Customer Reviews

Las Vegas Hillbillies / The Navy vs the Night Monsters [VHS]

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

So I was all excited to see this, but this release from a bunch of clowns called 'Cheesy Flicks' is strictly public domain dreck at a premium price. On Alpha DVD at $5 this might be worthwhile, but not at $10 or whatever... unless you have to have it, like I guess I do. It looks like they just bought some graymarket version at a horror convention and just used that as a source print - colors are washed out, image blurry, VHS streaks... the works! Beware... take care!

This is a low budget sci-fi horror film that made the drive-in rounds back in the sixties. Mamie Van Doren is actually top billed. It concerns a Navy base in the south seas that finds itself fighting off acid-spewing tree monsters that move around on their roots and only at night. A scientific expedition in Antartica accidentally sent specimans of a life form they discovered to the base resulting in these "Day of the Triffids" like walking trees. Any similarity to that film ends there. Mamie is a nurse on the base and provides the eye candy. The "night monsters" seek human prey of course and they find it. Originally, the film contained a few scenes of fairly gory deaths that were surprising for the time and these were edited out in later prints. At this writing, I was unable to find out if Music Video Distribution was releasing a restored and uncut version. This would be the ideal way to release this film as it could be fun for those who like these old drive-in features and of course for those who know that Mamie Van Doren was a well-known sex kitten back in the 5o's. If it's uncut and restored, I'd love to see it again. It's no classic. It is what it is and should be enjoyed that way.

Omniverous trees indeed! This is one of the best of the worst of all time! The writing alone could have sunk the Titanic it is so bad. Mamie Van Doren may be the eye candy here, but her voice combined with the terrible script will have you hitting the mute button over and over. Anthony Eisley will never be Richard Carlson or Richard Denning (or anyone else for that matter). The special effects are awful. And the attempts at humourous relief are pitiful. But I just can't leave this one alone. It's sort of like Plan 9 in color. And now that I've bad-mouthed it just about every way I can, I would sum up by just saying, "Buy it"! It's more fun than anything else being released this week and you'll have a ball!

I have always loved these awful flicks being a horror movie lover since I was a kid. I had looked very forward to receiving this movie in the mail, but when I watched it, I was terribly let down. The color is washed out and the movie is just plain out blurry. I have a VHS tape of this movie that looks better. Thumbs down to "Cheesy Flicks". They should be ashamed of themselves for putting out such detestable quality work!

Even though it was made in the mid 60s, to me this movie as an above average example of a 50s monster movie (plus it's in color). The script is fairly literate, Anthony Eisley makes a stalwart, but not always right, leader of a group isolated on an island, and Walter Sande makes a great wise old doctor/scientist. Even Mamie van Doren plays her role of nurse pretty straight. The happenings have a mysterious quality about them that maintains tension. Admittedly, people wander off into danger perhaps a little too often, but hey, it's a thriller! And too much time is spent off the island with the higher commanders, who mostly seem to be acted by amateurs...Still, if you like 50s monster movies, I recommend this movie.

Finally this movie has come to DVD, but the thrill came down real fast when you
view the movie. This Cheesy company, from what i saw did a poor DVD transfer job,
which leaves you with a kinda blurry version of the film. I have seen better, and
for now i would say the VHS beats out this DVD version.
The movie itself is kinda fun...plays out like tv episode with funny music in
the backgroud for some scenes and a thriller with monster plants in other scenes.
I enjoyed the movie when it came out many moons ago.....but this DVD version takes
away some of the fun.

Only thing that looks good is the cover art. Beware.

Cheezy Flicks must hate monster plant movies. Their Day of the Triffids Disc was pathetic as well. Navy vs. Night Monsters is a fun monster flick from the mid-sixties well worth checking out, but the transfer is one of the worst and fuzziest I've ever seen and from a beat-up print to boot. Very disappointing (as was the Triffids release). I cannot believe the film was given such rotten treatment and looks like the plant monsters half devoured the movie. It's that bad!

Gave 2 stars because I really have a soft spot for the film, but as was said by others, the VHS tape has much better quality than this wretched DVD.

I hope a Man Eating Plant sprouts in the Cheezy Flicks Offices - Shame on you all.

I ordered this not sure what I was going to get DVD quality wise. The transfer is of the VHS quality - maybe on par or even slightly less than the VHS that IMAGE/Wade Williams put out many years ago. I am keeping the DVD because it is acceptable enough for my DVD collection - & VHS is a thing of the past for me now. Of course if or when some better transfer comes along Ill grab it..
As for the movie itself its about vicious man eating, acid spitting plant creatures attacking the navy on a South Sea Island naval base. Worthy of note the lovely Mamie Van Doren stars as Nora. She said she had fun making this picture. Also in this film are Anthony Eisley, Bobby Van & Billy Gray. Mamie is looking as only Mamie can be & that's just awesome. A fun subplot has our wonderful Navy men all fighting for her love.
It is not a great picture by any stretch of the imagination, but a nice modest fun B movie...sort of the brother of the Day of the Triffids ( this is a better movie (the Howard Keel one)) which also had plant monsters. Watch for a scene where a man's arm gets ripped out of its socket..pretty cool for 1966..there are a couple of shocking (tame now) scenes of the results of what happens when the plant creatures attack people & they make a cool sound when they coming to get you ! :)
I enjoy these movies when I'm in the mood for some low budget matinee at home on a quiet evening or lazy weekend.
This is a pressed DVD not DVDr (the disc isn't purple underneath) as far as I can see and if you are looking to replace your VHS with this I would give it a slight thumbs up until something better comes along..
I also give the movie a thumbs up for those seeking some low budget plant monster fun.

I sorry everyone, I really liked this movie. Sure the print was a little bad. But the movie itself is very fun.
Did anyone notice Billy Gray (Bud of Father Knows Best) in it? If you are crazy about B-Movies as I am, then
by all means buy this one. They should of named it "ATTACK OF THE GIANT TREES !".

I was so looking forward to the release of this great B-Movie flick.... but the transfer from Cheesy is just that. Washed out looking and all-around poor. Too bad, it is a classic sci-fi stunner.