The Abominable Snowman (1957) Review

Examining Hammer Studios 1957 classic 'The Abominable Snowman' starring Peter Cushing.

[@awfulmoviereviews6792]

I remember getting threw half of this movie and then not finishing it, because I did find it quite slow. But it is beautifully shot ! It's funny how the Yeti was never used more in horror films threw out the ages, unless other horror figures like Frankenstein, Dracula or even the werewolf !

[@Onewayticketproductions]

It’s definitely not the easiest movie too get through. Took me a couple goes. I read that Hammer were planning too reboot the Abominable Snow in 2013, which obviously fell through. Shame they didn’t go ahead with that.

[@markolarenshaw4068]

Cool 😎

[@jamesrav]

I remember watching this when much younger, no doubt disappointed there wasn't more 'monster' in it. Then later in life, and the 'wisdom' gaze of the Yeti at the end stole the show. I might watch it one more time to catch some of the subtler things you mention. Clearly beautifully filmed, however the complete stillness in some of the scenes goes against what the Himalayas are all about (or maybe there are those days when its dead calm?). But movies are meant to be make-believe after all.

[@Onewayticketproductions]

That’s actually a good point about the unrealistic stillness of the Himalayas. I get where you’re coming from about the lack of a monster throughout the film, especially since it being a Hammer production, you expect a bigger showing. I do really like how they subvert the expectation of the Yeti and allow for the isolating atmosphere to express much of the horror.

[@jamesrav]

@@Onewayticketproductions I did watch it again, had some surprises I had forgotten about the past 30 years or so. The 2 creature reveal at the end was something I did not remember. Glad to see Cushing survived, I guess you just didn't kill off a Cushing character back then haha. The mention of destroying the world by atomic bombs is kind of eerie with what's going on right now. (A funny coincidence: I just changed my email host and their Chat 'persona' is for some reason a Yeti with a headset and keyboard). Definitely a film from another time, would probably have no appeal for most film-goers of today due to the obvious manufactured set and essentially no monster. The simple theme (humans are really the 'abominable creature') is the main draw and they 'hammer' the point effectively.

[@Onewayticketproductions]

@@jamesrav glad you gave it another go! I was pretty happy Cushing survived myself, he carried the picture. With what is going on now, the atomic themes are quite eerie. It’s definitely a film that most movie goers of today would stray from, it even strays from the typical gothic horror that Hammer would later produce. Unreal coincidence btw 👍