New RetroMonster: The Tentacle’s Claw

I’m not sure what the title of this new film from director/writer/dp/editor Michael Rigler says about the titular beastie (… it’s a big tentacle with a claw at the end? … hmmm, maybe… stay on until the end of this article and you may find out!), but viewing the trailer will give you clear insight into its old-school, monochromatic, tongue-in-cheek referencing of classic B-monster flicks from the 1950s.

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Synopsis:

The Tentacle’s Claw is the story of one man’s quest to use the power of mind control to take over the world, and the one woman who could stop him.

Dr Demonious Horlack has set up his laboratory of horrors in a quiet, seaside town. The former Nazi scientist has devised a way to control simple creatures using the power of the mind. With the help of his assistant Gunda, he has gained power over a giant cephalopod, and is using the creature as his personal assassin.

Fortunately for the people of the planet, there is a schoolteacher, Marie LeMay,  living in the same town. As the traumatic tentacle attacks start to take their gruesome toll, Marie begins to unlock innate, psychic abilities. Her brainy scientist boyfriend, Professor Dick Goodwin, helps her recognize the potential she has deep within the recesses of her mind. The stage is set for an epic, psychic showdown. But can she prevail, or will Dr Horlack carry out his evil plans to take over the world and make Marie his psychic slave-bride?

Once completed,  The Tentacle’s Claw will be feature length (there’s approximately 67 minutes of it at the moment, Rigler tells us). “My wife Tara Manuel is the star and producer,” he said, “and we made the film on a shoestring budget. We raised about $1,200 through a Cabaret we staged to feed the cast and crew and buy a few costumes!”

Above: Smoking (and surreptitious tentacles) can be bad for you

Above: Dr Horlack attacks Marie psychically, using a tentacle on loan from Bela Lugosi and Ed Wood

Above: Never trust rabbits, children or clocks during psychic attacks

Above: the secret is out! The bad guys (and Rigler) got their monster by mail order via the ads at the back of a 1957 issue of Confidential.

And finally, a special treat! An exclusive for Undead Backbrain readers — a glimpse of the monster itself! Say “Hi!” and be nice!

Filmed on location in Corner Brook, Newfoundland with a cast of local actors, The Tentacle’s Claw is slated for a January 2012 release. More pics, cast info and startling revelations that may kill you if you read them unprepared can be found on the official website. Dare you go there?

Source: Michael Rigler via Avery.