FROM HELL IT CAME (1957)
"For each of man's evils, there is a tree stump." Wait, that can't be right. I'm confusing my tales of vengeance. From Hell it Came could have influenced Pumpkinhead, but then, it could have influenced a whole host of horror films that focus on a character who has been wrongfully accused of murder. Here, an island prince is sentenced to a voodoo execution for the curious death of the tribal chief. Of course, he maintains his innocence and places a curse on everyone involved. A nasty tree stump grows around the topsoil of his grave, but that's only one possible origin story. There is also the legend of Tabonga, an aboriginal chief who returned from the dead as ambulatory foliage. But wait, there's more! The locals report having seen nuclear fallout. Geez, this flick can't seem to pick a lane. All you need to know is that it concerns a deadly fir...no, pine...no, maple...it concerns a deadly tree. And it's awesome.
Yep, this monster is evergreen. Tabonga was designed by a gentleman named Paul Blaisdell, and I wish I could give him a hug. If you leaf through reviews on IMDb, you'll find a proverbial orchard of negative remarks. I don't know what these folks were expecting, but considering the tenuous budget, From Hell it Came delivers the goods. Once the main players are introduced, there isn't much dillying (or dallying). I suppose that the natives could be a little less, shall we say, pasty? It's a minor bellyache. I mean, it was 1957. You can't fault the film for not being culturally sensitive. I could see it pissing off a few trees, though. Recommended to fans of Seedpeople, The Day of the Triffids, The Woman Eater, and jungle rot. Don't forget jungle rot.
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