52 reviews
It's one of the best memories from my childhood
Yes,the movie is not a piece of art but the first time I watched it I was 10 years old,my parents were out and I stayed home with my two brothers.It was May 1970(I know that because I found a note about the cycle of horror movies that one network had).It's one of the most vivid memories I have with the guys.We ended all in one bed and covered up to the head! Our very first horror movie! We kept talking about it for years and laughing about the moment.Those were horror movies.Nowadays horror movies are always the same.Or was it better when we were kids enjoying without analyzing the plot and the cast and the dialogs? Most sure it was that.But for me this is a great movie!
- canarycaia
- Oct 20, 2005
- Permalink
Campy film deserves cult status
I love this movie. Even though I rated it a "4", that's because the acting, the plot and the budget were all slated to the "B" universe even before this movie was released. But that's OK! It is an entertaining film that has a lot to offer!
I remember what Leonard Maltin said about "Plan 9 From Outer Space": a film so bad that it's great! Lacking the UFO - alien plot, The Thing the Couldn't Die relies on the supernatural (divination, a buried head looking for it's body, hypnosis, etc) to tell it's story. The acting is stilted, the camera work second class and the settings are limited, but boy! what a movie! This film is available in the bootleg market. If you find a copy, buy it!
I remember what Leonard Maltin said about "Plan 9 From Outer Space": a film so bad that it's great! Lacking the UFO - alien plot, The Thing the Couldn't Die relies on the supernatural (divination, a buried head looking for it's body, hypnosis, etc) to tell it's story. The acting is stilted, the camera work second class and the settings are limited, but boy! what a movie! This film is available in the bootleg market. If you find a copy, buy it!
- yardbirdsraveup
- Mar 5, 2007
- Permalink
Drake's decapitation in sunny California
The Thing That Couldn't Die takes place on the California coast several centuries apart. The film concerns Satan worship and what Sir Francis Drake did about it on his round the world voyage which some have said made him the first European to see the coast of California.
Where today Andra Martin resides on Aunt Peggy Converse's ranch with plans to marry boyfriend William Reynolds. She's a girl with psychic gifts and feels something evil on the ranch.
The evil is a head and body buried in separate places some 300 years earlier by Sir Francis Drake who discovered one of his crew Robin Hughes in league with the Devil and worshiping him on the ship. Besides being a daring sailor and privateer without peer, Sir Francis Drake was a thoroughgoing Protestant and champion of the Reformation. He has Hughes executed by decapitation and as they do in these movies say if head and body are joined Hughes will rise again and lead the forces of darkness.
Well the skull is found and the head of Hughes is intact and forcing several people on the ranch to his will once they see him. Two deaths occur before Good does triumph over Evil.
This is a decent horror film although the Seventies spawned a slew devil worship films and compared to those bloody things this one is mild. But the atmosphere created is good and murky. I only wish Robin Hughes had a bit more to do. His character was a rich one and I'll bet that since this film only runs 69 minutes a lot of him was left on the cutting room floor.
Fans of the spooky horror genre will like The Thing That Couldn't Die.
Where today Andra Martin resides on Aunt Peggy Converse's ranch with plans to marry boyfriend William Reynolds. She's a girl with psychic gifts and feels something evil on the ranch.
The evil is a head and body buried in separate places some 300 years earlier by Sir Francis Drake who discovered one of his crew Robin Hughes in league with the Devil and worshiping him on the ship. Besides being a daring sailor and privateer without peer, Sir Francis Drake was a thoroughgoing Protestant and champion of the Reformation. He has Hughes executed by decapitation and as they do in these movies say if head and body are joined Hughes will rise again and lead the forces of darkness.
Well the skull is found and the head of Hughes is intact and forcing several people on the ranch to his will once they see him. Two deaths occur before Good does triumph over Evil.
This is a decent horror film although the Seventies spawned a slew devil worship films and compared to those bloody things this one is mild. But the atmosphere created is good and murky. I only wish Robin Hughes had a bit more to do. His character was a rich one and I'll bet that since this film only runs 69 minutes a lot of him was left on the cutting room floor.
Fans of the spooky horror genre will like The Thing That Couldn't Die.
- bkoganbing
- Sep 12, 2014
- Permalink
Compact and effectively eerie, and deserves better than it has gotten.
Pretty scary to me when I saw it as a kid, and then I thought it was quite interesting when seen on AMC (yes, on AMC) a couple of years ago. The premise is a good one, disembodied living head of centuries old warlock is dug up and exerts mind control over all, while looking for it's body. It has quite a nice, sudden ending that reminded me of Hitchcock (not in style, only in the fact that it ended rather unexpectedly - for an example, see Family Plot again) but with a neat anticlimax, one that predates the typical anticlimax of modern fright films. I won't spoil it by telling it, but if you can see this film and remember that it was made in 1958, then you'll enjoy it. If your idea of what's scary is Alien, or anything after that, then forget it, you'll probably be bored or laugh inappropriately. Not that Alien isn't scary, but that's a whole different generation of horror.
Drive-In Movie Fodder
- domino1003
- Jun 13, 2005
- Permalink
What's in the box?
Jessica (Carolyn Kearney) has the power of divination, the young woman using a dowsing rod to locate water and long lost objects, such as the still-living severed head of Gideon Drew (Robin Hughes), a man executed for sorcery 400 years earlier. Unearthed, the head uses its 'evil eye' to control people to try and find its missing body.
To be honest, The Thing That Couldn't Die is a fairly bad film, too uneventful and sluggish for the most part to be an effective horror. That said, the basic premise is wonderfully inventive and suitably ghoulish, and those scenes that do feature the severed head, silently mouthing his commands, are actually very creepy. Kearney is also a good reason to watch the film - she's very appealing and it's a wonder why I haven't sought out more of her work (so far, the only other thing I've seen her in has been an episode of The Twilight Zone).
The head is finally reunited with its body, but, within minutes, the film ends, Gideon Drew quickly reduced to a pile of bones by an ancient amulet. Just as it was getting good...
4.5/10, rounded up to 5 for IMDb.
To be honest, The Thing That Couldn't Die is a fairly bad film, too uneventful and sluggish for the most part to be an effective horror. That said, the basic premise is wonderfully inventive and suitably ghoulish, and those scenes that do feature the severed head, silently mouthing his commands, are actually very creepy. Kearney is also a good reason to watch the film - she's very appealing and it's a wonder why I haven't sought out more of her work (so far, the only other thing I've seen her in has been an episode of The Twilight Zone).
The head is finally reunited with its body, but, within minutes, the film ends, Gideon Drew quickly reduced to a pile of bones by an ancient amulet. Just as it was getting good...
4.5/10, rounded up to 5 for IMDb.
- BA_Harrison
- Jun 10, 2023
- Permalink
Evil movie, evil cast...I hope a tree falls on them!
Yes this movie features a gal named Jessica who says everything is evil and she causes trees to land on people too (well she only causes a tree to fall once, but she does say everything is evil). This movie is about a farm that apparently rents out rooms to people, but offers little else in the way of entertainment. Jessica can find things with a stick and she finds the head of an evil guy. Of course they don't know this until the owner of the farm's helpers open the box containing the head. The head proceeds to hypnotize everyone it can so it can get to Jessica and use her powers to find stuff to help look for his body. This movie has an interesting enough story, but it plays out very bad here. Everyone in this flick will get on your nerves at least once.
Divining for Heads
- bensonmum2
- May 3, 2007
- Permalink
Has moments but a long way from good
Not quite as awful as the 2.8 rating suggests but it's still not a good movie let alone a great one. There are moments certainly, there's a spooky music score, Andra Martin is an appealing enough female lead, Robin Hughes is appropriately menacing and the head effects are okay. Unfortunately that is pretty much it for the halfway decent moments. The rest of the effects are substandard at best, and the other production values don't fare that much better with spare settings and barely competent photography. The less said about the dialogue the better, a lot of it was very stilted and often difficult to understand in terms of clarity. There is a campiness to the goings on and to the rather thin and dully paced story. And sadly what was meant as a horror-thriller is lacking in any thrills or scares, it's all predictable, dull and unintentionally funny. Martin and Hughes are the only decent actors here too, the rest are terrible, the worst offenders being Carolyn Kearney who embarrassingly overacts and Peggy Converse who is just as obnoxious with a voice that really grates on the ears. Overall, pretty bad but not completely terrible, there's worse out there. 4/10 Bethany Cox
- TheLittleSongbird
- Sep 24, 2013
- Permalink
I loved this one as a kid, and still do...
This 1950's B-flick falls under the "it's so bad that it's good" movie category.
I watched this picture numerous times as a kid on t.v. and hadn't seen it in years when I lucked out and caught it on American Movie Classics a few years back.
Time had not changed the cheesiness of the plot, or the terrible acting by most of the lead actors, but who cares? This movie was made in the 1950's, when cheesy horror and sci-fi movies were all the rage.
The plot revolves around a psychic young woman, Jessica, (portrayed by Carolyn Kearney, who wildly over acts in every scene she's in) who discovers an ancient chest buried on her Aunt's ranch. The chest contains the severed head of Gideon Drew (Robin Hughes), who was put to death several centuries earlier for satanism. Drew wants his head to be reunited with his body, and hey, who can blame him? There are several hilarious scenes of Drew's head being carried all over the ranch by the ranch's imbecile ranch hand Mike, as well as the head being hid in a hat box, etc. Can you stand it? They just don't make movies like this anymore.
I love everything about this movie, from start to finish! It's not scary, just fun.
I watched this picture numerous times as a kid on t.v. and hadn't seen it in years when I lucked out and caught it on American Movie Classics a few years back.
Time had not changed the cheesiness of the plot, or the terrible acting by most of the lead actors, but who cares? This movie was made in the 1950's, when cheesy horror and sci-fi movies were all the rage.
The plot revolves around a psychic young woman, Jessica, (portrayed by Carolyn Kearney, who wildly over acts in every scene she's in) who discovers an ancient chest buried on her Aunt's ranch. The chest contains the severed head of Gideon Drew (Robin Hughes), who was put to death several centuries earlier for satanism. Drew wants his head to be reunited with his body, and hey, who can blame him? There are several hilarious scenes of Drew's head being carried all over the ranch by the ranch's imbecile ranch hand Mike, as well as the head being hid in a hat box, etc. Can you stand it? They just don't make movies like this anymore.
I love everything about this movie, from start to finish! It's not scary, just fun.
Old fashion fright flick.
- michaelRokeefe
- Sep 3, 2015
- Permalink
Establishes an aura of discomfort
I saw this movie when I was 13 years old. From the perspective of a young teen-ager the movie made a lasting impression (along with "The Tingler" as two of the best horror movies I've seen (I'm now 56). The performance of Robin Hughes as the beheaded devil worshipper is compelling and downright scary - particularly when he stares at his quarry to capture them in his spell. The back & white film also establishes the feeling of cruelty of late 1500's justice..brought to the 20th century in the form of this brooding, evil headless character hell-bent to "get even" with humanity. I really want to see this movie again now that I'm an old guy. It has a "feel" that is uncomfortable, scary, musty, steeped in puritanical blindness, and antiquity.
Atmospheric B thriller
On a California farm, folks uncover the served head of an evil colonial man which begins to possess people.
A rather inventive story makes this old B film a stand out from the other monster flicks of its day. Director Will Cowan gives this film some compact direction, making a nicely dark atmosphere for the movie, even creating some occasional eeriness and a few good shocks along the way. The music score for this film is the same spooky score used for the sci-fi classic This Island Earth (1955). The cast is pretty good, Hughes is especially good as the films non-deceased villain. Not a bad watch for those looking for a B flick that's a little different from the average rubber-monster movie.
** 1/2 out of ****
A rather inventive story makes this old B film a stand out from the other monster flicks of its day. Director Will Cowan gives this film some compact direction, making a nicely dark atmosphere for the movie, even creating some occasional eeriness and a few good shocks along the way. The music score for this film is the same spooky score used for the sci-fi classic This Island Earth (1955). The cast is pretty good, Hughes is especially good as the films non-deceased villain. Not a bad watch for those looking for a B flick that's a little different from the average rubber-monster movie.
** 1/2 out of ****
- Nightman85
- Jan 15, 2006
- Permalink
No really at the head of the competition.
- mark.waltz
- Oct 1, 2019
- Permalink
Certain to be a Classic
What do you get when you mix one part "Evil Dead" and one part "Bonanza"? You get "The Thing that Couldn't Die"! A horror (?) film set on a ranch that apparently doesn't grow or raise anything. I must say that the film works on a cheesy level and is quite entertaining.
My favourite part is when a large branch falls onto a victim and the gang is trying to figure out what caused it. The goofy heroine concludes that it must be an "evil wind". HAHAHAHAHA! Its lines like this that make Dr. Evil's (Austin Powers) comments about evil petting zoos hilarious.
This is one of those movies that will keep you laughing at all the classic horror cliches and poor special effects.
My favourite part is when a large branch falls onto a victim and the gang is trying to figure out what caused it. The goofy heroine concludes that it must be an "evil wind". HAHAHAHAHA! Its lines like this that make Dr. Evil's (Austin Powers) comments about evil petting zoos hilarious.
This is one of those movies that will keep you laughing at all the classic horror cliches and poor special effects.
- Digital Apathy
- Jun 13, 1999
- Permalink
The Movie That Refuses To Die
I have seen this movie before and liked it, but it took a guy and his robot buddies to convince me how bad this movie is. A lovely female psychic is being used by her aunt to divine water on her ranch, but she instead opens a box of trouble. The obvious close-ups of the head in the box aren't very convincing, the prop head looks too fake to be real and the plot drags along like molasses. Carolyn Kearney and Andra Martin are both very lovely and beholding to look at, especially Andra when she gets that wild look in her eye. The big dumb guy and his dishonest buddy are bad clones out of "Of Mice And Men." The plot has promise but no style. The flashback in the middle of the movie should have been shown before the opening credits and many of the characters are unnecessary, especially the dottering old bat. The end is nothing but a quick fix with no set-up; it makes no sense except to end the picture, but the closing shot almost makes up for all of it.
- aesgaard41
- Mar 22, 2001
- Permalink
No classic, but surprisingly effective chiller nonetheless
Anticlimactic as all get out
I suppose you could say this film has a grain of potential, but nothing more, because boy did the filmmakers botch it. The plot is practically incomprehensible, the pacing is lethargic and the acting is pathetic. And what the hell is a trade rat? Worst of all, though, this movie's climax is the anticlimax of all anticlimaxes; plus the title doesn't seem even remotely accurate. The only redeeming feature of this film is the pretty dark-haired woman... well, the blond girl was pretty too, but she was annoying and not as good looking as the brunette. Anyhoo, as with a lot of movies, this is one to be seen only on MST3K.
Dull
Jessica is a young, virginal and very innocent girl who lives with her aunt on a remote ranch. Jessica is also a powerful psychic, capable of dowsing, retro-cognition, precognition and esp. When young and handsome Gordon Hawthorne comes to visit, he is instantly skeptical of Jessica's powers...until her skills uncover a lost wristwatch and unearth an ancient treasure chest. However, the treasure chest holds the severed head of a centuries dead satanist named Gideon Drew, whose powers are far stronger than Jessica's. Despite her warnings of the evil in their midst, Drew manages to mentally enslave everyone unfortunate to make eye contact with him. But Drew wants Jessica most of all. He needs her dowsing skills to unearth his body, so that he can rise from the dead and rule over the human race. Will Jessica's powerful fleur de lis, combined with Gordon's love, ward the ancient evil off before it can destroy them all?
This isn't a very interesting movie. It certainly could have been - the basic story is interesting and imaginative, but the acting is leaden and the whole thing moves much too slowly to hold interest. Jessica is also too innocent - almost annoyingly so, and Gordon, her love interest, is wooden, stiff and totally emotionless. None of the characters are very likable, and the low budget is painfully obvious. A rushed ending also doesn't help matters. Avoid, unless it's the MST3K version.
This isn't a very interesting movie. It certainly could have been - the basic story is interesting and imaginative, but the acting is leaden and the whole thing moves much too slowly to hold interest. Jessica is also too innocent - almost annoyingly so, and Gordon, her love interest, is wooden, stiff and totally emotionless. None of the characters are very likable, and the low budget is painfully obvious. A rushed ending also doesn't help matters. Avoid, unless it's the MST3K version.
Potentially interesting story, should have been told as a novella
- lemon_magic
- May 5, 2006
- Permalink
Head and Body Reunion
Best quote...
"He's physically strong, but weak under the rafters". Ha ha!
- drlmsanders
- Mar 6, 2021
- Permalink
This is the stuff nightmares are made of
As a preteen (late 60's/early 70's), I remember the occasional TV broadcast of this movie on Saturday afternoons.
Just a real cool 'b' movie. Needn't say more. I'm hoping to find a DVD of this one. Better than the original 'Night Of The Living Dead'.
It's a real shame they don't make films like this on anymore. It gives plenty of room for the imagination to run amok.
The acting is really well done and believable. The setting couldn't be more perfect.
I can't say a lot without giving away the premise or the goodies in this film, but if you like classic 'b' horror, then this one is for you.
Just a real cool 'b' movie. Needn't say more. I'm hoping to find a DVD of this one. Better than the original 'Night Of The Living Dead'.
It's a real shame they don't make films like this on anymore. It gives plenty of room for the imagination to run amok.
The acting is really well done and believable. The setting couldn't be more perfect.
I can't say a lot without giving away the premise or the goodies in this film, but if you like classic 'b' horror, then this one is for you.
- mooncars2002
- Feb 19, 2006
- Permalink
Vincent Price's bodiless body-double
"The Thing that Couldn't Die" actually turned out to be a very pleasant surprise! I was expecting a totally cheap, insignificant and rather silly Z-grade horror flick, but what I got was
Well, I got a totally cheap, insignificant and rather silly Z-grade horror flick, but one that was vastly more entertaining than I thought! The film has a compelling plot, albeit familiar and simplistic, and the atmosphere and special effects are far more unsettling and spooky that I expected for a camp 50's flick like this. Jessica is a shy but beautiful young girl with psychic powers who lives on the Californian guest ranch of her aunt. With her dowsing rod she discovers an antique chest buried deep underneath a tree. Jessica feels that the content of the chest is evil, but her aunt and all the guests at the ranch insist on opening it anyway. The chest contains the bodiless head of a medieval Satanist, and it promptly possesses some of the guest with his penetrating eyes and hypnotizing powers. The head naturally wants to recover its body, which is buried elsewhere on the premises, in order to continue his evil Satan-worshiping activities. Particularly the scenes with the head are effectively creepy and atmosphere. Whether carried by a minion or stored in a hat-box, the head is scary! The actor depicting the head also looks a lot like Vincent Price. The makers of this cheap flick perhaps couldn't afford to hire Vincent Price, but at least they understood that the role required loads of evil charisma and thus opted for the Argentinian born lookalike Robin Hughes. Furthermore the film contains a couple of admirable footnotes, like for example a link with the famous naval commander Sir Francis Drake, and a reasonably good pacing. And, oh yeah, the ending is downright hilarious! This film has the biggest "What
that's it?!?" climax in the history of cinema. Turns out "the thing that couldn't die" dies pretty easily after all.
Good Vs. Evil On A Ranch
- AaronCapenBanner
- Aug 29, 2020
- Permalink