From Hell It Came – Giant Tree Monster Attacks Native Tribe!

By Steve D. Stones

Harry and Michael Medved released a book in 1980 entitled: The Golden Turkey Awards – The Worst Achievements In Hollywood History. In the book, the Tabonga walking tree monster in the film From Hell It Came is nominated in the category of “The Most Ridiculous Monster In Screen History.” The monster that wins in this category is Ro-Man, the gorilla with a scuba helmet, from Robot Monster.

Although the Tabonga monster is quite ridiculous, the film is still a lot of fun to watch. It would make a great double feature with Giant From The Unknown or Godmonster of Indian Flats.

A group of American scientists are conducting secret government experiments on a remote Pacific Island. The natives of the island grow fearful of the scientists and their experiments. They capture one of the Americans named Kimo and sacrifice him by driving a stake through his heart. Before his death, Kimo warns the natives that he will come back from the dead to avenge his death. He is buried in an upright grave with the stake still in his chest.

Soon, a giant tree monster begins to grow out of Kimo’s grave. The scientists discover the tree has a heartbeat and is radioactive. The tree is uprooted and begins to attack the natives.

Like the giant carpet shag monster in The Creeping Terror, victims of the Tabonga seem to intentionally fall to the ground to allow the creature to attack them. This adds to some of the unintentional humor of the film. Seeing pulsating tree bark as the creature’s heartbeat is also quite humorous. Rubbery, flimsy limbs of the creature flap in the wind as he walks around attacking the natives. The creature even has giant nostrils and big beady eyes, resembling something from a child’s nightmare. This is one fun movie! Enjoy!