The Reptile (1966)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Stella D

  
  more strange goings on in the cornish countryside. the reptile builds good suspense with plenty of spooky atmosphere but the creature itself is a bit of a letdown. cheers to hammer for featuring a female monster tho :)

• Kylie B

  
  As with most Hammer horror, it's dated but still an enjoyable watch. If you can forgive the bad make up effects, they were on a budget after all.

• Henrik S

  
  This is one of Hammer's better films, albeit quiet unknown in the world of horror. I can see why though. Not because it is a bad film, but it does not come with any Hammer star power or scream-queens, the film is a tad similar to A Plague of Zombies and the creature in this film… More
  This is one of Hammer's better films, albeit quiet unknown in the world of horror. I can see why though. Not because it is a bad film, but it does not come with any Hammer star power or scream-queens, the film is a tad similar to A Plague of Zombies and the creature in this film may be typical Hammer material but arguably the most obscure and therefore quite laughable in parts. However, the rest of the film stands in the tradition of fines British old school Horror film making, a remote village in the countryside (Although Cornwall has never been that puny as it is portrayed in the film), distrusting villagers, an old manor, a murky moor, lots of lush, grave-digging and lovely costumes. The story is simple but supported by the basic human interest of a man questioning the circumstances of his brother's death, works fine. The film is less spectacular and action oriented than some other Hammer films and crawls along with a slow but entertaining pace, throwing titbits of information to the protagonist and his wife. Towards the climax, the scope and the weirdness factor goes a bit out of hand and it is all rather formulaic, that is, if you know other Hammer Horror films and it lost me there but the spooky and creepy atmosphere is enough to make this one entertaining. Another thing that annoyed me quite a bit is the character of Dr. Franklyn's manservant, a mysterious man from India - which probably was enough in the sixties to make a proper English Gentleman scared but I think it feels goody and outdated to include a foreigner to explain the nightmarish ongoings. Maybe it fits into the historic context of the film, but I did not like that. The cast is solid, no big leaps of talent here, Noel Willma gives a steady performance until the film calls for him to step it up and he is clearly more of a subtle actor, if anything. A hidden gem for fans of the genre, British horror and of course Hammer Horror films. All others might be irritated by the slow pace and lack of hands-on gore. HX