There is nothing better on Halloween than a good monster movie. Which is why this month's serial is "Panther Girl of the Kongo", Republic's attempt to combine the serial with the giant bug craze started by "Them!" (1954).

Wildlife photographer Jean Evans (Phyllis Coates), who is also known as the Panther Girl for having once saved an Utanga native from an attacking panther, films a giant crawfish. When the natives refuse to help her take any more pictures out of fear of this 'devil beast', Jean sends for her friend and big game hunter Larry Saunders (Myron Healey) to help her hunt down and destroy the monster.

What noone knows is that the giant crawfish are being created by Dr. Morgan, who is trying to drive the natives off so he can work a hidden diamond mine. He sends his two henchmen Cass (stuntman/actor John Day) and Rand (Mike Ragan) to the Utanga village to see if the natives are scared enough to leave. Finding Saunders at thevillage, Cass and Rand try to scare him off only to get the crap beat out of them by the big game hunter.

Morgan grows another giant crawfish and has some Returi natives, whom he has addicted to drugs, drive the monsters toward the Utango village. A native sees the monster and rushes to tell Jean and Larry. They immediately set off in pursuit.

As Larry tries to shoot the creature he is attacked by the Returi. Jean, who was circlign around, gets grabbed by one of the creatures claws. Larry subdues his attackers and rescues Jean before her arm is crushed. The wounded crawfish crawls off into the jungle.

Later at the village, Cass and Rand show up saying they've heard rumors of giant monsters. Jean shows them her film in the hpoe of scaring them out of the territory. Having been told Jean is taking the film to the authorities the next day, Cass and Rand return that night to steal it.

Another fight breaks out and Cass gets captured. Larry plans to take Cass to town with the film. Rand and the Returi natives set up an ambush that allows Rand to escape with the film.

Morgan grows another monster to set loose on the Utanga village. When a Returi native is injured by the crawfish he is sent to the Utanga's to stir up trouble. Jean and Larry set out to hunt again.

Jean is captured and tied to a tree. The Returi's use a jungle drum to draw the attention of a killer gorilla. Luckily Larry arrives in time to kill the beast by shooting it about thirty times in the chest. Returning to the village Jean decides to send a runner for a constable to look into the Returi attacks.

Meanwhile Larry goes to see Dr. Morgan, who is posing as a simple research chemist, to warn him of the Returi. While he is talking to the scientist Cass and Rand show up to tell Morgan there are now two claw monsters instead of just one. Larry attempts to capture them but a fight breaks out. After Larry is knocked unconscious Morgan sends his henchmen out to the jungle to hide. He revives Larry and says he drove off Cass and Rand. Before leaving Larry mentions the comming of the constable.

Cass and Rand have the Returi trick the heroes into a quicksand trap. It doesn't work as Jean is able to pull Larry to safety while the constable wounds one of the natives.

The wounded Returi claims he was trying to kill Jean because she brought the devil beast into existence by magic. The Utqangas start to lose confidence in the Panther Girl until she kills a lion in a cage armed only with a knife. Their faith restored the villagers agree to help Jean rid the jungle of these terrible beasts.

Comming as it did at the end of the serial era "Panther Girl of the Kongo" is chock full of stock footage. Some of it, like Dave Sharpe's acrobatic vine swinging from "Jungle Girl" (1941), is intercut effectively. Other sequences just don't work. The shots of Ray "Crash" Corrigan in an ape suit from "Darkest Africa" (1936) don't match the new footage. This is due to the use of a completely different ape costume in the new footage.

Though known for their great special effects this Republic serial disappoints in that area as well. Using a technique that would be just as ineffective in Ray Kellog's "The Giant Gila Monster" (1959), normal sized crawfish are put on sets with miniture props. There is almost no interaction with the actors except for a large plastic looking claw that comes out of the folliage to occasionally grab someone.

This serial differs from other serials by the increased amount of graphic onscreen violence. When the gorill is shot he bleeds quite heavily. People come out of fist fights looking like they've been in a real fight with blackeyes, bleeding noses, and cut lips. Since most serials have someone come out of a fight just dusting themselves off this added realism must have been startling in 1955.

This serial does have some good points. It is one of the better acted serials of the fifties. Coates and Healey have an easy going camraderie. They actually appear to be old friends insteadf of two people just thrown together. Healey is especially good but then he was an old hand at appearing in monster movies in the fifties. Coates carries herselfwell and actually looks shaken up after a monster attack in Chapter Two.

John Day and Mike Ragan are better than average henchmen. Both invest their parts with some personality and intelligence. They don't have to run back to the boss for orders all the time. They can think for themselves and even argue with the boss at times. Truly groundbreaking for a serial.

Unfortunately Arthur Space is as good in his role as Dr. Morgan. His portrayal of a mad scientist comes off as more like a harried pharmacist with his nervous demenor and constant hand wringing. But the big question is why is he wearing a tie in the middle of the jungle? Which brings to mind where did Jean get a silver tea set out there as well.

All kidding aside the serial made a big stride forward in it's portrayal of natives. Though still cliche'd the Utangas are at least allowed to have some dignity and individuality. Something jungle features weren't doing at the time.