Night of the Big Heat (1967) User Reviews (76)

She's a slut and I wanted her body

[AAdaSC · 6/10 · 25 December 2012]

Something strange is occurring on the island of Faro in the British Isles. Whilst temperatures on the mainland are cold, the temperature on this island is mysteriously increasing to an unbearably hot level.

Pub owner and novelist Patrick Allen (Jeff Callum) holds court to the cast that includes his pub landlady wife Sarah Lawson (Frankie), new secretary Jane Merrow (Angela), doctor Peter Cushing (Vernon Stone), scientist Christopher Lee (Hanson), villagers William Lucas (Ken), Kenneth Cope (Tinker) and Thomas Heathcote (Bob) and a few others.

There is a body count that piles up as people become incinerated after hearing a high pitched sound. The script-writers wisely kill off a comedy tramp figure early on in the film but it's then a lottery as to who is next.

The film's interest comes from the love triangle between Allen, Lawson and Merrow and contains, apart from hilariously frank dialogue (see summary), quite a gripping dramatic moment between Lawson and Merrow. Another moment that sticks out in the film is when Allen confronts Lee about his anti-social behaviour. Once again, we get some 'no-holds-barred' dialogue that progresses the plot and swings the audience to Christopher Lee's favour (previous to this point, he seems like a dick). We now want to see Allen and Lee working together.

It's a shame but the film's finale plays out like a below-par 'B' movie with no suspense and an ending that just happens. It could have been so much better. If you are frightened by pace-less fried-egg jellyfish, then you won't be disappointed. It's a better drama than it is a horror.

Island of the Burning Doomed is effective

[rosscinema · 7/10 · 10 November 2003]

This was only one of three films that Planet Film Productions made and I have always thought it was an eerie and effective film. It's definitely low budget but I'm not sure a bigger budget would have helped this film. Story takes place on an island off of England and the temperature has been rising steadily for the last few days. A writer named Jeff Callum (Patrick Allen) and his wife Frankie (Sarah Lawson) own and run the local Inn and pub and one of the tenants renting a room upstairs is a mysterious and unsociable man named Godfrey Hanson (Christopher Lee). Along with Dr. Vernon Stone (Peter Cushing), Jeff and Frankie sit around the pub trying to figure out why its so hot on the island but not on the mainland. Jeff has requested the help of a secretary to help him on his new novel and a woman named Angela Roberts (Jane Merrow) has come for the job. Unknown to Frankie, Angela and Jeff know each other and had an affair some time earlier. Angela keeps prancing about in a two piece bathing suit and putting the moves on Jeff who only replies with kissing when Frankie is not looking. Then one day a local sheep farmer stumbles into the Inn and mumbles something about his sheep being dead. Hanson is very interested and goes to check it out. He finds the sheep dead and takes samples. When he gets back he learns that Frankie has seen something come down out of the sky and land behind the hill. Jeff demands that Hanson tell him who he is and what he is doing. Hanson tells him that he is a scientist sent to check out what things have been coming from the sky and the reason for the heat. He tells Jeff that they are aliens from a hot planet and they generate heat which is why it is so hot. Meanwhile, the temperature keeps rising and all the bottles at the pub start to explode. They all figure that within a few hours the heat will be unbearable, if the aliens don't get them first. The aliens make this loud whirring sound and they consume energy like batteries and generators and can burn humans up completely. This film was directed by Terence Fisher who specialized in science fiction and horror. He became the premier horror film director in England and he knew exactly what to do with a limited budget. Fisher knew how to create great atmosphere and this film has plenty of it. If you notice in certain scenes when the actors are outside you can actually see their breath! Obviously it wasn't hot like the story of the film wanted you to believe. Fisher had his actors smear glycerine on themselves to help create that sweaty effect and then they had to wear damp shirts. I couldn't help but notice that Cushing's character keeps his suit and jacket on even though it suppose to be about 100 degrees! Its okay, Peter! Take off your jacket! And how about Patrick Allen's response when his wife asks him about Angela. "She was a slut and I wanted her"!! I'm sure she felt relieved to know that its not real love. For you trivia buffs out there, Patrick Allen and Sarah Lawson are married in real life. Along with the great atmosphere I liked the deliberate pace that the film set and it was in no hurry to allow viewers to see what the aliens look like. Yeah okay, they look like fried eggs but I always thought they looked liked that rock creature "Ahorta" from that Star Trek episode. Another thing I noticed was that this was one of the few Cushing/Lee films where both of them don't make it through the end. Fisher also directed "Island of Terror" which this is reminiscent of. It would make a good double bill on a rainy night. I think true lovers of older science fiction and horror can appreciate this film more than casual viewers. I've always found it to be an enjoyable film and I hope it comes out on DVD soon!

Acceptable Sci-Fi film by the great Terence Fisher dealing with an uncommon heat wave and strange events at a lonely island

[ma-cortes · 6/10 · 27 August 2020]

¨Island of the burning dead¨ or ¨Night of the Big Heat¨, or ¨Island of the Burning Doomed¨ is Terence Fisher's Sci-fi movie in which bizarre creatures from outer space threaten an isolated remote community at a Northern island called Fara . It begins with the Opening credits : All characters and events in this film are fictitious and any similarity to persons either living or dead is purely coincidental . Science-fiction thriller with fantastic elements , set at an island off the coast of Great Britain , there happens strange deaths of villagers , while suffering heavy sweat . Meantime , mainland Britain shivers in deepest winter and a freezing season , as the northern island of Fara bakes in the nineties . Authorities have no more idea what is happening than the regulars at the Swan Pub . Only a stand-offish visiting scientific (Christopher Lee) who has rigged up a laboratory in the security of the White Swan hotel has suspicious and dark conjectures . As he believes the heat's caused by energy starved aliens . Meanwhile , the new secretary (Jane Merrow) to the local best-selling author (Patrick Allen) is raising the temperature in her own way . As the island is overrun by strange whirring noises allegedly caused by weird beings . These fantastic creatures assault and attack citizens by heating rays and blasts , subsequently threatening to consume the world . Then , some brave people go into action to investigate and discover the rare origin of an alien invasion and what seems to be the source of the heat . From outer space ..came a devastating death!.Mysterious Invaders From Outer Space Create Their Scorching Heat Rays That Consume the People and an Island! Searing Terror! Burning In Its Intensity!

Moving picture from a science fiction novel by John Lymington , contains good interpretations , chills , thrills , and astonishing attacks by amazing creatures . Here carry the flick the following ones : Christopher Lee who suspects aliens are to blame the rare phenomenon going on , as well as Patrick Allen who married to Sarah Lawson falls for the seducer beauty Jane Merrow , in fact they were husband and wife in real life as well ; all of them , giving first-rate performances . Along with enjoyable secondaries , such as : the always charming and courteous Peter Cushing in a minor role as guest star playing the local doctor who is frazzled to death , Percy Herbert , William Lucas , Kenneth Cope , among others . All actors shot the film in cold conditions as they suffered from wearing very light dresses in a freezing season , that's why they had to be covered with glycerin to create the illusion of high temperature . The premise is the following : How can three people stop the devouring death that live and spread across the countryside and delivering mighty hot . This "Island of the burning doomed" 1967 concerning a brute heat wave accompanied by invading aliens bears certain resemblance to ¨Island of terror" regarding scientist experiments go wrong , also directed by Terence Fisher and equally starred by Peter Cushing and others as Edward Jud , Carole Gray and Eddie Byrne.

It contains a stirring musical score by Malcolm Lockyer , adding electronic soundtrack as the fantastic beings show up . As well as colorful and glimmering cinematography by Reg Wyer . Shot on location in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire , The Swan Inn , Broughton Road , Milton Keynes Village, Milton Keynes , Dorset, England , UK and Pinewood studios , as usual . This British-made outing was competently directed by Hammer maestro Terence Fisher . Hammer mainstay Fisher made 3 films for the cheapjack Planet outfit of which this Night of the Big Heat was the last . This fine director made a lot of films for Hammer productions , usually terror genre . Outstanding his Dracula saga : ¨The horror of Dracula¨, ¨The Brides of Dracula¨, ¨Dracula prince of darkness¨ . About Frankenstein : ¨The curse of Frankenstein¨, ¨The revenge of Frankenstein¨, ¨Frankenstein created woman¨ , ¨Frankenstein must be destroyed¨, ¨Frankenstein monster from hell¨. Furthermore, other terror films as ¨The Gorgon¨, ¨The mummy¨, ¨The devil rides out¨, ¨The two faces of Dr Jekyll¨, ¨The curse of the werewolf¨. And other movies as ¨Sherlock Holmes and the deadly necklace¨, ¨Hound of The Baskervilles¨, ¨Black glove¨, ¨Robin Hood, Sword of Sherwood forest¨, ¨Island of the burning doomed¨ and ¨Island of terror¨ . Rating : 6/10 , acceptable and passable ; though neither notable , nor excellent , but decent entry in Science-Fiction genre . Interesting , thrilling scenes and suspenseful twists make for prickes up the spine.

Enjoy this classic cheapie!

[iaincturner44 · 20 June 2002]

Hey guys! Whats the deal here? This film is one of my all time faves! The first time I saw it I loved it straight away. I love the Englishness of it all....the country pub....the warm beer!!!....feel that cheesy dialogue: "You were no untouched virgin when we met" etc.

Enjoy gawping at the stunning beauty of Jane Merrow in a wet bikini and more! This film is very similar to Fishers Island Of Terror,very much a companion piece. I never get tired of seeing this flick,I view my ancient tape every year. Dont expect a masterpiece and you will not be disappointed . Its corny,cheap but not tatty,with great photography,solid performances and lovely colour....ENJOY!!!

Something's turning up the heat on a small island.

[capkronos · 6/10 · 7 April 2009]

It's winter, and on the British mainland the temperatures are an accurate reflection of the season. However, right off the English coast on the small island of Fara, the temperatures are steadily on the rise, reaching triple digits by nightfall with no decrease in sight. Because of the stifling heat, glass explodes, cars overheat, TV and radio signals are drowned out by fuzz and people start behaving a little on the animalistic side. Even more peculiarly, fields of sheep are found fried, strange lights are seen in the sky, certain energy sources are being sucked dry, trails of a black coal-like substance seem to be everywhere and people are mysteriously turning up dead, with only charred corpses left to tell their fates. Understandably concerned writer Jeffrey Callum (Patrick Allen) and his wife Frankie (Sarah Lawson), who run a local inn/tavern called "The Swan," and others in the town try to get to the bottom of things before its too late. They also try to figure out what mysterious, antisocial boarder Godfrey Hanson (Christopher Lee), who has converted his room into a lab and seems to enter and exit at the strangest times with a camera and various equipment, is up to. Also stopping by the inn (where much of the film takes place) is town doctor Vernon Stone (Peter Cushing) and Jeffrey's sexy new "secretary" Angela Roberts (Jane Merrow), amongst others.

Based on a novel of the same name by John Newton Chance (written under the alias John Lymington) and released in the U.S. under the title ISLAND OF THE BURNING DOOMED, this is a passable sci-fi/horror programmer from the short-lived Planet Film Productions, who also made the genre pictures DEVILS OF DARKNESS (1965) and ISLAND OF TERROR (1966) before calling it quits in the late 60s. This one's fairly well-made, entertaining and has decent production values and acting, with Lee in a major part, Cushing in a minor one and the rest of the actors and actresses doing good jobs with their roles. It's talky and slow-moving for the first hour, but strangely enough it was this first hour of mystery, character drama (including an adultery subplot) and rising tension amongst the citizens of the town that I felt was the stronger portion of the film, as opposed to the later action-oriented scenes. When finally visualized, the beings causing the heat wave, hysteria and deaths resemble giant hairy eggs. But hey, it was 1967, so that's pretty much to be expected anyway, right? Oh well. At least now I know where M. Night Shyamalan got his ending for SIGNS from.

Monty Python reference!

[rwidebrook · 7/10 · 3 September 2006]

Enjoyable British sci-fi outing of 1967, which sports not only a venerable Cushing-Lee pairing, but exciting scenes of overheating 1960's British automobiles to boot (the steaming, hood-up MG scene will be particularly horrific for current/former MG owners who've ever dealt with this aspect common to certain vintage British cars).

Filming must've required a specialist staffer just to continually drench the actors with fake sweat.

Of particular interest for Monty Python fans will be the final scene, which is the only time in the whole movie that the decidedly low-budget monster actually appears: no, I'm not going to spoil it for you!

Slow night...

[paul_haakonsen · 4/10 · 30 December 2018]

When I found "Night of the Big Heat" I picked it up solely because I saw that two major horror icons were in it, and that is why I decided to watch it.

Right, well needless to say that the cast in "Night of the Big Heat" was impressive. Because it was! With the likes of mastodons such as Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing at the helm, you are definitely in some good company.

Unfortunately good company was as far as the movie extended. The storyline was plagued by an incredibly slow paced story, which actually turned out to also be a rather pointless story. Which didn't make for a very satisfactory viewing experience.

It was actually some ordeal to get through the entire movie here, and I did feel my interest in the movie faltering throughout the prolonged course of the movie, because it felt like I had been watching the movie for an eternity - given the fact that so very little of any interest happened in the movie.

Now that I have seen it once, I can check it off of my movie list, and I can honestly say that I am not returning to watch this again. Definitely not among the best of neither Christopher Lee or Peter Cushing's acting performances or careers.

low budget sci-fi is a bit of a hoot

[Brucey_D · 6/10 · 30 January 2017]

A remote Scottish island is having an unseasonal heat wave, and the islanders are increasingly drawn into a struggle against mysterious and deadly forces.

I quite enjoyed this movie; I came into it with low expectations and they were mostly met, but it was still a watchable film.

However there are problems; firstly anyone who has been to a remote Scottish island will quickly tell you that, unsurprisingly, there are usually Scottish people there. Also, lush rolling fields, deciduous woodland, and tall trees on the skyline are all features that are largely absent; wild and windswept is more the look.... The setting for the film looks a lot more like the home counties, for the simple reason that it is; the hotel is 'The Swan Inn', in Milton Keynes village, which is still there, and still looking about the same despite having burned down at least once since the film was made.

All the people in the film are glistening with glycerine throughout to signify the heat, and the men all have (rather variable from shot to shot) ridiculously enormous wet marks on their shirts. The ladies seem rather more to 'glow' instead, and Peter Cushing's character (a doctor!) bafflingly doesn't seem to have twigged that keeping his jacket on when it is 108 degrees mightn't be the best idea.

Despite all the mega pit-stains etc it doesn't look that hot; the film was shot in February and it must have been very uncomfortable to be swanning around outdoors in a damp shirt for days on end. Amusingly (and significantly as it turns out) near the beginning of the film, whilst it is meant to be hot, you can very clearly see that it is raining heavily nearby.

The film is hardly a glowing tribute to the cooling systems of British motor-cars (an MG midget boils up after a long drive and a Triumph Renown boils up after less than three miles.....) nor the pressure retaining qualities of a well known brand of bottled lager. Nor is it the finest hour for any of the actors involved, either. Several of them scream horribly in the film and I couldn't help but (rather unkindly) wonder if this is how they sometimes woke up after this film, having had more bad dreams about it.

But Cushing and Lee, not trying overly much, not given a good script to work with, are still eminently watchable by comparison with most other films. And the film isn't badly made for the most part; the rest of the cast are OK really, even if Patrick Allen only has two (barely distinguishable) settings to his voice, both 'very gravelly'.

If you dial in your expectations to '1960s Dr Who movie', plus more suspense and a certain amount of, uh, 'adult interest' (by the standards of the time) then you will have it about right.

Not a brilliant film by any means but certainly worth a watch.

Not the best

[vancleef1980 · 3/10 · 16 January 2014]

Despite having a title that makes it sound like a soft core porno film Night of the Big heat is a major disappointment. Fisher not quite the director genius he is now made out to be shows that sci-fi was definitely not his sort of thing. Christopher Lee gives yet another shouty and stiff performance typical of this particular period. Just before The Devil Rides Out and just after Rasputin the Mad Monk he barely gave a decent performance, from the lamentable Fu Manchu films, through euro tripe such as Theatre of Death and Circus of Blood and finally this, it was probably his worst period in his long 60 going on for 70 year career. Many would say the part of Hanson is underwritten and Lee can do very little with it, but look at similar underwritten and poor roles Peter Cushing and Vincent Price were given during their career and they always gave it their best shot, so its no excuse really. Cushing's scenes are limited but he does the best with his small role, even refusing to remove his jacket so he looked different from Lee and Patrick Allen. The real star of this film comes in the shapely form of the sultry Jane Merrow, she simply sparkles with wanton sexuality in this film, pity she never became a bigger star she had what it took for sure.

NIGHT OF THE BIG HEAT (Terence Fisher, 1967) **1/2

[Bunuel1976 · 6/10 · 30 May 2006]

Another Planet Films production which, on the whole, is superior to ISLAND OF TERROR (1966) - in fact emerging, for about two-thirds of its length, as a reasonably compelling and effective bit of sci-fi on QUATERMASS lines (likewise, originating on TV and with the plot's heat-wave angle inspired, perhaps, by THE DAY THE EARTH CAUGHT FIRE [1961]).

However, the appearance of the silly-looking aliens at the climax lets the film down (given the exaggerated horrified reaction, earlier on, of the victims when facing them - as yet unseen by the audience!) but, then, the score, the handling and the performances (with Christopher Lee an unusual and, therefore, interesting 'hero') are, again, above-average for the genre - even if Peter Cushing's 'guest star' role isn't one of his best (despite what Leonard Maltin says in his "Film Guide"!). Still, perhaps the best thing about the entire film is the way it successfully integrates a tension-filled romantic triangle (treated in a remarkable, and unexpectedly, adult manner) - involving Patrick Allen and Sarah Lawson (a married couple in real life!), and the sluttish Jane Merrow - amid the gripping 'invasion' plot.

As with ISLAND OF TERROR, the print utilized for this DVD transfer has undergone no visible restoration - and the film's quality, with respect to its presentation, suffers accordingly! The accompanying Audio Commentary, then - featuring Lee, scriptwriting couple Pip and Jane Baker, and moderator Marcus Hearn - is all over the place, but is certainly animated enough to remain consistently interesting throughout.

Decidedly Daft Aliens

[sjdrake2006 · 2/10 · 23 March 2014]

I remember this film from my younger days- probably saw it in black and white! To be honest, i do not think sfx are essential to a good film: from the Iliad onwards, a good story and storytelling remain the essential components and sfx is just a cherry on the cake. The trouble with modern films is that the sfx budget has taken over- to the detriment of the story, which is too often shallow, superficial and poorly told.

The fact the aliens look a bit silly is neither here nor there (imagination does far more). What one has a to question is a plot which features supposedly intelligent aliens- they manage to cross a great distance of space-with an aversion to water, who invade a Scottish island!!!! Duh! Why didn't they do their homework first? Invade the sahara, or somewhere suitably dry? I can imagine quite an enquiry back on alien homeworld....

Night of the Big Heat....No Need For the Cold Shoulder!

[ClassixFan · 9/10 · 4 April 2005]

Night of the Big Heat may not rank among the best sci-fi efforts by critics, but for this fan, it really does deliver the goods. Locals on the Island of Fera find themselves in the midst of a searing heat wave while the rest of the mainland of the UK is in the middle of a normal cold snap in November. As bodies begin to pile up, found burnt to a crisp, a scientist struggles to convince the locals that they may be the victims of an invasion from space.

A great cast that includes, Patrick Allen, Jane Merrow, Sarah Lawson and in guest roles, Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. Directed by the great, Terence Fisher, this is another triumph in Fisher's library of films and to this viewer, ranks right up there with his Hammer horror films as well as the underrated, Island of Terror.

Certainly not as bad as some would have you believe and probably not as good as I think it is, it is definitely worth a look for fans of 60s British sci-fi films.

The tension increases proportionally with the sweat stains underneath the armpits!

[Coventry · 7/10 · 8 January 2019]

The summit of intelligent & atmospheric British sci-fi/horror was inarguably reached by Hammer's "Quatermass"-trilogy. There simply aren't any contemporary Brit-movies that can live up to those masterpieces, but several others are nevertheless qualitative and worth seeking out as well, like the trio of films that Terence Fisher made for the short-lived production company Planet. They are "The Earth Dies Screaming", "Island of Terror" and this compelling sleeper "Night of the Big Heat" a.k.a "Island of the Burning Damned". Although not a Hammer production, it reunites three of the most skillful and legendary Hammer veterans, namely director Terence Fisher and the nearly inseparable acting duo Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. The latter stars as a grumpy and asocial scientist conducting bizarre experiments with mirrors and cameras at the small island of Fara. Something is terribly wrong at Fara, because it's the middle of winter, yet temperatures and humidity are extremely high, while the radio simultaneously reports that the British mainland is covered in snow and freezing cold. We are made aware quickly, via whirring sounds and foreboding POV camera angles, there's an evil and crawling presence at the island, but it takes a while before cranky researcher Hanson (Lee) shares his findings with the rest of the island community. He believes energy-starved aliens landed on Fara and test if our planet is a suitable new habitat for them. How do you battle creatures that destroy all resources and equipment through their intense body heat, and cause people to spontaneously combust if they come too close? "Island of the Burning Damned" is slow-paced but atmospheric and the nature of the alien menace remains mysterious because we don't get to see them until final 10 minutes. The suspense is noticeably mounting, however, since the protagonists' clothes become more and more soaked with sweat and everybody is behaving increasingly hostile. The temperatures aren't the sole cause of the unbearable heat at the island, by the way, as hotel owner Jeff Callum's lewd mistress Angela has also come to the island to confront Jeff and his unsuspecting wife. The experienced Fisher makes great use of the claustrophobic island location and does a terrific job in depicting the troubled relationships between the lead characters as tense and as intriguing as the growing threat of alien presence, which is remarkable to say the least. There are flaws in the script, of course, like for example that the heat is causing machinery to go defect and television sets to explode before ordinary people even start fainting. Christopher Lee, Patrick Allen and the unearthly beautiful Jane Merrow put down excellent performances, but Peter Cushing is sadly and somewhat clumsily downgraded to the insignificant supportive cast. What is that about? The climax is also quite a letdown, but overall seen is "Night of the Burning Damned" a recommendable slice of British 60s Sci-Fi.

Unintelligent.

[g-harrington · 4/10 · 16 August 2014]

I tried to like it. I lowered my expectations as much as I dared. What really sealed its demise was the way it took an interesting idea for an original monster siege horror, and drained 'every last particle of energy' from it. I feel they could have done so much more with the concept even with the limitations of this production.

It could have benefited from a more competent stab at the science. Several references in the movie are worse than Solo's confusion of parsecs with units of time. The whole foundation of the plot is a hand wave- one with vague references to television signals in excruciating verbal shrugs that Christopher Lee looks appropriately uncomfortable delivering.

The characters are boring, the dialogue is terrible, the science is gibberish, and the conclusion is anti-climactic. In the absence of any other quality, the poor visual effects and bland acting fail to drag this dull-witted movie out of the bog. Not the worst I've seen, but irritating and forgettable.

Enough criticism already....OK, the film has a few little problems!

[uds3 · 1 June 2002]

STILL you have the chance to see Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing together doing their respective things, and I for one value that above production quality, fx realism and other budgetry constraints. So what if the aliens ultimately look like fried eggs? and besides, they don't! Try mutated snails with an ammonite heritage? Its a Terence Fisher flick - perhaps not his best...its still way better than I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER...and PEARL HARBOR, come to that! I have a copy of this old faithful (known by the more widespread and infinitely better title of NIGHT OF THE BIG HEAT)and every now and then out she comes for another beloved squiz!

Continuity not the best for your tastes? Tad low on the production budget you think? Chris Lee just too insular and condescending by your standards? Boring love triangle? Well guys, I got a suggestion. DON'T WATCH THE DAMN THING - go rent 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU! (actually, I quite LIKED that too!)

Yeah NIGHT OF THE BIG HEAT isn't "Amicus" or "Hammer" at its peak, but it is STILL a worhwhile piece of british scifi from the 60's! Live with it!

Very British

[bensonmum2 · 7/10 · 23 September 2017]

Fara Island, off the coast of Scotland, is experiencing some very unusual weather. While the rest of country is in the midst of a normal cold winter, the island is hot. The temperature has hit 100 F and continues to rise. And it's not just the heat - people are hearing odd buzzing noises and sheep are dying in mysterious ways. What's behind the strange goings on? A scientist working on Fara thinks he has the answer - the heat, noises and deaths can be attributed to an alien invasion.

Night of the Big Heat (or Island of the Burning Damned if you prefer - I've actually seen it under both titles) is a very low-budget, very British sci-fi film with an unbelievably strong cast. I've seen this movie at least four or five times and it never fails to entertain. It's not a thrill-a-minute type movie, but it excels in tension and atmosphere. The plot may seem silly, but its presented in a manner that works for me. I believe square-jawed Patrick Allen, shirt dripping with sweat, when he tells me it's hot. I believe Christopher Lee's ramblings about the heat being generated by creatures from another world. And I believe Peter Cushing when he stumbles on one of the creatures in the middle of the night. This cast could make me believe just about anything. Lee and Cushing may be the big names in British genre films, but Patrick Allen is their equal when it comes to acting. Together, they make Night of the Big Heat a lot of fun.

I wish the filmmakers would have made the decision to not show the aliens. I've read a lot of comments and some people can't seem to get past their appearance - a cross between a fried egg and a roasted marshmallow. I would have preferred that either they not be shown and left it up to the viewer's imagination or take the cop-out route a lot of other low-budget sci-fi films of the era did and make the creatures invisible. Seeing the creatures is not necessary. All the work building tension and atmosphere had already been accomplished. The low-budget effects don't add to what came before - they only serve to detract.

Phew !

[leavymusic-2 · 7/10 · 24 July 2020]

Worth it just to see Jane Ferrow melt ice cubes over her chest ! Apart from that it's a bit of turkey ! Still, good on a cold night to warm you up.

Picture for the Boring Doomed

[BaronBl00d · 2/10 · 3 January 2002]

I cannot believe it! If you told me that a film cast with both the huge talents of Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing and directed by the great Terence Fisher was bad, I would never have believed it. Watch this film and you will become an instant believer. This film sucks! I had trouble sitting through it, and I am pretty good through just about any kind of film. The film's premise is about an island being over-run with aliens that slowly and then quickly heat up an island off the coast of Great Britain during the winter. Temperatures rise, people are fried after hearing some"whizzing" sound, and finally the much anticipated, very disappointing fried egg looking aliens appear. While all this is going on, we are privy to a love triangle at an inn between a real annoying author, played by a very smug Patrick Allen, and his newly arrived, very attractive secretary, played by Jane Merrow(who incidentally really looks good in a two-piece swimsuit), and his wife played by Sarah Lawson. You won't care much about their love lives or their lives in general. Peter Cushing has a small role as a doctor and Christopher Lee tries to single-handedly save the picture with one of his very officious, obnoxious portrayals of a scientist that knows an awful lot and has to spout this scientific drivel to other characters so the audience will have some idea of what is going on. Lee gives a good performance for the most part, but even in the scenes where he is explaining things he looks unconvinced by the dialogue! Planet Film Productions produced the film and it shows. Had hammer or Amicus been given the film, much more could have been done with it. Poor Fisher directs with a very small budget and his directorial style is best described as tiring and labored. If you are a Cushing, Lee, or Fisher completist I recommend the film, but beyond that save your time for something that better utilizes the talents at hand here.

Giving Climate Change A Run For Its Money...

[P3n-E-W1s3 · 7/10 · 4 August 2019]

This is quite a little gem of a film. As a lover of B-Movie films, this one was right up my alley. In fact, I enjoyed this film so much that I will try and find the novel it was based on.

Something is wrong on the island of Fara. Mainland Britain is in the deepest winter but Fara and its inhabitants are suffering a heatwave, which shows only signs of warming. What makes this such a good film is the story. You have a marriage on the rocks when the third angle of the lover's triangle arrives on the scene. The rising heat changes people and not for the better. A mysterious sound is moving across the island. And something is killing the livestock. The real-life drama anchors realism and believability in the story with the audience. This makes the more fantastic a little more believeable; again with thanks to the writers who give plausible descriptions and reasons for the happenings.

Add to this the fine work of the director, who sets a varied and ideal pace for the story. Terence Fisher is also well adept at creating atmosphere and ambience. When there's a need to creep out the viewer, he creeps them out. And when the action starts he speeds up the tempo to excite.

Then we get to the cast: There's nothing awful I can say about the cast. I mean, Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing, well, you can't go wrong. Even, Patrick Allen, who usually appears wooden and too loud with his bass tones, comes across impeccable. He quietens his voice, he lessens his persona, and comes across more natural than previous roles I've seen him in. Even the support cast is full of strong actors and actresses, each and every one faultless in their portrayals.

The only downside to this film is the special effects. But this is such a small thing it can be overlooked. It did make me wince when I saw the aliens but then the story, the acting, and the direction kicked back in and everything was well once again.

If you like B-Movies from the '50's and the '60's then this is a film you have to watch - if you haven't already. If you want to know what the genre is all about then give this a try it's a nice entry point movie. All-in-all, this is an entertaining way to waste an evening. It put a smile on my face and a warmth in my heart. So It can't be bad. Looking forward to watching this one again.

Not bad until the ending....

[planktonrules · 4/10 · 15 September 2017]

This film features Christopher Lee AND Peter Cushing--two greats of British horror. So, it IS worth seeing. However, I must warn you that the finale is a bit limp.

Britain is in the midst of a cold winter. Yet, oddly, despite this there is a small island which sees temperatures in the 90s Fahrenheit...and there doesn't seem to be a logical reason why. Much of the film is a bit soap opera-like, with a writer having serious women problems, but the finale gets to what's really going on...and, sadly, weak special effects undermine what could have been a really interesting finale. Overall, decent acting and a halfway decent story...but sloppy effects even for 1968.

By the way, if you are a Bearded Collie owner (I've had quite a few), this film might be the earliest you can find with an example of the breed running about in the film.

If you can't stand the heat, get off of the island.

[Hey_Sweden · 7/10 · 23 July 2021]

Sir Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing team once again for this solidly entertaining little film. The premise is that while England is going through a particularly chilly winter, the northern island of Fara is experiencing an unexpected, stifling heat wave. What could be the cause? Well, visiting scientist Hanson (Lee), an unemotional and pragmatic type, believes that he knows the score. But he wants some *evidence* before he will even think of scaring these locals. Meanwhile, a major subplot sees a sexpot of a secretary (Jane Merrow) travelling to the island to work for renowned author Jeff Callum (Patrick Allen). And she and he aren't exactly strangers to each other, if you know what I mean. Soon, the excrement is hitting the fan as the heat starts to warp peoples' minds, and they behave irrationally.

Some people complain about the low-tech special effects in this one, but in truth, they're really not all that bad. (Granted, most films of this type DO lose a little something whenever the moment inevitably comes where the threat has to be revealed on screen.) Where the great genre director Terence Fisher fares the best is at establishing the sense of mystery, as various citizens react in horror to something that we don't see until the picture is almost over. The tension in this one is incredibly thick, and the filmmakers do a credible job at convincing us that people are suffering from the heat (when in fact, Sir Christopher said that it was filmed during a normal winter, and the cast had to sell a different reality). Part of the difference is also made by Sir Christopher; his is a presence of such sincerity and authority that you're willing to buy into the premise, as fantastic as it is.

The excellent British cast also includes Sarah Lawson (who co-starred with Sir Christopher in the superior Hammer film "The Devil Rides Out"), Percy Herbert, William Lucas, Kenneth Cope, Thomas Heathcote, and Sydney Bromley (the last playing the classic character in these types of stories who must be the first victim and let us know that something is amiss). Sir Christopher and Cushing have precious few moments together until about the 55 minute mark, but, as always, it's a joy to see them together.

A good music score by Malcolm Lockyer and good location work are assets in a film that is more about how ordinary people deal with spooky circumstances than anything else. So try to look past the design of the antagonists and see the film for what it is: a fun, interesting, and atmospheric story, albeit one with an abrupt, "deus ex machina" type of ending.

Seven out of 10.

Not so hot.

[BA_Harrison · 3/10 · 30 November 2019]

"She was a **word I'm not allowed to use on IMDb** and I wanted her", explains novelist/inn owner Jeff Callum (Patrick Allen) to his wife Frankie (Sarah Lawson) after she sees him snogging his sexy 'secretary' Angela Roberts (Jane Merrow). Things aren't going great for poor Frankie: not only does she discover that her husband has had an affair, but she also learns that the island of Fara on which she lives is under attack by alien creatures that have raised the temperature to an unbearable degree. Oh, and her hairdresser has given her an extremely unflattering hairstyle (so bad, it might even go some way to explain Jeff's infidelity).

Investigating the bizarre winter heatwave is Godfrey Hanson (Christopher Lee), whose conclusion that aliens are using the island as a test site for an invasion is swallowed without hesitation by the unquestioning locals, who include Peter Cushing as Dr. Vernon Stone. With Cushing and Lee on board, and Hammer director Terence Fisher calling the shots, one might reasonably expect this British horror/sci-fi to be an unmissable classic, but sadly this is not the case: the pace is dreadful, the love-triangle is more suited to a day-time soap opera, and most of characters aren't very likeable (Hanson is brusque and anti-social, Angela is manipulative, Callum is callous, and pub regular Tinker Mason, played by Kenneth Cope, is a would-be rapist).

Horror stalwarts Lee and Cushing look embarrassed to be involved, maybe because they know what is in store at the end of the film: the eventual appearance of the aliens, which look like giant, glowing fried eggs, trundle clumsily at a snail's pace, and, in the abrupt finalé, are killed when it starts to rain (proving that it's always wise to do a little research when planning an invasion of another planet).

Intelligent Sci-fi from a past age

[AdamJezard · 8/10 · 2 October 2004]

I'm fed up with reading about how bad the spfx are supposed to be in this film. Personally, I blame Christopher Lee for saying bad things about them in his biography. Actually, this film is not bad. It is a story about ordinary people in an extra-ordinary situation (an alien invasion). The people are stuck in a claustrophobic setting (a pub on an island) and it's about how they confront what's facing them. This is a fairly faithful adaptation of the book it is based on. It's more character than spfx lead, and I suppose this is the problem for modern audiences who have short attention spans and lack the ability to follow a scene that lasts for more than 3 seconds. Still, if you like sci-fi from an age when people had brain cells (ie, HG Wells, Jules Verne, John Wyndham, etc...) and don't mind spfx that could have come from the early Dr Who serials and the original Star Trek series, then you may well enjoy this film. If you happen to think Star Wars was the greatest film ever made, then don't bother -- it'll be way above your head.

Christopher Lee & Peter Cushing are burning up off the coast of Britain

[Wuchakk · 6/10 · 3 April 2020]

A sultry woman (Jane Merrow) travels to Fara, an Island in Northern UK, to work as the secretary of an author (Patrick Allen). The latter's naïve wife (Sarah Lawson) runs the Inn where everyone stays, including a polite man (Peter Cushing) and a standoffish scientist (Christopher Lee). It's the middle of the winter yet temperatures are rising to well over 100 degrees and people are turning up dead. What's going on?

"Island of the Burning Damned," aka "Night of the Big Heat" (1967) was made by the same short-lived company that released the similar "Island of Terror" a year earlier, both featuring Peter Cushing and director Terence Fisher. It walks the balance beam between sci-fi and horror and should be appreciated by fans of Lee, Cushing, Hammer, Amicus, Tigon and American International. It helps that some human interest is offered with a tense triangle. Interestingly, the secretary is overtly called a slur (for a loose woman) by the author, which is a little surprising for such seemingly "refined" people.

The story maintains your interest as suspense slowly builds, especially concerning what's causing the heat and the deaths. There's a deus ex machina but, hey, the story had to end. Merrow is pretty stunning, but her character needs slapped.

The film runs about 1 hour, 30 minutes, and was shot at The Swan Inn and Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire, England, as well as Dorset.

GRADE: B-/B

And who said plagiarism was only a sign of modern times...?

[trikespotter · 5/10 · 25 August 2014]

For those of you who enjoy shouting at your TV, then this is definitely one for you. I was expecting more from this film due to the cast involved, however, don't be put off from watching this just yet upon my initial hearsay, as it distinctly falls under that well known cliché of, "so bad, it's good". Actually, it's bloody awful, but it's still kinda good in it's own way, and worth at least one watch for the sake of belief.

Very reminiscent of 'X:The Unknown' (1956), and also the far superior of all the intense-heat movies, 'The Day The Earth Caught Fire' (1961), so much so that it's practically a hard-neck, no shame, amalgamation of both, except the drama is pretty much borderline of mid-afternoon soap operas.

If you enjoy seeing lust-filled, dormant rapists bite a clenched fist before they attack, people who have immense trouble in trying to outrun poached Brontosaurus eggs, or pointing fingers at why walkie-talkie batteries aren't as delectable as car batteries, (let alone why the plastic casing doesn't melt), to name but a few perks and irregularities, then fear not, because this is the shout-fest you've been looking for.

To be honest, I'd give it a 1/10 right across the board for it's acting, script, special effects, etc, but due to it's surreal and laughable entertainment value, it's getting a more than charitable 5/10 from me. You could do worse on a lonely weekday night out in the sticks.