The Monolith Monsters

| 1957

Directed by: John Sherwood

Main Plot

"The Monolith Monsters," directed by John Sherwood, is a 1957 science fiction film that centers on a small desert town threatened by a bizarre and deadly phenomenon. After a meteorite crashes nearby, fragments of the extraterrestrial rock begin to grow into towering, crystalline monoliths when exposed to water. These monoliths absorb silicon from everything they touch, turning people and animals into lifeless stone statues. As the monoliths continue to multiply and advance toward the town, a local geologist and a schoolteacher race against time to find a way to stop the unstoppable growth. Their efforts lead to a desperate plan to save the town from being completely overrun by the alien menace. The film explores themes of human ingenuity and resilience in the face of an unprecedented natural disaster.

Characters

  • Grant Williams plays Dave Miller, a geologist who investigates and combats the threat of rapidly growing, alien rock formations endangering a small desert town.
  • Lola Albright plays Cathy Barrett, a schoolteacher who helps investigate and combat the mysterious, growing rock formations threatening her town.
  • Les Tremayne plays Dr. Elliott, a scientist who helps investigate and combat the mysterious, growing rock formations threatening a small desert town.

Ending Explained

In the 1957 science fiction film "The Monolith Monsters," directed by John Sherwood, the climax unfolds as the town of San Angelo faces imminent destruction from the rapidly growing monoliths. These monoliths are formed from black meteor fragments that expand when exposed to water, turning into towering, destructive crystals. The protagonist, geologist Dave Miller, along with his colleague, Professor Arthur Flanders, discovers that the monoliths can be neutralized using a saline solution. They deduce that the high salt content in the saline can prevent the monoliths from growing. With the town's water supply contaminated and a storm approaching, the urgency escalates. In a dramatic final effort, Dave and the townspeople construct a makeshift dam to divert a nearby salt mine's water into the path of the advancing monoliths. As the storm breaks, the saline water successfully halts the monoliths' growth, saving the town from obliteration. The film concludes with the townspeople relieved and grateful, as the immediate threat is neutralized, showcasing human ingenuity and cooperation in the face of an unprecedented natural disaster.

John Sherwood Drama Horror Sci-Fi Grant Williams Lola Albright Les Tremayne