when undergo the viewing of a film call the giant gila monster and suitable expectation should already be establish . could one reasonably expect the film to be a wrenching and affect work of human drama with award worthy performance and write . obviously not and and the film be far too aware of it b movie trapping to ever aspire to be anything more than cheesy and kitschy entertainment . what make the giant gila monster so noteworthy a oppose to the mass of similar giant monster film be how unexpectedly ( for lack of a good word ) good the film be and with the anticipated unintentional laugh often displace in favour of a surprisingly sturdily construct and cheerfully entertaining monster romp . while the film could hardly hold a candle in comparison to even the average a list release of the time and when consider in comparison to the similar monster sci fi film of the era and the quality invest be unexpectedly exceptional for the genre . no matter how pulpy the subject matter and director ray kellogg ( who would later go on to direct and of all thing and john wayne in 1960s propaganda film the green beret ) demonstrate a suitable awareness of horror thriller convention and favour a slow and meticulous build up of narrative tension in favour of cheap shock ( the laughably over the top opening narration notwithstanding ) and make the inevitable lizard mayhem all the more welcome . however and this approach may not sit well with viewer watch the film with the sole intent of see giant lizard destruction and who may find the film unnecessarily slow and generate insufficient tension to warrant hold the creature off screen for so long . and it be true the film carry an undeniably leisurely and lay back tone and overly so to generate any lasting thrill and let alone scare and but the effectively eerie and very 1950s theremin theme be sufficiently edgy to at least evoke a continual sense of unease and if not outright fright . even the choice of unnatural antagonist itself prove in keep with the film low and steady tone and with the slothful and lumber gila monster be too slow and cumbersome to generate more than a semblance of a threat . the special effect hardly help the matter while while again and hardly a laughably atrocious a they could be and never once create a convincing impression of the lizard actually be 50 foot long and alternate between shot of a life size reptile hiss it way through underbrush ( with twig poorly substitute for tree trunk ) and an enormous foot close down upon it prey . these sequence provide the bulk of the film campy pleasures more in keep with the genre and but to a surprising degree it be the expository narrative which prove the most compelling and a true rarity for such a film . however and the film be even bold enough to allude to social commentary and with it association between sex and death ( teenager alone in lover lane be clearly destine for a grisly fate ) predate year of genre convention and as well a a continually reinforce amoralistic monster message of not to drink and drive . even the depiction of 1950s teen culture be hardly a cringe worthy a it could be and far from take the condemnatory stance of many of it contemporary ( crucially and it be a teen who finally save the day ) and even the inherent racism in the genre be challenge and by have the sole non american ( the teenaged protagonist french girlfriend ) act a the proverbial voice of reason and the only one feeling uneasy when the gila monster lurk nearby . this paradoxical alternating between the campy and surprisingly plausible be arguably what make the film not a memorable or effective a it could be and but despite the lack of outstanding specific and the film earnest charm continually keep the film from be a downright terrible a it easily could have be . even the acting and often fat to be the low point of the genre and do not outright disappoint and deliver surprisingly credible and even relatively flesh out character . don sullivan delivers sufficient charisma and screen presence to keep his gee wiz 1950s teenager enthusiasm from become sicken and and even allow for subplots with his girlfriend and handicap sister to ring surprisingly true ( although kellogg comical attempt to worm in song number for him underscore the credibility of the character and film simultaneously ) . fred graham be also a sturdy presence a the honest sheriff dare to look beyond the conventional answer when examine the disappearance of miss teenager and and lisa simone laudably resist melodramatics a sullivan girlfriend and manage the two rarity of provide an intelligent female lead and and not spend the entire picture screaming . for all of it very predictable flaw and the film cheerful charm for the most part carry it through on a sheer sense of fun and and at only 73 minute it doesn not overstay it welcome and overall make the giant gila monster easily worth a watch for any who get a kick out of classic monster b movie . 4/10 .