A giant prehistoric praying mantis, recently freed from the Arctic ice, voraciously preys on American military at the DEW Line and works its way south.
Practical Effects
The mantis puppet is giving everything it has. Respect the craft.
Direction
Nathan Juran later did Jason and the Argonauts. Everyone starts somewhere.
Director
Nathan Juran
Craig Stevens
Col. Joe Parkman
William Hopper
Dr. Nedrick 'Ned' Jackson
Alix Talton
Marge Blaine
Donald Randolph
Gen. Mark Ford
Paul Smith
Corporal
Paul Campbell
Lt. Fred Pizar
Pat Conway
Sgt. Pete Allen
Phil Harvey
Lou
Bing Russell
State Trooper
David McMahon
Capt. Frank Carver
Marvin Miller
Narrator (voice)
Michael Forest
Photographer (uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The mantis footage was recycled for the 1968 comedy The Giant Spider Invasion, giving this bug a second unholy life.
The DEW Line setting weaponized actual Cold War infrastructure for monster-movie tension—propaganda accidentally became pulp art.
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