after deliver supply to a desolate but inhabited island and captain thorne sherman ( james best ) wisely decide that with a threatening hurricane about to make landfall and it would make sense to stick around at least for one night until thing blow over . however dr. marlowe craigis ( baruch lumet ) and his daughter ann ( ingrid goude ) seem intent on the captain sailing and an ominous feeling in the air punctuate by an effective musical score . it would not be long before we learn that the island be home to a science experiment go wrong and giant mutant shrew with grisly fang and cover with dreadlock run amok on the island . they run free because the alcoholic assistant to the doctor leave a door open by which a few of the creature make their escape and and with their prolific reproductive prowess and have turn into a couple hundred ravenous killer shrew . this film be not so much bad a silly and almost a if the story be make up on the fly by give each actor a piece of the puzzle and then tell them to wing it to see what happen . this be never more apparent than in the survivor getaway use overturn metal oil drum strap together to shuffle their way down to the captain boat . it strike me a quite convenient that the scientific arsenal on the island include welding equipment just when it be need . the film overdose on a lot of goofy close up shot of hideous fang and eyeball peer through hole in the wall . speaking of which and the joint the good doctor and his staff inhabit be a venerable piece of architecture . at one point it be mention that the wall be make of adobe and so bite their way through at will be not really a problem for the shrew . the animal themselves more closely resembled african jackal to my mind and canine in appearance with the aforementioned fang and hair go wrong problem . to add a touch more menace and their mutation include a high degree of poison in their saliva and so the mere break of skin meant you be a goner nice touch . some otherwise fairly respectable character actor get mixed up in this turkey of a movie while james best appear at least once in virtually every tv western of the 1950 and 60 . i always think he have just the right look for beach movie a the hustling wise guy . handle double duty a producer and ken curtis portray drunken jerry farrell and responsible for the escaped shrew in the first place . you just know he be go to get his before it be all over . funny and but he look much more appealing a the bearded drawling deputy festus hagen on gunsmoke . hey and it get excitement and it get drama and it get fun and it get killer shrew . you owe yourself a screening if for nothing more than to see how far we have come with movie make technology . in fact and treat yourself to a double feature a intend by the texas film company that produce this saga and you can do bad than a double header of the killer shrew and the giant gila monster .