A Quick Look: THE HORROR OF PARTY BEACH (1964)

   Here's one that, for all it's faults, delivers the cheesy goods. Though the script meanders all over the place, and is supremely troubled on the science front (carbon-14 testing has some connection to cutting edge genetics, an unheated beaker of sodium is in liquid form despite the fact that sodium liquefies at something like 120 degrees, and of course toxic waste causes seaweed and human bones to mutate into vampire-zombie-fish-men...), the film nonetheless offers up a fun and frenzied melting pot of science fiction, horror, monsters, beach parties, bikers, bikinis, teenagers, cops, and action. When it comes to early 60's drive-in fun, THE HORROR OF PARTY BEACH is just about perfect, flaws or no. The film played double bill with the atmospheric (though comparatively boring) period piece THE CURSE OF THE LIVING CORPSE, notable for an early appearance by Roy Scheider.