Night of the Big Heat – 1967 | 94 mins | Sci-Fi, Drama | Colour

Plot Synopsis

Hammer stalwart Terence Fisher directed three sci-fi films for low-budget producer Planet, this was the third following The Earth Dies Screaming (1965) and Island of Terror (1966). Ronald Liles’ script was adapted from the pulp novel by John Lymington, and though the film adequately builds tension and adequately conveys the sheer sense of helplessness, there’s little excitement and overall proceedings are decidedly heavy-going. Some over-the-top sexual tensions are thrown in for good measure as Allen wrestles between the lust for his secretary and love for his wife, but this sub-plot is never convincing and detracts from the central story. Of the cast, Allen is particularly good and trades brooding intensities with Christopher Lee. Peter Cushing is underused in a near-cameo role as a composed local doctor. Jane Merrow is memorable for her sultry presence.

On the remote island of Fara, a group of disgruntled people hole up at the White Swan hotel, run by writer Jeff Callum (Patrick Allen) and his wife Frankie (Sarah Lawson), while a ferocious heat-wave rages during the winter months. Into this already overwrought atmosphere arrives a new secretaryfor Callum, Angela (Jane Merrow), who has had an affair with him previously andis keen to rekindle it.

Staying at the hotel is prickly scientist Godfrey Hanson (Christopher Lee), who has rigged up a makeshift lab within his hotel room. He believes the heat’s is caused by energy starved aliens using the island as a landing point prior to invasion; and has photographic evidence. Dr.Vernon Stone (Peter Cushing), the local doctor, is scorched to death at a nearby gravel pit. This leads to Callum and Hanson to take the fight to thealien invaders, but dynamite proves ineffective and all seems lost.