| The Thing That Couldn't Die | |
|---|---|
| |
| Riffed by | Mystery Science Theater 3000 |
| Riffers | Mike Nelson, Tom Servo played by Kevin Murphy, Crow T. Robot played by Bill Corbett |
| Series | None |
| Date Released | March 1, 1997 |
The Thing that Couldn't Die is a 1958 American black-and-white horror film from an original screenplay by David Duncan for Universal-International Pictures, produced and directed by Will Cowan. It was riffed by Mystery Science Theater 3000 and aired on the Sci-Fi Channel in March 1997.
Synopsis and Preview[]
MST3K - Favorite Moments - The Thing That Couldn't Die
[Spoilers Begin]
A young woman named Jessica Burns (Carolyn Kearney), who claims to have psychic powers, lives on a remote ranch with her Aunt Flavia (Peggy Converse). She discovers an ancient box while water-witching and her Aunt takes it back to their house. Her boyfriend, Gordon (William Reynolds), goes for an archaeologist, arguing the box should be kept intact for appraisal and opening by an expert. However, the Aunt's greedy ranch foreman, anticipating treasure, secretly convinces the slow-witted handyman to break it open. Instead, the box contains the intact head of Gideon Drew (Robin Hughes), a man executed for sorcery 400 years earlier. The head awakens and telepathically takes over the mentally vulnerable handyman.
After murdering the foreman, the head has the handyman conceal it while arranging to have a coffin retrieved containing Gideon's body. Once his head and body are joined, Gideon will be fully able to exercise his powers over all comers. The young woman is aware of the evil and is protected from the head's influence by an ancient cross she wears around her neck, but when her boyfriend removes it, convincing her that she is only a victim of superstition and magical thinking, the head takes control of her mind, leaving the handyman to die in a hail of police bullets. The young woman joins head to body and Gideon arises from his coffin, but the boyfriend, aware of the error of his ways, catches the monster off guard with the cross. This forces Gideon back into the coffin and, when they drop the cross in with his body, they watch the total disintegration of his mortal remains.
[Spoilers End]
Cast and Crew[]
- William Reynolds as Gordon Hawthorne
- Andra Martin as Linda Madison
- Jeffrey Stone as Hank Huston
- Carolyn Kearney as Jessica Burns
- Peggy Converse as Flavia McIntyre
- Robin Hughes as Gideon Drew
- James Anderson as Boyd Abercrombie
- Charles Horvath as Mike
- Forrest Lewis as Julian Ash
Quotes[]
Notes[]
See Also[]
- Revenge of the Creature (MST3K)
- The Mole People (MST3K)
- Terror From the Year 5000 (MST3K)
- The Leech Woman (MST3K)