A Quick Look: "IT'S ALIVE" (1969 - color)

    When it comes to forgotten/easily-overlooked dinosaur movies, "IT'S ALIVE" is probably the holder of the crown. Not to be confused with Larry Cohen's 70's monster baby movie IT'S ALIVE, "IT'S ALIVE" was one of the films Texas director Larry Buchanan shot for AIP-TV in the 60's. In fact, this may've been his last one, coming in 1969. The plot concerned motorists being held captive by an insane man who happens to have a living dinosaur in his private underground cavern (thus further confusing things, as the plot has vague similarities to Tobe Hooper's EATEN ALIVE). Tommy Kirk and Buchanan regular Bill Thurman star. As you can see, the film's "dinosaur" was a generic gillman creature. Buchanan had earlier used the suit for his remake of THE SHE CREATURE, CREATURE OF DESTRUCTION. "IT'S ALIVE" actually made use of an original screenplay, as opposed to being yet another remake of an earlier AIP release, written to take advantage of Larry's unique brand of limited film-making. While cheap, and at times rather crude (technically speaking), the film is actually fairly effective when all is said and done. The film even seems ahead of it's time in predicting the 70's psycho-thriller drive-in monster movies that would become so popular with independent producers. Needless to say, we never get this good a look at the beastie in the actual film. I once ran across a list of movie monsters and this one was dubbed The Cheap Monster. That's actually kind of an endearing title, and it highlights exactly why these films have a draw to them. They're like really ambitious home movies, using whatever materials can be scrounged. Somehow, this patently fake (looking for all the world like an off-the-rack halloween costume) monster carries with it an unashamed charm.