Tarantula (1955)
Starring: John Agar, Mara Corday, Leo G. Carroll, Clint Eastwood
Director: Jack Arnold
Synopsis: Typical 50's atom related monster movie featuring Clint Eastwood (if you don't blink)
Reviewed by: Ali Khan

An above average B-movie starring Leo G. Carroll as a scientist who manages to produce a serum by which growth rates are increased several fold. The only side effect is that some of the 'guinea pigs' not only grow very quickly but they also grow very large!! The title of the film therefore refers to the small arachnid that is injected and then escapes and proceeds to become the size of a large house.

While the special effects are fairly impressive and don't look tacky - the superimposed tarantula is really quite well done, the more impressive scenes concern the gradual transformation of Leo G. Carroll after he is injected with his own serum. Again the effects are not bad and Carol's scenes are the most interesting as he battles to find a cure while realising that failure to do so will lead to his own serum turning him into a hideous beast.

Good afternoon fun - maybe not as funny as could have been expected. Oh yes… keep your eyes open for a glimpse of Clint Eastwood as a fighter pilot in the climatic moments of the film. You could be forgiven for not recognising him though considering he has a oxygen mask on his face!