Terence Fisher's dislike toward science fiction (he was much better – and happier – when directing horror films) shows slightly in this talky, slow-going alien invasion bloodcurdler. Where Fisher usually takes pains to get the atmosphere just right – with attention to the local flavour and cranking-up of suspense – Night Of The Big Heat finds him operating on autopilot, marshalling the actors through their paces and moving the story from one incident to the next with mechanical efficiency rather any real sense of spark. Having said that, the film is not all bad, not at all – it's quite good fun in its quaint way, and, if pushed to choose between this and the similar Island Of Terror (which had the same actor/director combo, plus a vaguely similar plot), many people would choose this as the better of the two films. Plus, of course, it's got the added bonus of Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing working together for the umpteenth time (Cushing admittedly is just a guest star on this occasion) – it's always nice to catch the two veterans of the macabre combining their talents.On the remote Scottish island of Fara, an inexplicable winter heat-wave is causing temperatures to rise into the 90s, 100s and beyond. At the island inn, landlady Frankie (Sarah Lawson) and her author husband Jeff (Patrick Allen) are doing a roaring trade, but both are quietly concerned about the bizarre weather conditions. In one of the rooms at the inn, secretive and brusque scientist Roderick Hanson (Christopher Lee) is busily carrying out strange experiments. Feeling quite put out by his mysterious, surreptitious and often downright rude behaviour, the islanders angrily confronts Hanson demanding answers. He is forced to admit he believes the heat-wave is caused by alien forms which are preparing to invade Earth. The sceptical islanders don't believe him to begin with, but as the temperatures continue to soar they soon find themselves accepting his tall story, and struggling to survive against the deadly extra-terrestrials.Interestingly, much of the film was shot during a bitterly cold February with the actors attempting to appear all hot and sweaty whilst wearing T-shirts, swimwear and other such unsuitable-for-the-climate robes. They play the daft scientific stuff quite well in all fairness to them, appearing persuasive and appropriately hot 'n' bothered throughout the film despite the real temperatures being close to zero. In fact the actors pretty much carry the film, generating tension in spite of the inherent silliness of the lines they're speaking. The creatures, when they belatedly appear, are hopelessly cheap and un- terrifying, rather reminiscent of the low budget Doctor Who inventions of the era. Ace low budget film-maker Roger Corman once said "I have a theory about movie monsters… you shouldn't show too much of them too soon in the movie. Whatever you can create on the screen is nowhere near as terrifying as what the viewer has already created in their mind!" That old adage is very much in evidence here – the creatures are infinitely more intriguing when they're off-screen. The tatty, papier- mache, 'made-in-the-garage' creations that show up for the final act of the film are more laughable than scary. The climax also comes across a little rushed and muddled, though to give due credit it's quite exciting in patches. Night Of The Big Heat is OK as long as you don't set your expectations too high. Cheap but cheerful fun.

This is an underrated Lee-Cushing movie that is part sci-fi, part mystery, and part soap opera. The movie tails off at the end, but the first hour hooks you as far as (1) Why is the island heating up; (2) Why is Christopher Lee so secretive and locked in his room all the time; and (3) What will happen with the love triangle. I think there is some unintentional humor with some overacting from the blob victims. And also when the writer tells his wife about his affair and his lies and his betrayal. He says it was just because "I wanted her body" and the wife was instantly forgiving...this was humorously unbelievable. Still, it's just amazing to see Cushing play a minor character who is meaningless to the plot, but he still puts all his skill and energy into the role. Modern actors can take a lesson from such an excellent professional.

A charming small scale British sci fi thriller from 1967, 'Night of the Big Heat' benefits from some good performances, solid direction, excellent set design, good editing and a plot which, whilst talky, does not lapse into boredom. In the depths of winter, while the mainland is freezing in sub zero temperatures, the island of Fara is experiencing a highly localised and inexplicable heat wave. A visiting scientist, Hanson (Christopher Lee) deduces that a bizarre alien species, possibly the vanguard of an oncoming invasion, is responsible for the weather anomaly as part of an effort to alter Earth's climate to suit their own needs. A group of increasingly isolated islanders prepare to face their foe and attempt to warn the mainland of the growing threat. Of course, much has been said of how a reasonably well made film was let down in the closing stages by the hugely inferior and disappointing aliens. Clearly, whatever slice of an already limited budget was apportioned to the special effects department was grossly inadequate. Consequently we are subjected to the spectacle of a couple of very slow moving, sub William Hartnell era Doctor Who, fried – egg looking blobs that somehow radiate intense heat and noise. Personally, I think the strengths of the film are enough to salvage it from complete ruin, but I can certainly understand how let down people must have felt by the lack lustre pay off. One question that does cross my mind, however, is just what should the aliens have looked like? Apparently in the original book they were carnivorous, heat generating, spiders and large maggot like things in the 1960 TV play but I can't help wondering how the special effects people should have approached it in the movie. I quite admire the decision not to make them stereotypically humanoid as is the case in so many sci fi thrillers. Instead we are presented with apparently sentient but completely non human, ie alien, creatures, perhaps all the better to disrupt the equilibrium of our expectations. Had they been just an energy form, that would have been too 'Star Trekky', had they been humanoid that would have been clichéd and, as they are, they're a little too early Doctor Who so the question remains; what should they have looked like? Fried egg looking blobs notwithstanding, the film, as mentioned earlier does have some strengths. Christopher Lee is on good form as the disagreeable scientist Hanson and Peter Cushing approaches the smaller role of Dr. Stone from what, for him, is an interestingly naturalistic perspective. Patrick Allen is as dependable as ever as Callum and is well supported by real life wife Sarah Lawson as Frankie and Jane Merrow as erstwhile on screen paramour Angela. Other cast members including Kenneth Cope and William Lucas all turn in adequate performances that help the film achieve its goals. Terence Fisher's direction is solid and efficient and he handles the film's most awkward moment, the attempted rape scene, with considerable bravery even though an understandable element of reticence, discernible also in a similar moment in Fisher's 'Frankenstein Must be Destroyed' (1969), is apparent, but works well in what I would argue is a surprisingly non misogynistic movie. Angela's increasing marginalisation is quite well handled too. Initially seeming like a predatory vamp, her strength seems to be drained after Callum eventually comes clean to his wife about their affair and she assumes a far less threatening role, her vengeance becoming further distilled through interactions that could never have been predicted when she originally formatted what could have been either a revenge scenario or a straightforward attempt to usurp Frankie. Although underdeveloped in places, the film is technically adequate and I personally think they did a good job of making people look like they were suffering from heat effects in the middle of a cold February. The DVD commentary, however, is really unfocused; the film itself is seldom talked about but it is interesting to hear the random things Christopher Lee comes out with and, consequently, it's never less than entertaining. I also noticed that the DVD cut is slightly longer than the one last shown on TV here in the UK with an extra scene involving the dissemination of the walky talkies which, in the other version, just appear from nowhere. All told, I find the film makes for a pleasant distraction; it's a nice representation of times past, a period I vaguely remember from my childhood, and stands up to subsequent viewings as long as you can forgive the fried eggs!Addendum; I have since managed to track down a copy of the book and am now sure Christopher Lee must have read it, so convincing is his portrayal of Hanson (Harson in the book),it really is as if the character has come to life! Also, the aliens weren't spiders; the real aliens sent these big, nasty spiders to see if they could survive on our planet prior to their own possible arrival.

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.