AllMovie

An underwater earthquake in the Salton Sea uncovers a nest of giant prehistoric sea snails that hatch after exposure to radiation. The ravenous, blank-eyed mollusks drain the blood from several swimmers and sailors until hard-bitten Navy man Tim Holt steps in to combat the menace. One of the more suspenseful entries in the "big bug" subgenre of '50s science fiction, The Monster That Challenged the World benefits from the capable hand of mainstream director Arnold Laven, who brings a degree of gravity and logic to the proceedings that's usually missing from most B monster movies. The film is also aided by a solid cast, especially Holt (a long way from Treasure of the Sierra Madre, but still game) and character actor Hans Conried in an atypically serious role, as well as special effects man Augie Lohman's unnerving, 11-foot-tall mechanical creature. MGM's full-frame DVD presentation, part of their "Midnite Movies" series, is regrettably bereft of any extras.