This one isn’t as bad as most people say it is.
Which, admittedly, isn’t saying much.
The biggest problem with The Slime People is that it came a decade too late. Most of its flaws wouldn’t have been as noticeable had it come out in rush of cheap SF in the Fifties.
This is, in fact, your standard 1950s creature feature, with our hero (played by writer/director Robert Hutton) landing his plane in a seemingly deserted Los Angeles, only to learn that strange, slime covered reptilian men have taken over the city.
Let’s face it: it’s way too talky, it spends too much time in anonymous rooms (talking), it tends towards very static set ups (of people talking), and most of the exterior shots are so full of fog that one can’t see most of what’s going on.
Which usually seems to involve people talking.
The Slime People themselves actually look quite good (and they should, considering that they cost almost half the film’s meager budget), with a memorable mask and distinctive, hunched over walking position. Unless, of course, you see them full-body, when it suddenly becomes rather obvious that their scaly hide is like a very heavy coat with the actor’s skinny legs sticking out underneath. And, of course, it is your traditional invading army of three.
The plot sort of meanders around, with a handful of survivors working to defend themselves against the monsters from the depths of the earth. Hey, at least it’s more creative than the usual aliens.
Oh, well, it’s not that bad. Even if Mystery Science Theater 3000 did spoof it.
You just have to ignore all the flaws.
And maybe watch it at midnight with friends. And plenty of popcorn.
You’ll need it.
rivets on the poster 
2 thoughts on “The Slime People (1963)”