Horrorfest 2020: Hammerfest - The Abominable Snowman

THE ABOMINABLE SNOWMAN (1957)

Starring Forrest Tucker and Peter Cushing

Written by Nigel Kneale and directed by Val Guest

Now Horrorfest really picks up with this year's arrival of the great Peter Cushing! Cushing, along with Christopher Lee, who we'll get to later, is the biggest star of Hammer Horror, appearing in a ton of their pictures in both villainous and heroic roles. For example, he plays both Dr. Frankenstein and Dr. Van Helsing. How's that for two ends of the spectrum? I mean, it's not like Gregory Peck doing both Atticus Finch and Captain Ahab but it's not unlike it either.

Cushing stars here as a climbing and botany expert on a scientific research mission in the Himalayas who hooks up with an American mercenary/promoter/hunter to track down the legendary abominable snowman. Cushing's in it for the science but the American, played by Forrest Tucker, wants to capture a beast alive and bring it home for exhibit.

Aside from the beautiful black and white photography as well as the impressive scenery that seems to have been shot on location (even though most of the action is shot on sets), the most interesting aspect of this movie is its take on the monster -- this isn't just a killing machine or dumb brute wandering around the mountains. It turns out, the abominable snowmen (yep, there's more than one) are complex, sensitive and wise creatures that have psychic abilities and human characteristics, like the ability to mourn their losses. Their plaintive wails, echoing in the mountains, are emotionally effective and memorable. So is the one clear shot of their eyes -- finally delivered after most of the movie keeping the monsters mostly hidden, for budget and suspense's sake.

This is a great and unpredictable adventure with two solid central performances, great cinematography and an above average "monster." The only drawback is that the depiction of the Himalayan locals may not always be as sensitive as the depiction of the abominable snowmen. It's a shame in an otherwise thoroughly enjoyable movie.