I always enjoy the AIP films that are in theory adaptations of Edgar Allan
Poe as this one purports to be. The supposed source from Poe is in fact a
poem of no great length that has absolutely nothing to do with the plot of
the film and that is OK. I think AIP always figured it gave their films a
certain respectability and hell Poe was long dead and long past copy right
infringement. AIP with Roger Corman directing made some 8 Poe films, generally
all fun - solid production values with small budgets, bosoms bursting at
the seams, trippy set designs and often with Vincent Price playing the heavy.
As he does here but instead of Corman, the director is the great Jacques
Tourneur. Perhaps great is going a bit far but I am a fan of a bunch of his
films - especially the horror ones he did with Val Lewton - Cat People, I
Walked with a Zombie and The Leopard Man. He is also behind one of the best
noirs - Out of the Past. By the mid-60's when this film was made he was mainly
doing TV.
The set designs are very Babylonian ancient which makes no sense as the characters
who live under the water are clearly of somewhat modern Western descent -
some shipmen who got trapped below and can no longer go up. Into this wades
Tab Hunter looking for his girl that the mutant webmen have stolen. A volcano
is also about to blow. Best part are the diving suits which are quite cool.
It is very silly I expect but it is Tourneur so worth one's time.
