The Killer Shrews

Released Jun 25, 1959

1h 9m

Sci-Fi

Horror

List

40%

Tomatometer

10 Reviews

24%

Audience Score

1,000+ Ratings

Capt. Thorne Sherman lands his ship on an isolated island to make a delivery, only to find that mad doctor Marlowe Craigis is experimenting on shrews in an attempt to shrink them. The opposite happens, and the shrews become enormous and hungry for human flesh, leaving everyone on the island in peril, including the doctor's pretty daughter, Ann, and her unappealing fiancé, Jerry. Then, Thorne tries to organize an escape plan.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Every time a “shrew” is shown, one expects it to sit, roll over, or extend its paw.

Rated: 2/4

Oct 4, 2023

Full Review

Rob Humanick

Suite101.com

Not particularly watchable until the climax.

Rated: 2/5

Oct 26, 2011

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

If you get a few laughs from the bizarre acting and dumb story, that's the most you can expect from this bad film.

Rated: C-

Dec 15, 2007

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 3/5

Nov 2, 2005

Full Review

Linda Cook

Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)

Rated: 3/5

May 8, 2005

Full Review

Rob Thomas

Capital Times (Madison, WI)

Carpet remnants attack! Very funny "MST3K" version, unwatchable on its own.

Rated: 0/5

Jul 17, 2003

Full Review

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Audience Member

"The Killer Shrews" is quite an interesting movie to say the least. Flat, one note performances and special effects so terrible even Ed Wood would think they sucked. The title creatures look nothing short of ridiculous. Just a small group of dogs with prosthetic teeth and long fur coats. The puppets used for closeups look even more ridiculous! The performances are as flat as a board. Ken Curtis was overacting to no end. Gordon McLendon (Who only had a part in this movie because he co-produced it.) had no personality and was clearly phoning it in. The only saving grace of this movie is the late James Best. He gives as decent a performance as you can with a movie like this. He is the reason why I gave this movie more than a one star rating. If you are a fan of "The Dukes of Hazard" you may get a kick out of seeing this movie just to see James Best before he was Sherriff Roscoe (I personally recommend the episode of "The Twilight Zone" titled "The Last Rights of Jeff Myrtelbank" if you wish to see some of Best's early acting work.), I would give "The Killer Shrews" a look. Otherwise I would not recommend it. it is too cornball to work as a serious horror movie.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

deke p

Unforgettable title! I was expecting it to be about irritable women versus their henpecked partners. But no. More scientific. Shrews are also apparently rodents, mutated to huge size. Time to call the pest exterminator. 1950s horror schlock. Never heard o til saw on the Movie Channel 13.3 , Feb 4, 2022

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

James Best! Wait a minute, Ken Curtis too?!!

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

John M

As in all good horror movies some of characters that must die to make it a horror movie a viewer claps or moans at their death. In this movies none of the characters that die gets any claps. Any of their behaviors can be excused and understood, thus pity can be given by all. For the Captain and and the Swedish women one of the deaths that occur is very convenient and other's who suffer their demise not so promising. Another example for us to learn and for those who views such movies is to learn to swim! It can save your life!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/27/21

Full Review

kevin c

A boat captain played by James Best arrives on an island to pick up some passengers however their departure is delayed due to an oncoming hurricane. That's when he discovers the scientific experiments being done on the island have created some murderous shrews that they must take care to avoid. Pretty fun monster/dog movie and with its brief runtime does not wear out its welcome.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

william k

Ridiculous and poorly made sci-fi shocker hasn't much to recommend for itself; the real shock is seeing dogs appear in costumes as the "Killer Shrews".

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Ray Kellogg

Director

James Best

Thorne Sherman

Ingrid Goude

Ann Craigis

Baruch Lumet

Dr. Marlowe Craigis

Ken Curtis

Jerry Farrell

Gordon McLendon

Dr. Radford Baines

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Synopsis

Capt. Thorne Sherman lands his ship on an isolated island to make a delivery, only to find that mad doctor Marlowe Craigis is experimenting on shrews in an attempt to shrink them. The opposite happens, and the shrews become enormous and hungry for human flesh, leaving everyone on the island in peril, including the doctor's pretty daughter, Ann, and her unappealing fiancé, Jerry. Then, Thorne tries to organize an escape plan.

Director: Ray Kellogg
Screenwriter: Jay Simms
Production Co: Hollywood Pictures
Genre: Sci-Fi, Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 25, 1959, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 1, 2012
Runtime: 1h 9m

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