Hellman

BEAST FROM THE HAUNTED CAVE-1959-At ski resort in Deadwood,South Dakota, a petty gangster Alexander Ward (Frank Wolff) plans to blow up a mine as a distraction so he and his gang can rob a safe full of gold. His girlfriend Gypsy (Sheila Noonan, also in Jerry Warrens's INCREDIBLE PETRIFIED WORLD) flirts with Gil  Jackson (familiar TV actor Michael Forest), a ski instructor. After they've pulled off the heist the gang has Gil lead them cross country skiing to make their escape (he is unaware they are making a getaway). Things go ok until they are terrorized by a weird spider like monster (Chris Robinson, also in a small role as a bartender) who attacks and puts his victims in cocoons (like ALIEN) and sucks their blood (like in ATTACK OF THE GIANT LEECHES which producer Gene Corman also made the same year). There's a lot of talk and the climax is over in a flash!

This was the first feature by director Monte Hellman (BACK DOOR TO HELL, TWO LANE BLACK TOP). It suffers from a low budget (Roger Corman was the executive producer) but moves along very quickly! The screenplay is by Charles B. Griffith who also wrote the Corman (Roger) directed BUCKET OF BLOOD  the same year and in 1960 penned the original  LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, This guy deserves an  honorary Academy Award!

BEAST's very minimal cast also features Wally Campos, Richard Sinatra and Kay Jennings. This was kind of remade by Corman as CREATURE FROM THE HAUNTED SEA.

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