Customer Reviews
Are two Cormans better than one? Perhaps 
2006-01-01
No discussion of the silliest-looking monsters in film history would be complete without mention of Beast from Haunted Cave (which was reportedly nicknamed Humphrass). It's some kind of diaphanous, tentacled, spider-like thing that likes to wrap his victims up for later blood-sucking. Its costume looks to consist predominantly of saran wrap. There's nothing the least bit scary about it - and the same goes for the movie, which plods along for some 72 minutes.
You've got these three crooks with an elaborate robbery plan near a ski resort. After making plans for a squeaky clean ski instructor to take them on a cross-country trip to his remote cabin, they set up an explosion in the local mine and then rob the bank while nobody's looking. Their haul? Six measly gold bars. Six. That's it. Just six. There's oodles of gold right there for the taking, but they figure they can only haul two bars apiece on their backs. Things go according to plan - except the one guy took a girl with him to the mine and managed to get her killed by some strange monster. Speaking of girls, the gruff leader's having woman problems of his own; his annoying girl is tired of the robbery business and wants to make nice with the ski instructor. Needless to say, I was pulling for the monster to show up and clean house at some point, as he's actually the least annoying character to be found here.
You might suspect this was the work of Roger Corman - and you'd be right - sort of. Beast from Haunted Cave was produced by Roger Corman and Gene Corman - yes, I know it's frightening, but Roger wasn't the only filmmaker in the Corman family. Monte Hellman directed, and Alexander Laszlo supplied the music. I think it's an average low-budget monster flick at best, but it's certainly better than many a Corman B-movie.
Beast from Haunted Cave 
2005-10-17
A real oldie but a goodie, Monsters, screams you name it this has it.
Too little, too late 2005-07-31
While fairly well acted for this type of flick, the pacing is awful for viewers who need regular doses of monster scenes throughout. In this case it's too little monster during the first three quarters and way too much monster at the end. The characters move around from place to place
talking endlessly about their lives while we barely even get a glimpse of the Beast. But during the last ten minutes we witness several attack scenes in a row - which left me wondering why we couldn't get more of these scenes peppered throughout instead of just saved until the end. Cool looking monster, but overall tedious viewing.
Not much of a flick 
2004-11-25
This film was a real dissapointment for me. I bought it in a dual pack with another low budget horror 60's film and was just left with nothing. I wasn't really sure exactly what kind of movie this was...an independent film made by some students? Is it a crime/thriller film? Is it a horror movie? Horrible acting, pathetic script, uninventive special effects, and a monster that's in the movie for only about 10 minutes. I appreciate low budget horror films (chainsaw massacre, night of the living dead, the season of the witch), but this one just doesn't cut it for me.
"Cheap" Doesn't Always Mean "Bad"... 
2004-05-25
This movie scared me good as a kid. I never knew the name of it until a few years ago, but I ALWAYS remembered that creepy monster in the cave! What's it about? Well, some crooks decide to rob a bank near a ski resort. They pull it off flawlessly, planting explosives in a nearby mine in order to draw authorities there instead of the crime-site. All is well, until a bizarre creature from that same mine begins tracking, stalking, and killing the crooks. This thing is UGLY! It's like a giant spidery, tentacled, faceless horror. It webs it's victims, using them as snacks for later. The terror in the eyes of the webbed-ones seems like a direct influence for those poor souls ensnared years later in all those mega-budget ALIEN flicks. Unlike most of the rubber-monster movies of the 50s / 60s, BFHC is actually well written, acted, and directed. Another example of doing a lot with next to no money. Check it out...
black and white classic 2008-02-26
The movie has a pretty good story line, but the monster effects are really sucky, but what do you expect? I mean it was filmed in the 50's! And get this, the actors can all actually ACT! Yep you heard me, the characters are all believable, the direction is excellent, it's filmed in the wintry setting of Dakota's ski resorts and this movie is a great example of low-budget horror @ its best!
A Good Mystery Science Theatre Candidate 2008-02-16
The way you can get some decent enjoyment from this movie is a la The Mystery Science Theater 3000. Invite some friends over and have fun interjecting dialogue while you watch the movie. Even then, you better make sure you've got something else on hand in case the guests get restless.
It's a shame that good directors were getting blacklisted as suspected communists, while bad directors were allowed to continue making bad movies. Director Monte Hellman was destined to go on to direct the likes of "Silent Night, Deadly Night III: Better Watch Out!" This film was produced by Gene Corman, Roger Corman's far less accomplished younger brother.
The movie does go somewhat against stereotype. Here, even the guys fall down and get outrun by the lumbering monster. I believe the monster is a spid-o-pus (somewhere between a spider and an octopus). Interestingly, Natalie the barmaid (Linné Ahlstrand), one of the early victims, was Playmate of the Month for July 1958, a year before this movie came out.
Like an Ed Wood's Plan 9 from Outer Space, you probably won't be scared, but you still might get in a few good laughs.
An Engaging Heist Film... But That Monster? 2008-02-08
This is one of those little low-budget gems that works remarkably well almost in spite of itself. There are, predictably, holes in the plot big enough to sail a battleship through. Nevertheless the story manages to hold your attention. While the acting ranges from barely acceptable to surprisingly good, the characters are generally interesting and even, in a few cases, engaging. In fact, Sheila Noonan virtually walks away with the entire picture. By the time the utterly hokey "monster" makes its appearance you may have forgotten that this is supposed to be a horror film. Come to think of it, even after the "monster" makes its appearance it may still not strike you as much of a horror film. But it is a fun bit of entertainment and definitely worth a look.
Mystery Science Theatre Candidate 2008-01-29
The way you can get some decent enjoyment from this movie is a la The Mystery Science Theater 3000. Invite some friends over and have fun interjecting dialogue while you watch the movie. Even then, you better make sure you've got something else on hand to pop in the DVD player in case the guests get restless.
It's a shame that good directors were getting blacklisted as suspected communists, while bad directors were allowed to continue making bad movies. Director Monte Hellman was destined to go on to direct the likes of "Silent Night, Deadly Night III: Better Watch Out!" This film was produced by Gene Corman, Roger Corman's far less accomplished younger brother.
The movie does go somewhat against stereotype. Here, even the guys fall down and get outrun by the lumbering monster. I believe the monster is a spid-o-pus (somewhere between a spider and an octopus). Interestingly, Natalie the barmaid (Linné Ahlstrand), one of the early victims, was Playmate of the Month for July 1958, a year before this movie came out.
Like an Ed Wood's Plan 9 from Outer Space, you probably won't be scared, but you still might get in a few good laughs.
A web-slinging spaghetti man with tentacles??!! 2006-11-30
This 'beast' from the haunted cave must be seen to be believed. What a hoaky monster. But it works perfectly with the plot and actors.
A gang goes up to the Dakotas for a robbery. The plan is to blow up a mine, then when attention is diverted, steal some gold bricks from the suppository. Only thing is, they plan to escape on skis with only a tourist instructor to guide them.
Well everything would have been fine, but the demolition man took a bar girl to the cave with him. She gets attacked and now the monster has singled out the gang to go after.
The Beast has long tentacles that he likes to grab people with and then he puts them in webs so he can devour them later. The monster himself is a shaggy looking ghost type man that screams like a chicken with its liver being ripped out.
Overall a pretty good flick to make out to on a rainy Saturday afternoon.
