I had no idea, prior to seeing it on the shelf at my local Tar-zhette, that Mego had even produced a figure based on the Reptile, one of the lesser-known monsters from the heyday of Hammer Studios.
It was a most pleasant surprise, and of course I had to buy her. The procurement of this lovely figure inspired me to sit down and watch the movie again. This latter reminded me how much I enjoy the film. It really is a terrific movie.
THE REPTILE is a werewolf movie, through and through. It follows the formula perfectly. Only instead of a werewolf, replace the central character with a were-cobra. Everything else is the same: the transformations, the guilt-ridden victim who cannot keep herself from killing while in her bestial form, the condition being brought about by a curse. Lovely location filming (THE REPTILE shared prominent sets with THE PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES, alongside which it was filmed, with the result that the two movies have a most similar “feel”), a solid script, and quality acting from the likes of Noel Willman, Jacqueline Pearce, and Michael Ripper (the latter two also appeared in THE PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES) make for a most enjoyable viewing experience.
