This unusual blend of Southern white trash and blood-curdling terror features a good narrative, capable performances by most, excellent musical score, and a misty, shadowy, eerie atmosphere. Despite other negative reviews, this and many other small-budget 1950s are continually being released on DVD and video, to the delight (and distributors' profits) of horror fans. Ken Clark is adequate playing the stalwart hero, as a surprising (for its time) ecologically-minded ranger overseeing a Southern bayou swampland. Third-billed Jan Shepard is really the leading lady here, getting more scenes and close-ups than Yvette Vickers, who appears in early scenes, than basically disappears. Shepard is earnest and very pretty, lending semi-feminism to the proceedings, by joining boyfriend Clark in the swamp, seeking murderous radiation-produced mutations. Shepard appears, 1950s style, in her first and last scenes (probably filmed simultaneously), with her hair down, in an off-the shoulder white dress, well made-up, walking near a sticky, humid swamp! At least she's not in high heels! Vickers is slinky perfection as the adulterous wife of Bruno Ve Soto, another fine actor. Tyler McVey as Shepard's doctor father is also convincing; great character portrayal by Gene Roth as the dis-believing sheriff. All these are "finished" actors, professionals who have amassed many credits through the years. While the leech costumes may disappoint, the unnerving cave scene won't. This film does in 65 minutes what other "blockbuster", star-cast thrillers can't.
Review of Attack of the Giant Leeches
