(1955)
Overall: MEH
The first horror/sci-fi movie to have Roger Corman both producing and directing was Day the World Ended. Producer James H. Nicholson from American Releasing Corporation, (soon to be changed to the catchier American International Pictures), commissioned and came up with the title and it is the typical low-budget, cheap sets, minimal cast, rubber monster B-movie that Corman would spend the entire decade earning his bread and butter making. There are a couple of moments of eerie tension in the first act, some decent radiation make-up effects, an ambitious opening, and Adele Jergens' showgirl Ruby at least seems to have some depth as a character. Elsewhere though, the film is poorly structured and suffers the standard mishaps from its budget. Stunt men are clearly noticeable, the sets literally wobble during a fight scene, the monster is shown in broad daylight and looks anything but scary, the ending is lackluster and predictable, and the plotting gives way to lazy, convenient details and monotony. It is basically a handful of stereotypical characters being bored in a house and us being bored watching them.
(1957)
Overall: MEH
An overly ambitious script from Charles B. Griffith ends up muddling The Undead, Roger Corman's attempt at a time-traveling, part-period piece meant to cash-in on The Search for Bridey Murphy, a film based on the then popular book of the same name about past lives and reincarnation. In typical Corman fashion, his reach exceeds his grasp and it ends up being a rather schlockly hodgepodge of genres and themes, with a noticeably small budget at its disposal. Some of the ideas are odd enough to provoke some humor, particularly Richard Devon's hammy portrayal of Satan which is right out of a cliche book, plus the ridiculous logic behind the "science" of a modern hypnotist's grand scheme of sharing brain links or whatever with his patients. The rubber bats, cackling crones, seductive witches, a completely random dance sequence, fog, and theatrical dialog are all fun, but once again the plot is annoyingly meandering. Almost the entire film plays as characters talking in one location, going to another one and talking some more, then going back to the last location to look for another character who just went to the last location they were at, and on and on. Pretty dopey stuff.
(1958)
Overall: MEH
One of the more ridiculous titles from the drive-in, B-movie age or any other, The Saga of the Viking Women and Their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent was Roger Corman's attempt at the scantily clad, warrior women genre. The sea serpent of the movie's title is shown very briefly and embarrassingly within two assuredly unconvincing rear projection sequences of viking ships under siege in violent waters where they did not even have the means to splash any real water around. The dialog and performances are pure, unrelenting camp with modern haircuts and accents further enhancing the lack of any believably for a period piece. Script wise, there is not much to expect as it simply pits two primitive tribes on two different land masses against each other who conveniently speak the same language, only after the lonely women folk decide to throw spears at a tree, see a viking ship omen in the clouds, and go after their big strong men that they cannot imagine living without. Corman does an adequate job with what he has got in some respects though, considering that the movie is steadily goofy enough to at least not get boring. Mystery Science Theater 3000 did take a deserving stab at it though so go in with such expectations.
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