Creepy Creatures Unleashed: my Top 10 Creature Features of the 1950s

There’s never a time I can remember that I didn’t love horror films. Some of my earliest memories are watching horror TV and movies while peeking from behind the couch or pillow, always watching through my hands in case I got too scared. I must confess, my guilty pleasure is really bad creature features, which probably stems from my love of old 50s horror films.

The 1950s was an exciting era for horror, marked by a blend of sci-fi-infused terror, psychological intrigue, and the emergence of iconic classic monsters like the Creature from the Black Lagoon.

After World War II, which gave rise to the Atomic Age, societal fears, distrust, and paranoia manifested on the silver screen, immersing audiences in a world where prehistoric beasts, atomic mutations, and extraterrestrials lurked around every corner. From the ocean’s dark depths to the far reaches of outer space, these films brought larger-than-life creatures to the forefront, offering a fun and thrilling mix of horror, science fiction, and suspense, which ultimately fueled my passion for creature features. Here are my top 10 favorite creature features from the ’50s.

1. Creature from the Black Lagoon

Directed by Jack Arnold, this classic Universal monster film follows a scientific expedition that encounters a terrifying amphibious creature lurking in the Amazon River.

2. Tarantula

Directed by Jack Arnold, this film focuses on the growth of a giant spider as a result of a scientific experiment gone wrong, terrorizing a small town.

3. The Monster that Challenged the World

Directed by Arnold Laven, this film presents giant mollusks unleashed by an earthquake in the Salton Sea, threatening the nearby community.

4. The Deadly Mantis

Directed by Nathan Juran, this film follows the rampage of a giant praying mantis that is revived from the Arctic ice and poses a threat to civilization.

5. THEM!

Directed by Gordon Douglas, this film depicts the horrifying consequences of atomic radiation as giant irradiated ants wreak havoc on the population.

6. The Creature Walks Among Us

Directed by John Sherwood, this sequel to “The Creature from the Black Lagoon” follows the capture and subsequent scientific experimentation on the creature.

7. The Giant Gila Monster

Directed by Ray Kellogg, this low-budget film features a giant gila monster wreaking havoc on a small Texas town.

8. The Black Scorpion

Directed by Edward Ludwig, this creature feature showcases giant scorpions emerging from a volcano, terrorizing Mexico City.

9. It Came From Outer Space

Directed by Jack Arnold, this science fiction horror film tells the story of an alien spacecraft that crashes in the desert, leading to a series of mysterious occurrences.