The Horror of Party Beach

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

Movie Info

Stuffed with nearly all the essential ingredients for a '50s drive-in classic -- including rubber monsters, clean-cut biker gangs, countless inane rock & roll numbers, and twistin' teeny-boppers who appear to be about 35 -- this uproariously awful monster flick has secured a fond place in the hearts of bad-movie buffs. The horror of the title comes in the form of numerous scaly creatures whose fishy mouths are filled with a tube-like apparatus that makes them appear stuffed to overflowing with frankfurters. Spawned from both human remains and sea life (thanks to a healthy dose of ocean-dumped radioactive waste), the monsters emerge from the sea to dine on surfers and bikini-clad nymphs during a nearly constant teen beach party. Allen Laurel portrays a completely useless scientist who manages to find a solution to the monster menace only after his maid knocks over a vial of sodium on a specimen of one such creature. Armed with this knowledge, Laurel locates the flooded quarry that serves as the beasts' lair, allowing the military to give the critters what-for with a hail of sodium bombs. Director Del Tenney reportedly helmed several scenes from his sickbed while battling the flu... which probably explains quite a lot. The soundtrack features a plentitude of non-hits performed by surf-rockers The Del-Aires (named after the director?) including the toe-tapper "Zombie Stomp."

Rating:

NR
Genre:

Horror, Musical & Performing Arts, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Directed By:

Del Tenney
Written By:

Richard Hilliard, Lou Binder, Ronald Gianettino
In Theaters:

Jan 1, 1964 wide
Runtime:

71 minutes
Studio:

20th Century Fox Film Corporat

Cast

Alice Lyon
as Elaine Gavin

John Scott
as Hank Green

Marilyn Clark
as Tina

Allen Laurel
as Dr. Gavin

Eulabelle Moore
as Eulabelle

Augustin Mayer
as Mike

Damon Klebroyd
as Lt. Wells

Monroe Wade
as Television Announcer

Sharon Murphy
as Two Girl

Diane Prizio
as Two Girl

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Critic Reviews for The Horror of Party Beach

All Critics (6)

Like Robot Monster, Eegah! and other grade-Z atrocities, it's the sort of mindboggling film that triggers amusement rather than anger at its absolute ineptitude.

Sep 10, 2018 | Rating: 1/4 | Full Review…

Matt Brunson
Creative Loafing
High octane camp that's so ridiculous in so many ways that it's impossible to suppose that the filmmakers weren't at least slightly doing it on purpose.

Jul 4, 2015 | Rating: 3/10 | Full Review…

Tim Brayton
Antagony & Ecstasy
Good song based on it. The film blows, even if you like cheesy junk (which I do).

Apr 30, 2003 | Rating: 1/5

Alex Sandell
Juicy Cerebellum
Bad movie. Neat monsters.

Feb 7, 2003 | Rating: 2/5

Gerry Shamray
Your Movies (cleveland.com)
Really bad. Sometimes funny

Jul 30, 2002 | Rating: 2/5

Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
An absolute landmark in schlockisity.

Jul 27, 2002 | Rating: 1/5

Scott Weinberg
eFilmCritic.com

View All Critic Reviews (6)

Audience Reviews for The Horror of Party Beach

Nov 16, 2010

Goofy 60's white kids playing and dancing to beach rock music is slightly more bearable than the radioactive monster story. The rebel girl who goes dancing with the leader of a motorcycle gang to make her responsible ex-boyfriend jealous seems promising, but the creature makes her the first victim. All the blood here looks like chocolate syrup. It is all down hill after the ex-boyfriend fights the motorcycle gang leader.

Byron B Super Reviewer
Sep 05, 2010

Some crazy creature terrorizes teens on the beach, that's all, there's not much to this movie, and it's not really worth watching.

Aj V Super Reviewer