The Hideous Sun Demon (1958)

Fifties B- movies were full of monsters that were 'Amazing', 'Colossal', 'Incredible' or simply 'Giant', but only the Sun Demon was 'Hideous'.  The Hideous Sun Demon (1958) was one of a number of independent low budget monster movies made during this era, produced outside of the mainstream studios, yet differing little from their B products, save for having even lower budgets.  This one is of interest because it is pretty much a one man production on the part of Robert Clarke, who stars, c0-writes, directs and produces.  Clarke could be found appearing in a number of fifties low budget science fiction and horror movies, including several directed by Edgar Ulmer, he later became a regular face on TV, featuring in many drama series.  The Hideous Sun Demon was produced on a tiny budget, shot on weekends and using film students from the University of Southern California as crew.  Yet, despite its meagre resources, the end result is certainly no worse than the average Bert I. Gordon film or AIP release.  Indeed, it is a good deal more polished and professional looking than most low budget independent productions of the time.

What the film lacks is any originality in its premise, being, in essence, a Jekyll and Hyde variant, with Clarke's protagonist receiving a dose of Gamma radiation from a new isotope, which causes him to turn into a scaly and ravenous monster whenever exposed to sunlight.  Despite all of his best efforts to stay out of the sun and live a nocturnal life, plot developments inevitably keep contriving to force Clarke into the daylight and start transforming.  The usual pseudo-scientific explanations for the transformation are proffered: the radiation caused a genetic mutation that reverts Clarke to some earlier evolutionary state.  The monster make-up is, for a film of this budget, reasonably effective, although its appearances are wisely kept to a minimum.  The film is surprisingly brutal in terms of the number of animals that get killed by the monster - a bird is crushed to death and a dog beaten to death with a rock.  It also strays into Frankenstein territory late on, with a young child offering Clarke friendship as he hides from the cops.  (Thankfully, she isn't brutally murdered for her troubles).  All-in-all, The Hideous Sun Demon, despite some exceedingly clunky dialogue and wooden performances from some of the supporting cast, remains a watchable B-movie, even if we seem to have to wait an age to get our first glimpse of the title monster.