Day of the Animals (1977)

User Rating:

4.8/10   

Director:

William Girdler

Writers:

Edward L. Montoro (story)
Eleanor E. Norton (writer)

Release Date:

13 May 1977 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

A shocking vision of things to come...

Plot:

A battle for survival as hikers encounter a chemically imbalanced forest.

Plot Keywords:

Ozone Layer | Mountain Lion | Wildlife | Vulture | Rat

Cast

Christopher George	...	Steve Buckner
Leslie Nielsen	...	Paul Jenson
Lynda Day George	...	Terry Marsh
Richard Jaeckel	...	Prof. Taylor MacGregor
Michael Ansara	...	Daniel Santee
Ruth Roman	...	Mrs. Shirley Goodwyn
Jon Cedar	...	Frank Young
Paul Mantee	...	Roy Moore
Walter Barnes	...	Ranger Tucker
Andrew Stevens	...	Bob Denning
Susan Backlinie	...	Mandy Young
Kathleen Bracken	...	Beth Hughes
Bobby Porter	...	John Goodwyn
Michelle Stacy	...	Little Girl
Michael Andreas	...	Sheriff

Also Known As:

Something Is Out There

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo

Certification:

Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Company:

Film Ventures International (FVI)

Trivia:

This film was sometimes mistaken as a sequel to William Girdler's Grizzly (1976), mostly because it has basically the same plot, cause director, production and distribution company, producer and features Richard Jaeckel and Christopher George, who appeared in "Grizzly". There was a sequel written for "Grizzly called "Grizzly 2", but it never got past the script stage.

Quotes:

Paul Jenson: Hey, hot shot. We're out of food.
Steve Buckner: I know!
Paul Jenson: Well, where's that food that's supposed to be around here?
Steve Buckner: It's up ahead.
Paul Jenson: You say.
Steve Buckner: That's right. I say.
Paul Jenson: You hear that, everyone? Hot shot says there's food up ahead. That is, if he's reading his map right. Well, what the hell, let's get going. I'm hungry.
Steve Buckner: Okay Mr. Jenson. Get your ass in gear and let's go!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in 10 Items or Less (2006)

Great fun; nature strikes back with a real fury in this one.

A disparate group of hikers led by rugged mountain guide Steve Buckner (the always solid Christopher George) is trapped in the wilderness by an onslaught of animals which are all being driven into a frenzy by a depleted ozone layer (according to this movie, it's the fluorocarbons released into the air that are responsible).

It truly is survival of the fittest time in director William Girdlers' follow-up to his killer bear flick "Grizzly". It's a pretty enjoyable B movie with a supporting cast full of familiar faces like Richard Jaeckel, Lynda Day George, Ruth Roman, Michael Ansara, Andrew Stevens, and last but by no means least, an over-the-top Leslie Nielsen whose foolhardy, macho bravado is just priceless. His acting practically makes the whole movie, especially when he insists on going head-to-head with a bear - while shirtless. Susan Backlinie, the highly memorable first victim of "Jaws", actually repeats that duty here - she's the first to go!

I had a very good time watching this one. The animal wranglers on this film certainly earned their pay; many of the attack scenes were genuinely harrowing. The eye-popping scenery of the High Sierras looks great as photographed by Robert Sorrentino, and Lalo Schifrins' score is perfectly ominous. Director Girdler paces and stages it with considerable panache, and while some of the victims can be annoying and are really no more than fodder for the rampaging animals, he still made me uneasy to see what would become of them.

If you're like me and are partial to "nature strikes back" cinema to begin with, I'm sure you'll have a good time with this as well.

8/10