Night of the Big Heat (1967)

Terence Fisher's dislike toward science fiction (he was much better – and happier – when directing horror films) shows slightly in this talky, slow-going alien invasion bloodcurdler. Where Fisher usually takes pains to get the atmosphere just right – with attention to the local flavour and cranking-up of suspense – Night Of The Big Heat finds him operating on autopilot, marshalling the actors through their paces and moving the story from one incident to the next with mechanical efficiency rather any real sense of spark. Having said that, the film is not all bad, not at all – it's quite good fun in its quaint way, and, if pushed to choose between this and the similar Island Of Terror (which had the same actor/director combo, plus a vaguely similar plot), many people would choose this as the better of the two films. Plus, of course, it's got the added bonus of Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing working together for the umpteenth time (Cushing admittedly is just a guest star on this occasion) – it's always nice to catch the two veterans of the macabre combining their talents.On the remote Scottish island of Fara, an inexplicable winter heat-wave is causing temperatures to rise into the 90s, 100s and beyond. At the island inn, landlady Frankie (Sarah Lawson) and her author husband Jeff (Patrick Allen) are doing a roaring trade, but both are quietly concerned about the bizarre weather conditions. In one of the rooms at the inn, secretive and brusque scientist Roderick Hanson (Christopher Lee) is busily carrying out strange experiments. Feeling quite put out by his mysterious, surreptitious and often downright rude behaviour, the islanders angrily confronts Hanson demanding answers. He is forced to admit he believes the heat-wave is caused by alien forms which are preparing to invade Earth. The sceptical islanders don't believe him to begin with, but as the temperatures continue to soar they soon find themselves accepting his tall story, and struggling to survive against the deadly extra-terrestrials.Interestingly, much of the film was shot during a bitterly cold February with the actors attempting to appear all hot and sweaty whilst wearing T-shirts, swimwear and other such unsuitable-for-the-climate robes. They play the daft scientific stuff quite well in all fairness to them, appearing persuasive and appropriately hot 'n' bothered throughout the film despite the real temperatures being close to zero. In fact the actors pretty much carry the film, generating tension in spite of the inherent silliness of the lines they're speaking. The creatures, when they belatedly appear, are hopelessly cheap and un- terrifying, rather reminiscent of the low budget Doctor Who inventions of the era. Ace low budget film-maker Roger Corman once said "I have a theory about movie monsters… you shouldn't show too much of them too soon in the movie. Whatever you can create on the screen is nowhere near as terrifying as what the viewer has already created in their mind!" That old adage is very much in evidence here – the creatures are infinitely more intriguing when they're off-screen. The tatty, papier- mache, 'made-in-the-garage' creations that show up for the final act of the film are more laughable than scary. The climax also comes across a little rushed and muddled, though to give due credit it's quite exciting in patches. Night Of The Big Heat is OK as long as you don't set your expectations too high. Cheap but cheerful fun.

Something strange is occurring on the island of Faro in the British Isles. Whilst temperatures on the mainland are cold, the temperature on this island is mysteriously increasing to an unbearably hot level.Pub owner and novelist Patrick Allen (Jeff Callum) holds court to the cast that includes his pub landlady wife Sarah Lawson (Frankie), new secretary Jane Merrow (Angela), doctor Peter Cushing (Vernon Stone), scientist Christopher Lee (Hanson), villagers William Lucas (Ken), Kenneth Cope (Tinker) and Thomas Heathcote (Bob) and a few others.There is a body count that piles up as people become incinerated after hearing a high pitched sound. The script-writers wisely kill off a comedy tramp figure early on in the film but it's then a lottery as to who is next.The film's interest comes from the love triangle between Allen, Lawson and Merrow and contains, apart from hilariously frank dialogue (see summary), quite a gripping dramatic moment between Lawson and Merrow. Another moment that sticks out in the film is when Allen confronts Lee about his anti-social behaviour. Once again, we get some 'no-holds-barred' dialogue that progresses the plot and swings the audience to Christopher Lee's favour (previous to this point, he seems like a dick). We now want to see Allen and Lee working together.It's a shame but the film's finale plays out like a below-par 'B' movie with no suspense and an ending that just happens. It could have been so much better. If you are frightened by pace-less fried-egg jellyfish, then you won't be disappointed. It's a better drama than it is a horror.

I was really impressed with this film the first time I caught it on a sci-fi TV channel in the late 90s early 2000s. The way the story weaves between marital conflict and alien invasion was rather neatly done, and while the creatures aren't ALIEN quality they serve well enough. This is the kind of film that shows how unprofessional movies of today with 10 times the budget have become--since the people making this film had limited resources but they gave it their best effort. Has some memorable and funny lines and situations. Pity on those who cant appreciate its merits. I can watch it once a year and still find it amusing.

Cheaply done fast-food sci-fi that actually works pretty well for the most part. A small British isle inexplicably has temps soar into the 90's, in the dead of winter when the temp should be around 30. A mysterious scientist named Dr. Hanson (Christopher Lee) is seen sneaking around and bizarre noises can be heard from time to time by the few island residents.The movie carefully builds tension of the unseen danger, by scattering a few clues about the nature of what the islanders are up against, without showing the menace until deep into the film. Lee has shared the screen with Peter Cushing before, and does here again. Cushing is a local medical doctor, who, like most of the characters, hangs out at a pub owned by an author named Jeff Callum (Patrick Allen). Good acting by the entire cast, and the characters are developed well.There's some good old time "monster encounter" action at a spot called (love this name) "the pit", and the film's "unseen monster" approach works well because of it. When the creatures aren't around, the film provides for plenty of interesting subplot conflicts among the characters.There are a few clichés, but they were probably fresher plot devices in the '60's when this was made. The big negative on this movie is the abrupt and poorly thought out ending, which nullifies most of the value of what the characters had been doing throughout the whole story. It's like they simply ran out of money, and quit.The movie has a dud ending, but otherwise it's a good watch for better than average sci-fi.