Devil Monster, Before There Was Jaws

Okay, the 1936 Mexican sea monster film "The Sea Fiend" probably wasn't anything to write home about. Not to worry! After some good old fashioned cultural appropriation, we may be in business. Only 2.1 stars out of 10 on IMDB, the updated American effort is still a lot of fun. In 1946 America added some Anglo characters, sultry nude island girls, more sultry nude island girls, and a new title, "Devil Monster." Directed (appropriated) by S. Edwin Graham, the new version may have given birth to Peter Benchley's novel, and Steven Spielberg's film, "Jaws." Watch the last 20 minutes of our film today and just try telling me that those two American's did not rip-off this one. 

Jose (Jack Del Rio) is missing. He went asea a year ago and never came home.  Louise (Blanche Mehaffey), who is either his sister or lover, won't marry her new beau, Robert (Barry Norton) unless the schmuck finds Jose. He buys this idiocy.  With his dad as captain, Robert and a crew set sail from Mexico southward. The mission, find Jose, bring him home, and marry Louise.  Jose?  We like Jose.  He is alive.  After he slays a sea monster, a tribe on an island takes him in.  The island girls are sultry, not like those National Geographic women.  The chief's daughter, Maya (Maya Owalee) is even engaged to him.  Yep, Louise is nice, but Maya has a proclivity to go topless and dances nicely.

Bad news for Jose.  Robert and his dad find him.  Jose does not want to go back.  Too bad...Robert thinks he will get under Louise's skirt if he brings Jose back so he and his dad Shanghai Jose.  Now Jose is headed back north.  Not so fast.  Remember that sea monster he killed?  Another one looms and attacks the boat. Now only Jose can save the crew and the boat.  What follows will be quite action packed and reminiscent of "Jaws."  A giant Manta Ray is hungry and humans are its favorite food.  A great battle at sea occurs and we can almost hear Leonard Graves ("Victory at Sea") narrate. 

Will Louise be true to her word and marry Robert if he brings Jose back?  Will Robert get smart and feed Jose to the devil monster before returning home?  Did the makers of this film consider a mechanical Manta Ray when they made this film?  Fun, in an MST3K sort of way, "Devil Monster" is a film the Mexican people are probably not upset that the Americans culturally appropriated. For sultry nude island women and vicious rays, see "Devil Monster."