A quite literal turkey

"The Giant Claw" is a monster film from 1957. Although somewhat dragging, it *could* have worked, had it not been for one rather decisive detail: the monster. It's so bizarrely bad, that I felt embarrassed watching it - not the feeling you want when you devour a turkey. The director is supposed to be embarrassed, not you!

Even worse, the monster *is* a turkey, a quite literal, flying monster turkey the size of a battleship, protected by a shield of anti-matter??!! Or is it an alien turkey vulture? Or an "overgrown buzzard", to quote one of the brave soldiers sent out to destroy this latest threat to the American way of life, and, I suppose, the Endangered Species Act?

No matter the species, the birdie is both hungry and angry at humanity, and soon threatens both the Manhattan skyline and the rest of the world with complete annihilation. In one of those usual bouts of illogic of which C-movies are full, the eggs of the exotic thunderbird turn out to be vulnerable to ordinary gunfire, so *that* problem is quickly disposed of.

Apparently, "The Giant Claw" was so underfinanced, that parts of the movie reuses footage from three other science fiction films! But sure, only nerds can spot *that*. Everyone can see the monster - everyone, apparently, but the actors. They didn't see the mutant grouse until the movie premiered, causing them eternal shame and embarrassment. They have my deep sympathy and understanding. Even a cosmic blackbird (Icteridae) would have been far scarier than this...

One star - or five stars, if you like turkey shooting, LOL.