Hideous Sun Demon in '50s Horror and Sci-Fi Forum

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Hideous Sun Demon

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paleoguy	Hideous Sun Demon	Lead	[-]
May 21 04 2:02 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hi. Been awhile since I've been on. I've missed this forum. While on the subject of 50s horror/sci-fi, I'd like to know your reactions to THE HIDEOUS SUN DEMON. It has some great 50s dialog, sleazy music, and a terrific monster suit. Go ahead, blast away! Martin Last Edited By: GaryP11111 Oct 13 09 12:06 PM. Edited 1 time.
blackbiped	Re: Hideus Sun Demon	#1	[-]
May 21 04 3:33 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	One thing I noticed the last time I saw it was all the music that was familiar from NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. Also, THE KILLER SHREWS has music that was used in NOTLD, during a scene that is surprisingly similar to the one where Harry refuses to let Ben into the house, and when Ben finally gets in he beats up Harry and threatens to feed him to the zombies. In KILLER SHREWS, James Best's character is trying to get into the compound but Ken Curtis won't let him in. When he gets in, he beats up Ken Curtis and then physically threatens to feed him to the killer shrews. And the music is the same in both scenes. Where did all that music originate from, anyway? Did it come from various movies, or is it all just library music? I remember seeing HIDEOUS SUN DEMON for the first time when I was a kid, and how it really scared me. The mask was fantastic for such a low-budget movie. And the shot where he bursts unexpectedly through the door was a pretty effective shock cut. Legend, oh legend, the third wheel legend...always in the way.
SFfilmfan	Re: Hideous Sun Demon	#2	[-]
May 21 04 4:28 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I like Robert Clarke and he is a nice gentleman, and he successfully proved he could make a monster movie as inept as many of the ones released in that era. I do like the look of the monster suit, but otherwise the plotting, dialogue, acting, and direction are no more than mediocre at best, and the attempt to turn it into a comedy with THE HIDEOUS SUN DEMON--THE SPECIAL EDITION was a miserable flop. The music, to answer the question, is all library music taken from the same music library. Which is different than when Roger Corman would recycle cues from Fred Katz or Ronald Stein in other features.
porta	Hideous Piss Demon	#3	[-]
Dec 1 04 8:54 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	The film's rubbish. One point though - have a look at the end scene as he flees to the very top of the gasworks. IUnless I'm very uch mistaken...........he's pissed himelf! Wet crotch, front and back. Could it be another adverse result of the sun's radiation, or is it a side-effect of his propensity in human form to have a few drinks? Either way, I think it tends to detract from his whole demonic countenance. It means that basically all you need to do if attacked by a Sun Demon is to point at his pants and shout "You've wet yourself mate!" before making your escape.
TomWeaver999	Re: Hideous Piss Demon	#4	[-]
Dec 1 04 9:12 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Clarke himself knows he looks like he's wet himself, which embarrasses him -- actually, it's perspiration. He was sweating like a racehorse all day in that scale-covered mask and scale-covered wetsuit top, and the only place for all of it to come out was at the waist.
Laughing Gravy	Re: Hideous Sun Demon	#5	[-]
Dec 1 04 11:40 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Back in the day, believe me, this was an effective thriller for the kiddies. The scene in which the demon picks up a rat and squeezes it to death had us talking for a week.
TomWeaver999	Re: Hideous Sun Demon	#6	[-]
Dec 1 04 12:52 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	It's an atom-age, ultra-low-budget variation on (of all movies) the Rouben Mamoulian DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE -- Robert Clarke admits that that's where they got several ideas for the plot, including having the scientist betray his loyal, true-blue girlfriend and take up with a slutty gal. For a movie made by a first-time director (Clarke), with a cast of unknowns and people who'd never acted, and with nothing but university kids as crew, I think it came out much better than anyone could reasonably expect. I've always enjoyed it very much.
Count Gamula	Re: Hideous Sun Demon	#7	[-]
Dec 1 04 5:42 PM Burgomaster Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	The Sun Demon was on a lot when I was a kid and I always enjoyed it. back then I hated waiting 45 minutes for the monster to appear and this movie got right to it without a lot of buildup so it was a good monster movie in my book. He looked cool and elicited a Larry Talbot type sympathy too. I liked the police drama feel to it too especially the big finish atop that huge tank. Count Gamula
Joe Karlosi	Re: Hideous Sun Demon	#8	[-]
Dec 1 04 8:15 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Aw hell this one's a lot of fun - both intentionally and unintentionally.
luluthebeast	Re: Hideous Sun Demon	#9	[-]
Dec 8 04 1:45 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Besides, there is certainly nothing wrong with Nan Peterson!
Omega Man	Re: Hideous Sun Demon	#10	[-]
Dec 8 04 2:06 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* Besides, there is certainly nothing wrong with Nan Peterson! She's a brick ta da da da house She's mighty, mighty -- "Build coffins. That's all you'll need." www.eccentric-cinema.com
SteveZodiak	Re: Hideous Sun Demon	#11	[-]
Dec 9 04 12:37 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Finally saw this on efor the first time just last month. I didn't need my Tylenol PM to get to sleep that night. Hideous, indeed! Today is only Yesterday's Tomorrow
JPChe	Question	#12	[-]
Mar 16 05 12:56 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I just purchased the Image DVD of this title. I enjoy the film, and had previously owned it on VHS. One of the most widely reproduced stills from the film shows the Demon coming up behind a frightened-looking Nan Peterson who is talking on the phone. I had not seen the film in over 12 years, and thought I remembered seeing the scene in the film, after the murder of George. The scene, however, is not on the DVD, nor was it on my old VHS copy. So, my question is, did the scene EVER appear in the film, or is it just lacking in the Wade Williams editions?
TomWeaver999	Re: Question	#13	[-]
Mar 16 05 7:47 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I always assumed those were just publicity shots.
Rakshasa	Re: Question	#14	[-]
Mar 16 05 8:58 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I was TERRIFIED of The Sun Demon when I was a kid! I agree, the rat scene was killer! I always thought it was scary that he was a "daytime" monster. He was like the opposite of The Wolf Man. Instead of the moon, it was the sun that transformed him. Imagine a movie with both of those guys: You're lucky enough to survive through the night and avoid The Wolf Man, but suddenly you have to deal with The Sun Demon all day! hahaha P.S. I also agree that the Jay Leno voice-over comedy "Return Of The Sun Demon" was surprisingly (and disappointingly) unfunny to me.
MarkDClark	Re: Question	#15	[-]
Mar 16 05 9:44 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	What I really like about THE HIDEOUS SUN DEMON is that its "hero" is a womanizing jerk. The whole thing plays like THE LOST WEEKEND, with Sun Demon-ism replaceing alcoholism. I'm always left with the impression that if he didn't turn into a monster, he'd find some other way to destroy his life.
JPChe	Re: Question	#16	[-]
Mar 16 05 1:05 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Thanks Tom. I'm glad that Trudy does not die in the film--she's one of my favorite female characters in the genre. I've always considered the film to be Lost Weekend with a monster as well. But sun demonism doesn't replace alcoholism in the film, it's there IN ADDITION TO the character's alcoholism. The original accident is caused by a hangover. "Whiskey and soda mix, not whiskey and science." Gil reminds me of the "hero" of I Eat Your Skin, but without the charm.
MarkDClark	Re: Question	#17	[-]
Mar 16 05 1:48 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	>>But sun demonism doesn't replace alcoholism in the film, it's there IN ADDITION TO the character's alcoholism.<< Ah, good point!
DrPaulArmstrong	Re: Hideous Sun Demon	#18	[-]
Mar 17 05 12:25 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I like the "solarholic" slant here. I much enjoy SUN DEMON (and the Image DVD). Don't understand the rep it's gotten over the years. Given budget and resources I think Clarke did a pretty damn good job, particularly with the location shooting (especially the climax) and cool use of library music. TEDIOUS LIBRARY MUSIC NOTES: A couple of folks already mentioned the music, but I wanted to by name just because the Capitol Hi-Q music library is one of my favorites. Most know it today for NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, but it was tracked endlessly into 50's TV shows, not to mention the original Gumby. William Loose wrote quite a bit of that music and a few years ago Richard Peterson made a CD, actually converting much of it into songs ("The William Loose Songbook"). Anyway--end of my musical tangent. SUN DEMON is fun. And not a bad looking monster suit either.
Rakshasa	Re: Hideous Sun Demon	#19	[-]
Mar 17 05 8:29 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Dr. Armstrong, If what you say is true, about The Hideous Sun Demon and Gumby sharing the same music, you don't suppose there could be... somewhere out there....wandering the countryside.....some kind of.... "Hideous Gumby Demon"?! Get the sheriff on the phone! Break out the rifles! P.S. Sorry, got a little carried away there. Quite interesting about the Capital Hi-Q music library. This is not the same library music you used in Skeleton, correct?
blackbiped	Re: Hideous Sun Demon	#20	[-]
Mar 17 05 12:10 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* Get the sheriff on the phone! Break out the rifles! No need for all that -- just give him an ice cream cone. Legend, oh legend, the third wheel legend...always in the way.

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