The Slime People!

What is not to like about the 1963 sci-fi flick The Slime People. Some might bicker at the amateurish acting which rumbles out largely unchecked from the three youngsters in the movie. Some might point out the deficient and overwrought special effects which hamper the storytelling as our party of doughty survivors ramble around a mostly deserted town supposedly the city of Los Angeles. Some might suggest the premise of underground dwellers rising up from the "bowels of the Earth" and causing chaos is too improbable. But I say thee nay! All this and even more is what makes The Slime People so captivating in its sublime and  goofy and gooey awfulness.

The plot couldn't be simpler (or dumber) when critters from beneath the Earth's surface use machines to throw a somewhat suspect barrier over the California city and proceed to have their way with the inhabitants, who seem mostly to have escaped based on the lack of both people and bodies. Inexplicably a professor of something or other and his two delectable daughters have stayed behind and hook up with a reporter (Robert Hutton) who just flew into town to combat the menace.

They meet a young and impulsive but loyal soldier and this band of merry survivors then wander around for little purpose through most of the movie. The highlight for me is when they meet Les Tremayne, a wacky writer who despite bountiful evidence denies the threat all around him. I'm guessing they shot all of Tremayne's footage in one day as it's fitted into the larger story with some gaps. (His relationship with his goat is best not spoken of in polite society.) Our heroes make a thundering series of  stupid mistakes until pure dumb luck puts them into a position to end the menace of the Slime People. (By my count there are no more than three Slime People by the way.) Do they succeed?  You must witness it for yourself.

The Slime People is currently available in this Creepy Creature Double Feature. It's highly recommended for those who need diversion and laughs. And for the record The Crawling Hand is pretty fun too.

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