The Deadly Mantis (The Giant Mantis)(The Incredible Praying Mantis) Reviews

If you don't believe the Incredible Truth movie when they say the ice caps are melting, maybe this movie will make you think twice? Who wants a giant praying Mantis running around? This movie is silly, but it's got cool special effects and the story's not bad.

Seismic activity in the southern hemisphere triggers vibrations at the arctic icecap, releasing a gigantic mantis religiosa that was frozen in the ice some 15 million years earlier. Pissed off and hungry, the enormous insect migrates south, taking out arctic radar stations, airplanes and even Eskimos along the way.

As silly as this all sounds, it's really not half bad. Classic cold war sci-fi with just a touch of romance thrown in for good measure.

Better pray, a killer praying mantis is out to get ya! During the first few minutes of "The Deadly Mantis," it appears like it's going to be an instructional video, or a history lesson. The story and ...read morethe scenario soon changes when a huge insect called a praying mantis, thaws and is set on the loose to try and take over the world that is now inhabited by human beings. "The Deadly Mantis" is one of the many "creature features" from the decade of the 50's. In this one, an overgrown praying mantis begins its journey in the cold arctic region of the North Pole. Unlike many insects, the praying mantis is a flesh eater, instead of a plant eater. This compelling fact will probably make most people shiver, especially after finding out where the monster is headed. The praying mantis in the movie has spectacular special effects for the time (1957). You'll see the mantis tower above buildings, fly over vast oceans, and more. Even better than the special effects is the movie itself. "The Deadly Mantis" is suspenseful, it's well made, and it's all the more interesting with the idea of a common insect taking over the life of humans. There are also other redeeming qualities such as seeing pilots shoot at it with several missiles, the various other military maneuvers, and more. If you like other classic horror movies that feature a creature that tries to take over, I recommend getting "The Deadly Mantis." It's one of the best films that features an insect, without a doubt. NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2002.

About what you'd expect from a 50's giant praying mantis movie.

Again - fantastic. It's a huge praying mantis puppet, what could be better! A lot of famous scenes are in this one.

Pretty campy, but it feels like it was intentional. The Mantis was modeled well, obviously not too convincingly. The cast never really shined, though, and for these older films, they need good actors.

An enjoyable "big bug on the loose" film from the 1950s, memorable for the fact that for most of the film's running time the titular insect is portrayed by a puppet and not merely a real mantis on miniature sets. The story is largely quite good and very entertaining. However, one scene is truly hilarious in an unintentional manner: Our heroes are in a room at the Arctic base, discussing the mysterious monster, unaware that it is currently eyeing them through the window. However, A) the window is quite large B) this mantis is some 50 feet tall and C) one character walks back and forth in front of the window without ever noticing the beast! Apparently these characters have no peripheral vision. On the whole, however, this is a very enjoyable film if not great.

It was a great classic I've only seen it once,but don't remember much,as i like old classic black and white movies and those that were in color.

very under rated universal movie.

As an aficionado of giant monster sci-fi B movies of the 50's (apparently not just a mouthful, but a major sub-genre), I think this ranks right up there with films about monster ants, tarantulas, Gila monsters, squid, gorillas, dinosaurs, blobs, rats, moths, turtles, bees, flies and various other irradiated, alien or prehistoric creatures that similarly terrorized movie theaters and drive-in's back in the day. Alas, Mantis does well locally but is led to eventually take his show to NYC where predictably it bombs just like many other careers that die on Broadway. No prayer for this Mantis.

For a movie featured on MST3K, it could've been worse. The effects are almost somewhat decent for 1957.

Decent effects though it's obvious when it's just a real insect, but the story isn't too bad but a bit slow at times. Characters aren't too interesting but the ending isn't too bad. Easily watchable on MST3K.

An eighty minute-long RAID commercial.

A great Bug Movie, should be remade. Anyone who doesn't like this one has no business watching 50's bug movies. I mean what were you expecting...On the Waterfront??? Pity there was never a sequel or a remake but hey you never know...

PRETTY HOKEY B MOVIE WITH GIANT INSECTS. BUT THEN AGAIN, IT'S HOKEYNESS MAKES IT SOMEWHAT ENTERTAINING. THERE ARE BETTER GIANT BUG PICTURES OUT THERE.