Six amiable servicemen, on leave in Asia, have the temerity to sneak into a top secret ceremony conducted by cultists who worship snakes. They're naturally discovered, and a curse is placed upon them. Before they can even get home, one of them perishes, a result of a cobra bite. Back in NYC, the body count continues, while one of the men, Tom (Marshall Thompson, "It! The Terror from Beyond Space"), falls in love with a new neighbour, Lisa Moya (Faith Domergue, "It Came from Beneath the Sea"). We, of course, automatically realize that there is something Not Right with her.
Punched up a bit with its themes of tragic romance, its decent effects work, and some nice touches (like the "cobra vision"), "Cult of the Cobra" is engaging, silly, campy nonsense, played to the hilt by its solid cast. Domergues' aloof beauty is utilized well, and her performance is actually not bad. She's surrounded by entertaining performers: Richard Long ("House on Haunted Hill"), Jack Kelly ("Forbidden Planet"), a pre-stardom David Janssen ('The Fugitive'), William Reynolds ("The Land Unknown"), Kathleen Hughes ("It Came from Outer Space"), etc. The script, concocted by Jerry Davis (also story author), Richard Collins, and Cecil Maiden, does a good job at exploiting that old concept of metamorphosis - people with the ability to transform into another species. Granted, "Cult of the Cobra" *is* a far cry from "Cat People", but it serves the viewer an amusing diversion for a decently paced 80 minutes. Director Francis D. Lyon ("Destination Inner Space") handles things quite capably, delivering some fun jolts. As the yarn is played out, we have one character who may falter in their mission by developing genuine feelings for their victim, and another who may be too stupidly stubborn to accept the true nature of their new love.
As far as Universal-International product of the 1950s goes, this is not top-tier, but it does have its pleasures.
The Chief from 'Get Smart', a.k.a. actor Edward Platt, has mere seconds on screen as the cult member uttering the death threat.
Seven out of 10.
Punched up a bit with its themes of tragic romance, its decent effects work, and some nice touches (like the "cobra vision"), "Cult of the Cobra" is engaging, silly, campy nonsense, played to the hilt by its solid cast. Domergues' aloof beauty is utilized well, and her performance is actually not bad. She's surrounded by entertaining performers: Richard Long ("House on Haunted Hill"), Jack Kelly ("Forbidden Planet"), a pre-stardom David Janssen ('The Fugitive'), William Reynolds ("The Land Unknown"), Kathleen Hughes ("It Came from Outer Space"), etc. The script, concocted by Jerry Davis (also story author), Richard Collins, and Cecil Maiden, does a good job at exploiting that old concept of metamorphosis - people with the ability to transform into another species. Granted, "Cult of the Cobra" *is* a far cry from "Cat People", but it serves the viewer an amusing diversion for a decently paced 80 minutes. Director Francis D. Lyon ("Destination Inner Space") handles things quite capably, delivering some fun jolts. As the yarn is played out, we have one character who may falter in their mission by developing genuine feelings for their victim, and another who may be too stupidly stubborn to accept the true nature of their new love.
As far as Universal-International product of the 1950s goes, this is not top-tier, but it does have its pleasures.
The Chief from 'Get Smart', a.k.a. actor Edward Platt, has mere seconds on screen as the cult member uttering the death threat.
Seven out of 10.