The Deadly Mantis (1957)

A 200 foot long praying mantis that has been trapped in ice for millions of years is freed due to seismic activity in the Pacific Ocean. When military personnel in Northern Canada begin disappearing under strange circumstances, a Colonel (Craig Stevens) is assigned to investigate. Directed by Nathan Juran ((7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD), this is yet another entry in the giant insect on the rampage so popular in 1950s sci-fi movies (TARANTULA, THEM, BEGINNING OF THE END etc.). As far as the genre goes, this one is just okay. The special effects are on the weak side except for the mantis which looks kind of cool but the characters are ciphers and there's only one genuine moment of suspense toward the very end of the film. I've a fondness for 1950s science fiction myself so I suppose I've built up a tolerance for these things but it's painless and occasionally entertaining at at one hour and 19 minutes, it doesn't wear out its welcome. With William Hopper, Alix Talton and Phil Harvey.