La Revanche des animaux

Day of the Animals: 4/10: Filmed in glare-o-vision (either to emulate a world without ozone or to give me a headache) Day of the Animals ask what if all the animals went crazy and decided to work together to kill B-movie actors. Hmm.

Unlike most nature gone wild movies that focus on one deadly animal (snakes, spiders, small dogs wearing the cutest rat outfits.) Day of the Animals, like its predecessor Frogs, throws every living creature at the cast. (Though in Day of the Animals defense unlike Frogs it at least sticks to animals, no one gets killed by the Spanish moss.)

It doesn't work. It really doesn't work. The animal attacks are laughable. Rats and snakes on fishing lines are thrown at actors. A shirtless Leslie Nielson who gets attacked by a bear rug in a scene right out of that killer carpet movie The Creeping Terror. And, most laughably, the so called attacking dogs. Whom are downright lovable complete with wagging tails. (I've seen Benji look fiercer than those German shepherds whom looked every bit like they were chasing a miniature chuck wagon.)

As for the acting, well you get a shirtless Leslie Nielson hamming it up (years before he did Airplane and "went" into comedy) and Jon Cedar channeling a third rate William Shatner singing Barry Manilow (you won't be able to get that Mandy tune out of your head.)

The film in fact has plenty of cannon fodder (even that old comedic and anti-Semitic stand-by the overprotective Jewish mother played by Ruth Roman like she was directed by Leni Riefenstahl). It even has the Poseidon Adventure scene when one pig-headed group splits off from the other.

Day of the Animals also has the worst DVD transfer ever. A third rate pan and scan picture and no chapters or even a title screen. And unlike its companion piece Grizzly it needed a good transfer. After all it's filmed in glare-o-vision.

Eco-horror was one of the notable genres of 1970s cinema. William Girdler's "Day of the Animals" is a prime example. It depicts ozone depletion causing all wildlife above 5,000 feet to turn against humans. Of course, the best scene is Leslie Nielsen - still a few years away from his career in comedy* - wrestling a grizzly. This is a movie that, ridiculous as it is, must have been really fun to film. The animals really look like some mean mothers.

Yes, it's one of the many silly exploitation flicks of the era. Totally enjoyable, I might add. Unfortunately, the director got killed in a helicopter crash in the Philippines less than a year after the release. Too bad.

Also starring Christopher George, Lynda Day George, Richard Jaeckel, Andrew Stevens (Stella Stevens's son) and Michael Ansara (Barbara Eden's former husband).

*As late as 1987, Nielsen co-starred in the dead serious "Nuts".

This is a real cool B movie that delivers the goods !!! William Girdler also made the very entertaining GRIZZLY in 1976. The cast do a good job and the direction is solid. Leslie Nielsen put in a good strong performance as an unhinged kinda guy and once again , poor Susan Backlinie does sterling stuntwork as the victim of wolves and vultures (the vulture attack sequence is the highlight of the movie and splendidly done. The score by Lalo Schifrin is creepy and atmospheric and adds a neat touch to the overall "feel" of the film. I am lucky enough to own the original Warners UK video release and would love to get hold of the R1 DVD.

This was better than GRIZZLY in showing off some horrifying images of assorted wild animals hungry over human prey. On a horror level, only a slight bit of feeling. It still compares to WILD AMERICA because there's hardly anything here that best distinguishes between an evil monster or just a typical ol' wild animal. Sure it's violent, but that's nature as God intended. I can't understand why the movie heads for the wrong direction, thanks to Leslie Nielsen becoming an obnoxious freak. Even the end provides no clearer definition based on the goofy plot it has. Better head for the zoo.

DAY OF THE ANIMALS is Director William Girdler's take on the "nature's revenge" film.

Trail guide, Steve Buckner (Christopher George) takes a group of city folks up into the mountains, unaware that something strange has taken place. It seems that mankind has depleted the ozone layer with their aerosol sprays, causing the wildlife to go berserk.

Now, Buckner and company find themselves up against an onslaught from land, stream, and air! This generally consists of shots of creatures looking bemused.

Meanwhile, hiker, Paul Jensen (Leslie Nielsen) begins acting like a total jackass, and native American, Daniel Santee (Michael Ansara) gives wise advice and looks warily into the forest. Professor Macgregor (Richard Jaeckel) takes pictures, and TV news personality, Terry Marsh (Lynda Day George) appears concerned. Unsurprisingly, the hellishness factor increases exponentially, while Jensen becomes an even bigger jerk, and the humans are put on the endangered species list!

DOTA is as enjoyable as it is absurd. It also boasts some superb shots of the natural surroundings, and tons of cool critters! So, if you love the great outdoors, or simply believe that mankind has ruled the Earth long enough, this movie will satisfy!

BEST BITS: #1- The flying rat attack! #2- Jensen shedding his shirt and coming completely unglued, going bare-chested like an eeevil Tarzan!

Indeed, this could be our future...