Tayloriona Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Michelle Ridley The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity

Guillelmina The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Bob This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Khun Kru Mark Despite being a keen fan (and student) of this genre of movie-making, this one is hard work. No matter how forgiving you are, it's hard to find anything positive here.From the stolid (not in a good way) direction and the hackneyed script, to the multiple narrative failures of the plot, there must have been better ways for Astor Pictures to squander the $50,000 budget that was set aside for this turkey, right?The residents of Pine Ridge are in something of a kerfuffle when the livestock starts dying by gruesome means. The sheriff for some insane reasons of his own is convinced that young Wayne, the local geologist is the bad guy! All small mountain towns have a resident geologist, don't they?Half way through the movie, Vargas, also known as the "Diablo Giant", wakes up and goes on a killing spree... this is AFTER the deaths of the animals and local residents began happening!Crazy Injun Joe fires his rifle at the imaginary rabbits clustered around the feet of the only friend he has in town... the monster eventually crashes through a bridge into the river and in an amazing feat of dexterity, politely rebuilds the fence on his way down... and on and on it goes.It's just awful! There are one or two familiar faces in this clunker but their ghosts probably don't want to be reminded!

ASouthernHorrorFan Giant From The Unknown is a standard classic in my collection in that I have watched it nearly a dozen times since purchasing the DVD. I like most of my generation grew up on these B-movies almost second hand through late night television shows with strange horror hosts who poked harmless fun at the pictures but really taught us to embrace the classic films usually ignored by big box office standard studios. That feeling of nostalgia is why I still turn to these films as an almost "comfort food" for the soul.This film although rattled with the faux pas of most classic B-movies in that there is a basic male chauvinism and xenophobia subtext to the story is a fun and light sci-fi flick for all ages. It is just how film and television flowed in those days. Push it aside and Giant From The Unknown like a lot of old movies is really a great story that is both entertaining and filled with adventure. Especially when dealing with the 50's sci-fi genre. It is directed by Richard E. Cunha and stars Ed Kemmer, Buddy Baer, Sally Fraser and Bob Steele.This movie has a pretty interesting and fantastical story that deals with real giants of historical legends which just sets the mind to wonder. The dialog and acting is classic melodrama which is slightly over-the-top but fun to watch. The Giant is pretty intimidating and unlike most movie monsters of the era he looks convincing realistic. Over all the film is a great way to introduce kids to the old black & white genre stuff and a film that hold's it's own against any giant lizard or mummy. Just let yourself set back and enjoy a fun classic film.

dbborroughs Long dead, or perhaps hibernating conquistador is revived and terrorizes some people in the wilderness.Not really a giant in what we normally think of as a giant the title character is more a really big man. Other than that there isn't much to him as he goes about causing problems for the people in the area where he was buried. You can tell from the lack of real description and enthusiasm how exciting this film is. Its a not a bad film as such but there really isn't much to it at all. Why a giant? beats me, I guess because Conquistador from the Unknown wouldn't have sold as many tickets. The real problem with the film is that this is basically a plug and play film. they took so many stock elements and mixed them together and made this film which is pretty much bereft of any emotion. As 50's horror and scifi films go this is far from the worst, however it is one of the least passionate films. Worth a look if you have nothing else to choose from, but I wouldn't search it out

Vigilante-407 I can't think of any movie that has Morris Ankrum that I didn't really like...and yes, I have seen The Giant Claw (three times, in fact). That fact notwithstanding, Giant From The Unknown is a pretty good movie. The basic story has a Spanish Conquistador (who happens to be a giant and who happens to have travelled up into northern California after breaking with Cortez) waking up after five hundred years of suspended animation and going on a rampage of death and cattle mutilation.Don't let the plot turn you off. The script manages to make it all seem pretty believeable, and the acting is pretty good as well. Morris Ankrum is great. Ed Kemmer (Commander Buzz Corey on Space Patrol) is the hero. Cowboy and serial legend Bob Steele is the sheriff, and the lovely Janet Fraser is the love interest.The monster himself looks pretty good as well...for an unburied conquistador, that is. The finale at the sawmill is an excellent sequence...though don't try to adjust your VCR. That fuzziness is optically-printed snow on the sequence (it took me a couple of minutes to realize that...I thought the print had deteriorated).Giant From the Unknown is a good all-around example of fifties science fiction that is worth a look by fans of the genre.