Alex da Silva 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.

chet19 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.

Chris Gaskin I taped Night Of The Big Heat when BBC1 screened it during the early hours a few years ago.The Northern island of Fara is experiencing very warm temperatures even though it is the middle of Winter while the rest of the UK is seeing the usual Winter weather. At the same time, people are being killed in mysterious circumstances, all being burned to death. It turns out these killings and heat are caused by aliens...This movie is shot well in colour and is atmospheric and creepy throughout.The excellent cast include horror regulars Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing and are joined by Patrick Allen (When Dinosaurs Ruled The Earth), Kenneth Cope (Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)), Jane Merrow, Sarah Lawson and Percy Herbert.Hight Of The Big Heat is certainly worth checking out. Excellent.Rating: 4 stars out of 5.

MartianOctocretr5 Cheaply done fast-food sci-fi that actually works pretty well for the most part. A small British isle inexplicably has temps soar into the 90's, in the dead of winter when the temp should be around 30. A mysterious scientist named Dr. Hanson (Christopher Lee) is seen sneaking around and bizarre noises can be heard from time to time by the few island residents.The movie carefully builds tension of the unseen danger, by scattering a few clues about the nature of what the islanders are up against, without showing the menace until deep into the film. Lee has shared the screen with Peter Cushing before, and does here again. Cushing is a local medical doctor, who, like most of the characters, hangs out at a pub owned by an author named Jeff Callum (Patrick Allen). Good acting by the entire cast, and the characters are developed well.There's some good old time "monster encounter" action at a spot called (love this name) "the pit", and the film's "unseen monster" approach works well because of it. When the creatures aren't around, the film provides for plenty of interesting subplot conflicts among the characters.There are a few clichés, but they were probably fresher plot devices in the '60's when this was made. The big negative on this movie is the abrupt and poorly thought out ending, which nullifies most of the value of what the characters had been doing throughout the whole story. It's like they simply ran out of money, and quit.The movie has a dud ending, but otherwise it's a good watch for better than average sci-fi.