‘The ultimate in horror!’
Assignment Terror is a 1969 horror film about an alien scientist sent to earth to exterminate the human population by unleashing Frankenstein’s monster, vampires, werewolves,and mummies in order to control the earth. Also released as Dracula vs. Frankenstein. Released in 1970, the original Spanish title is Los Monstruos del Terror.
The movie was directed by Tulio Demicheli, Hugo Fregonese and Eberhard Meichsner (the latter two were uncredited in the film’s original print).
This was the third in a series of movies featuring the werewolf Waldemar Daninsky, played by Paul Naschy, who also provided the screenplay. It was apparently originally slated to be titled The Man Who Came From Ummo, referring to the alien character played by Michael Rennie (The Day the Earth Stood Still).
Plot:
Aliens, running a travelling circus as a cover, revive a vampire, a werewolf, a mummy and Frankenstein’s monster with a plan to use them to take over the world. They want to discover the reason that these monsters are so frightening to Earthlings. They then plan to create an army of such monsters using their findings.
The werewolf they revive (Waldemar Daninsky) saves the world by destroying the other monsters in hand-to-hand combat and ultimately blowing up the aliens’ underground base, although he is shot to death in the process by a woman (Karin Dor) who loves him enough to end his torment.
Our review:
Assignment Terror is weak on every level. A bored-looking Michael Rennie goes through the motions as a supreme being alien but this excuse to revive all the classic movie monsters is a sadly wasted opportunity.
There is a sexist sub-text about men holding power over women yet the film is so ineffectual it hardly matters. ‘Plodding’ is the best one-word description for this incompetently presented production and not even Paul Naschy’s presence can save it.
Ade Smith, MOVIES & MANIA
Buy Human Beasts: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk
‘Despite its charming idea, alien invaders led by Rennie set about terrorizing mankind by reviving the monsters of the popular imagination, Dracula, the Werewolf, the Mummy, the Reptile and Frankenstein’s Monster, this is a mediocre film. Even the witty idea of having the aliens in monster form succumb to the emotions of their bodies’ previous owners falls flat.’ The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Science Fiction book
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Buy Paul Naschy: Memoirs of a Wolfman from Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk
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