The Deadly Mantis (The Giant Mantis)(The Incredible Praying Mantis)

The Deadly Mantis (The Giant Mantis)(The Incredible Praying Mantis) (1957)

  • 25% of critics liked it
    (8 reviews)

  • 33% of users liked it
    (706 ratings)

This is the one in which the "villain" is a huge, carnivorous praying mantis. After the titular insect has attacked several people in a remote Arctic region, Col. Joe Parkham (Craig Stevens) swings into action. Parkham and his associates, Dr. Ned Jackson (William Hopper) and Ned's assistant Margie… More

Play Trailer

Unrated, 1 hr. 19 min.
Directed By
Nathan Juran
Genres
Horror, Romance, Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy
In Theaters
May 1, 1957 Wide
On DVD
May 13, 2008
Universal Pictures

Critic Reviews

  • Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

    Very '50s sci-fi with giant insect on the climb, and typically fun overall.

  • Jon Niccum, Lawrence Journal-World

    Fun entry into the giant bug movies of the 1950s

  • Rob Vaux, Flipside Movie Emporium

    An affront to the grace and dignity of giant bug movies.

  • Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

    One of Universal-International cheapie '50s bug movies. Bring on the DDT.

  • Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

    The military use smoke and chemical bombs (maybe they contained Raid) to kill it, as the film mercifully ends.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • AJ V


    If you don't believe the Incredible Truth movie when they say the ice caps are melting, maybe this movie will make you think twice? Who wants a giant praying Mantis running around? This movie is silly, but it's got cool special effects and the story's not bad.

  • Randy T


    Seismic activity in the southern hemisphere triggers vibrations at the arctic icecap, releasing a gigantic <i>mantis religiosa</i> that was frozen in the ice some 15 million years earlier. Pissed off and hungry, the enormous insect migrates south, taking out arctic radar… More

  • Jason O


    Better pray, a killer praying mantis is out to get ya! During the first few minutes of "The Deadly Mantis," it appears like it's going to be an instructional video, or a history lesson. The story and ...read morethe scenario soon changes when a huge insect called a… More

  • Anthony V


    About what you'd expect from a 50's giant praying mantis movie.

Cast

See full cast

Trailers & Clips

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