Japan had Godzilla (Gojira by original appellation), but in 1957 America produced the Roger Corman cinematic stinker of Attack of the Crab Monsters as our atomic cautionary tale. In this crab-tastic "big bug" flick, a crew of scientists investigates a nuclear fallout-stricken atoll in the Pacific. There isn’t a sign of life on the island, but the researchers soon discover gigantic mutant flesh-eating crabs that can absorb the intelligence of their victims and can speak in their voices. (I'm not making this up!) Russell Johnson (the Professor from Gilligan's Island) even makes an appearance. We learn that the mutant crabs were originally land crabs, but they sure look like jumbo Dungeness crabs to me (pass the butter). Attention to detail was somewhat lacking in post-production so keep an eye open for scenes where so you can actually see the legs of the men operating the crabs.
Oh baby, I vividly recall first seeing these mutated, bug-eyed crabs on New York Channel 11 (WPIX) late night Chiller Theatre (for which the opening credits of Chiller have haunted my brother Rob and I for years.)
Now let's see if we can get Greg and Phil to join the fun:
Evolution
Bad Astronomy
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