The Monolith Monsters (1957) is a uniquely imaginative science fiction thriller that blends geological terror with classic 1950s atomic-age anxiety. When meteor fragments crash near a desert town, strange black rocks begin to grow into towering crystal monoliths whenever exposed to water. Worse yet, they drain the silicon from human bodies, turning people to stone. As the crystals multiply, a geologist and a schoolteacher race against time to stop the alien growth before it overwhelms the entire region. Produced by Universal-International Pictures, this cult favorite stands out for its original premise, suspenseful pacing, and chilling special effects.