Directed by genre friendly Jack Arnold this is more well-known than a lot of 50's sci-fi/horror fare (even getting imortallized in a line from "Science Fiction Double Feature" in Rocky Horror Picture Show) as it tells the tale of scientist Leo G. Carroll's experiments with growth getting out of hand as it not only makes a tarantula grow to giant size it also causes him to slowly melt-away. It's up to John Agar to save the day.

With oversized animals and deformities abound; this has a slower-build up and doesn't trot out the spider until the last third but it's handled okay and acted fine at least.

Mediocre, for sure, with lots of scientific talk and lackadazial dialogue and certainly not enough tarantula destruction to please. Carroll's modelling clay degeneration in amusing at least and we can chuckle at a dated line about women getting the right to vote; but when it's all said and done we have another passable 50's flick with a finale that's weak just because of how low-scale it is.

Directed By: Jack Arnold.
Written By: Martin Berkeley, Robert M. Fresco.

Starring: John Agar, Mara Corday, Leo G. Carroll, Nestor Paiva.