DESTINATION INNER SPACE (1966)

The researchers at the Aquasphere, the underwater base of the Institute of Marine Science, are studying marine animal communication, but have called in the Navy to help investigate a strange sighting on their sonar. It's big enough to be a sub or a whale, but doesn't seem to be either one. Commander Scott Brady rubs a few of the scientists the wrong way with his swaggering manner, especially former Navy man Mike Road who knew Brady and blames him making a bad decision that led to the death of a handful of sailors years ago. Also on the ship are doctors Sheree North (with whom Brady awkwardly flirts) and Gary Merrill, and researcher Wende Wagner (who has a thing for Road). The mysterious object turns out to be an alien craft that eventually lands on the ocean floor. Brady, Road and Wagner go into the craft which appears to be empty and bring back to the Aquasphere a large capsule-shaped artifact. It quickly doubles in size, starts sending out ultrasonic waves, and soon a large amphibian creature (bearing a resemblance to the Creature from the Black Lagoon) busts out, wrecking havoc in the lab.

This plays out a little bit like a low-budget underwater version of THE THING or ALIEN but the scary tension of those movies never really develops here. It's very bright and colorful—even the alien practically has a rainbow hide—which I generally like, though it doesn't help the building of a creepy atmosphere. More time goes into the psychodramas of the various relationships on board than into scenes of monster mayhem or suspense, which is par for the course, I guess, but these characters tend to be on the unpleasant side, especially our hero Scott Brady, who comes across as a blowhard and who, as other viewers have noticed, seems a bit uncomfortable when he has to wiggle himself into a tight wet suit. Mike Road, the voice of Race Bannon in the original Johnny Quest animated show, comes off a little better as Brady's antagonist who has to face up to his own past faults—you know early on that either Brady or Road is destined to sacrifice himself for the greater good. Everyone else is fairly bland, though I must say I enjoyed the white t-shirted young men strewn about in background scenes. The effects are B-level (the miniature sets are pathetically obvious and not even charming) though the monster is pretty effective. Generally, a big "meh." Pictured are Road and Brady. [Streaming]