The Cremators

Three hundred years ago, something from space fell into the lake giving rise to a giant mobile fireball that appears periodically to roll through the countryside incinerating people and animals. This low-budget time-waster is based on Julian May's 1951 novella 'Dune Roller' (which had been previously recreated as an episode of 'Tales of Tomorrow' (s.1, ep. 15, 1951) and as a BBC audio-drama in 1961). The script, acting and cinematography are amateurish, the simple story doesn't make a lot of sense, and depiction of the roving ball of fire is underwhelming (the repeated scenes of the fiery orb emerging from the lake and its pursuit of the woman in the rowboat are the best parts of the film). The soundtrack is annoyingly intrusive and the frequent ominous audio-flourishes when scenes change quickly become laughable. For tolerant aficionados only.