Film Review || It came from Beneath the Sea (1955)

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B movies are slightly lower budget, more experimental efforts of smaller independent film producers that often have more absurd concepts, such as in 1950s cinema when sci-fi was less popular, many films found success with more limited audiences. It came from Beneath the Sea (1955) is about a giant octopus that invades the city of Los Angeles, animated by Ray Harryhausen, a popular visual effects artist responsible for the creation of 'Dynamation' his own animation. 

By involving the destruction of established landmarks like the Golden Gate bridge It came from Beneath the Sea introduced a sort of controversial and therefore exciting event that could be 'witnessed' by going to cinema. Similar events can be seen in King Kong (1933), where the giant ape scales the Manhattan building, modern films partake also with the frequent smashing in the face of Elizabeth Tower, also known as Big Ben, notably destroyed in Doctor Who (2005) The Avengers (2012), The Day After Tomorrow (2004), "V for Vendetta" (2005), G.I. Joe Retailiation (2013), Independence Day (1996) and Reign of Fire (2002).

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Most of the film is mundane filler, somewhat assumed to have lost its edge since the advents of more extreme modern cinema. We are introduced in a scene that takes place in a submarine that is mysteriously suspended underwater by an unknown force. A huge tentacle terrorises and squashes flat citizens on the streets of Los Angeles as they flee, then later, two soldiers repel the beast from the streets of Los Angeles by using two flamethrowers. the action here is very focused as dosed to counterpart the characters everyday lives,which in themselves contain a lot of foreshadowing in terms of props. There is a very elemental feeling with this characters that seems to make up its theme.

For the most part the cinematography can be a little bit white noise in the background, but when action appears it is easy to fill in the gaps. Somewhat the choppy special affects could be referred to with a bit of imagination, which can be beneficial towards getting lost with the story. to this end it caters well to the demographic of sci-fi enthusiasts that have the ability to fill in the gaps themselves.

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To wrap up, here is five good reasons that this film is good;

1. Content is recognisable thanks to Dynamation, the esteemed work of Ray Harryhausen that characterises the broad genre of B movie titles with plastic model monsters.
2. Iconography destruction, such as the collapse of the Golden Gate bridge, makes for a scene worth remembering above others. 
3. The premise of environmental changes affecting sea life deep on the ocean floor could be interpreted as an environmental message that supplies less enthusiastic audience members with a sort of post viewing thought. It is important to attempt to cater to other members of the audience.
4. Shock factor of a giant monster has been around for ages, but at this point in time it has never been done with a giant octopus so it makes a nice change.
5. The set design is very good at letting us know about the characters background and how they live. The scientists work in a lab, the navy work on a ship and the higher ups work in an office. this simplistic approach is better for the sake of explanations, that are so often overused in place of genuinely interesting characters.

Bibliography
fig 1. Gordon, R. (1955). It came from Beneath the Sea. [poster]
fig 2. Gordon, R. (1955). It came from Beneath the Sea. [film still]
fig 3. Gordon, R. (1955). It came from Beneath the Sea. [film still]