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Night of the Big Heat
1967 94 min United Kingdom 12+
★6.4
Science Fiction, Horror, Thriller
Director: Terence Fisher
Trailers
Description
While mainland Britain shivers in deepest winter, the northern island of Fara bakes in the nineties, and the boys at the Met station have no more idea what is going on than the regulars at the Swan. Only a stand-offish visting scientist realizes space aliens are to blame.
Starring
Christopher Lee
Actor
Patrick Allen
Actor
Peter Cushing
Actor
Key opinion
Night of the Big Heat is a modest British sci-fi thriller that relies on its isolated island setting and the presence of genre icons Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing to generate suspense. While some viewers enjoy its tense, minimalist atmosphere, others criticize the script as a derivative, slow-moving soap opera that fails to fully utilize its legendary lead actors.
| Acting | The casting of genre icons Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing serves as a primary draw for fans of classic British horror and science fiction. | |
| Production | The isolated British island setting effectively fosters a sense of eerie, minimalist tension. | |
| Acting | Opinions on the lead performances are divided; while some find the acting convincing, others feel Christopher Lee gives the only coherent performance while Peter Cushing is underutilized. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is viewed by some as an intriguing, suspenseful alien invasion tale, while others dismiss it as a thin, banal 'War of the Worlds' imitation. | |
| Pacing | The narrative's focus on melodramatic love triangles clashes with the sci-fi plot, leading to a pacing that some find too slow and 'drawn out.' |