A zoo owner Michael Conrad uses some of his animals to protect the zoo from different human predators. Conrad is played in intense mode by Michael Gough and he dominates the film as usual but there are good supporting actors to fill out the story such as Edward Platt, Jeanne Cooper, Jerome Cowan, Elisha Cook Jr. And Virginia Grey. It looks picturesque filmed in Panavision and Eastmancolor by the adept Floyd Crosby. The story is easy to follow and isn't really a horror film, more a drama than anything else. The Conrad's marriage is a key element. The only weak part were the animal worshippers which I thought was a bit silly.
Plaudits must go to Ralph Helfer, who supervised the animals, particularly the felines. The scenes where the big cats sit in Conrad's lounge listening to his organ music and the wonderfully atmospheric funeral (beautifully shot) in the cemetery with the big cats sitting around on monuments really lift the movie.
Plaudits must go to Ralph Helfer, who supervised the animals, particularly the felines. The scenes where the big cats sit in Conrad's lounge listening to his organ music and the wonderfully atmospheric funeral (beautifully shot) in the cemetery with the big cats sitting around on monuments really lift the movie.