The Beast with a Million Eyes (1955, aka The Unseen) features a cast that must initially share major acting time with members of the animal kingdom: a dog named Duke, a cow named Sarah, and a flock various birds, all of which are puppets for an invading intelligence that has its eyes on a bigger prize. Yet, reflective of the plot, they attack and kill humans, which leaves us confused because, as we learn later, this malevolent intelligence is looking for hosts that it can truly use to continue its existence.
So why kill an unsuspecting human just because he’s massaging your udders?
Between sadly oscillating female characters, a guilt-ridden father, a very young Dick Sargent as a somewhat aimless law officer, a voiceless man who makes for a fine ambiguity, and the aforementioned representatives from the animal kingdom, it’s a cast with only a little to recommend it, and the animals are soon knocked off by the humans (presumably they lacked membership in SAG-AFTRA). The plot kept us occupied for some time, but the characters are somewhat random at times, and at others they’re being stampeded by forces beyond their ken, while the dialogue is pedestrian. On the plus side, however, the art during the opening credits was actually rather fascinating, reminding our Arts Editor of the work of the famous surrealist Salvador Dali; the night scenes are well shot; the acting was competent; and there are absolutely no extended death scenes, leaving us to infer and imagine, rather than removing that intellectual pleasure through gouts of bloody gore.
The climactic scene no doubt was trying to convey something to us, but we were unable to understand what appeared to be a muddled point concerning love, eagles, and potentially possessed rodent (which was swiftly eaten by the eagle).
In case you’re interested, here’s a YouTube video of the opening of the movie. The good art starts at about the 51 second mark.
