
- ConnectionsEdited into Hookers in a Haunted House (1999)
Thrilling film in low budget in which a heroic teenager attempts to take down a creature , it is plenty of chills , suspense , screams , lots of astonishing attacks , hot-rodding teens , unintentional laughs and a busy record-hop party . It displays poor special effects , concerning a flesh-eating, monstrous and huge Gila Monster that is actually a Mexican Beaded Lizard . Lots of fun for 50s monsters fans and anyone who appreciates the sheer silliness of it all and resulting to be a so-so flick , though effective and entertaining , at times . It belongs to 50s and early 60s' golden time of the Sci-Fi and monster genre , such as ¨The Giant Leeches¨ , ¨The Giant Claw¨ , ¨It conquered the world¨ , ¨The Killer Shrews¨ , ¨Attack of the Crab Monsters¨ , ¨The wasp woman¨, ¨The Mole People¨, ¨The Giant Behemoth¨ , ¨Fiend without a face¨ , ¨Night of the Lepus¨ , among others . I admire creative effort to keep budget down , being decently made in traditional craft , but this time is too little , as the astonishing creature is really a lizard . This ¨The Giant Gila Monster¨ (1959) bears remarkable resemblance to ¨The Killer Shrews¨ (directed by Ray Kellogg and equally produced by Ken Curtis) , as the monstrous Killer Shrews are actually disguised dogs created by Ray Kellog himself . However , The Killer Shrews is better than The Giant Gila Monster (1959) , that's why the first one transcends its status monster movie to approach the field of scientific terror , in which Science has a role in the development of anecdotal history , with a scientist who wishes to limit the starvation by creating short humans . Both films were made , as FX as direction, by Ray Kellogg who was an expert on special photographic effects by designing some imaginative resources that lets you play with a certain reality , and , at the same time, contributes mightily to create an oppressive ambient and haunting atmosphere . Predictability of the plot from a screenplay by Jay Simms , and original story by Ray Kellogg , outlining causes of settings and characters , but not hidden at any time a storyline skillfully constructed . At the beginning the spectator does not know at any time the dimensions and physical characteristics of the monster , but the abominable sound emitted is more than enough to imagine the horror it represents . The picture is regular , though it could have been so much better...instead , it's kind of laughable when the monsters appear . It turns out to be a passable production with a little known cast.
The motion picture was middlingly directed by Ray Kellogg , as it has several flaws , failures and gaps . Craftsman Ray Kellogg was a Visual Effects expert , Second Unit Director or Assistant Director , writer , producer and eventually director , making a few films , such as ¨Green Berets¨ along with his friend John Wayne , ¨My Dog, Buddy¨, ¨The Monroes¨ , and two monster movies¨The Killer Shrews¨ and ¨The Giant Gila Monster¨. Rating : 4/10 . Inferior monster movie , though with some acceptable set pieces . The flick will appeal to vintage monster movie fans.
- ma-cortes
- Jan 17, 2022
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- The Giant Monster Gila
- Filming locations
- Lake Dallas, Texas, USA(outdoor scenes filmed at Cielo Studios)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $138,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 14 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1