jc-osms I really wish the TV channels here would show more films like this in the ghetto slots rather than the cheap American TV movies that are usually screened. For me then this was a rare chance to see an early Hammer Horror movie and the great Peter Cushing's first of many with the studio, into the bargain.I liked many aspects of the movie, not least the unexpected ecological strain to the narrative culminating in a neat plot twist at the end. Sure, the five man team hunting Bigfoot are reduced to one as per horror tradition but interestingly not one of them is ripped from limb to limb or eaten alive as might have been expected. Neither is the Yeti posited as the unthinking eat-now-ask-questions-later creature I was expecting but is instead portrayed as almost "homo-superior" with the hunting homo-sapiens in an interesting deviation from the norm, shown as being the barbarians.The appearance of the Yeti itself is artfully shielded from the viewer, even after the team kill one with its looming close-up at the climax not shown full-face. Instead therefore, of rooting for the humans in pursuit, it's the innocent Yeti with whom we're meant to feel sympathy with the obvious comparison with modern-day man, as then, either seeking to capture rare beasts for commercial exploitation or more brutally just vaingloriously hunting them to extinction, giving the story relevance today, with our world of ever-diminishing creatures.There's a nice ambiguity in the final scene where the viewer isn't quite sure if last-man-standing Cushing is willingly or unwillingly covering up the Yeti's existence.I was impressed with the conveyance of the snowy mountains of Tibet, even if I was always aware of the set-bound nature of the close-up shots. The acting too was very good, with Hammer's usual mix of American and British actors trying to get them a toe-hold I would imagine in both English-speaking markets. Cushing is best as he's the only principal who avoids occasionally hamming it up, but by and large the ensemble playing is very good. Val Guest's direction includes plenty of atmospheric dread and cleverly puts suspense before horror in moving the story forward.I really must keep a weather eye out for more Hammer films of the era, especially if they're of this high standard.

Prismark10 Despite the title this is really not a monster on the rampage horror movie that you might expect from Hammer. Writer Nigel Kneale goes for quirky science and director Val Guest adds atmospheric direction on a low budget in this spooky thriller.Peter Cushing is principled botanist John Rollason searching for evidence of the Yeti in the Himalayas with an expedition team that includes dodgy Forrest Tucker who is more like a sinister Barnum type showman looking for monetary gain by capturing a Yeti.The creature is very much kept off screen for a lot of the time as Kneale explores humanity's darker side as represented by the likes of Tucker. It is suggested that the Yeti are gentle, intelligent beings from a superior civilisation that one day will take over from humans and Rollason does not view them as monsters.The film has a moral message aimed at perils of human greed and its penchant for destruction.

elizabeth197 Whilst the story is thought provoking the practicalities of life in the Himalayas are completely ignored. If even one bullet was fired it would start an avalanche which would carry all before it so for an American gangster style exchange of bullets to take place up there is a complete nonsense. It is also well below 0 so for them to leave their ears uncovered and strip off their jumpers inside the shelter - is laughable. It is a known fact that the locals NEVER take their clothes off and simply put on new ones over the old which eventually rot away! The lack of research into ACTUAL life in these places is remarkable. As for shouting to each over at that altitude - anybody who have been up in the mountains knows that even clapping one's hands will provoke an avalanche - shouting is a "no-no" up there!

kalibeans I finally decided to write a small review of this movie because I truly believe it deserves higher than the 6.4 currently on IMDb. When the feeling of a movie sticks with you decades later - that means something. The eerie mournful monastery in the Himalaya's was terrifying to me when I first saw this film as a young teen. The bale of the Abominable Snowman was much more frightening than any special effects creature. And Peter Cushing was at his best in this film. Forrest Tucker also gave a great performance as the rugged, uncaring hunter. It had just that right element of unease and unfamiliarity (the Himalaya's) that made it all the more creepy. If you are looking for an entertaining 91 minutes of that special Hammer tingle - especially on a dark snowy night - check out The Abominable Snowman. It does not disappoint.