The Missing Are Deadly

I just love those made-for-TV films of the 1970's that usually ran 70-odd minutes to fill a 90-minute timeslot. Sometimes they were simplistic and contrived, but they were compact stories, and often very entertaining (some of my favourites include DYING ROOM ONLY and DELIVER US FROM EVIL). THE MISSING ARE DEADLY is one of these- and makes the best of a wild idea.

This surely must be the most unique act of teenage rebellion committed to film- certainly it is the most apocalyptic. Some screwed-up kid decides to get back at his inattentive scientist father by swiping a lab rat. Only problem is, the rodent has a plague which could wipe out the planet!

This fast thriller benefits from a great performance by Leonard Nimoy, who is 100% aggression as he follows the path of death that the kid has unwittingly caused. I haven't seen this film in over twenty years, since the last days of the late late late show.

Despite its stellar cast - Leonard Nimoy, Ed Nelson and Jose Ferrer (two murderers from the wonderful Columbo TV series on show here) - this tepid thriller never gets out of first gear in either entertaining or thrilling the viewer.

The plot, which is built around a boy taking a rat that has been experimented on and has Mombassa Fever, from his father's laboratory has originality on its side but the way the story is developed is painfully uninspiring. The suspense that could have been generated from such a premise never materialises even when the boy goes with his brother and girlfriend on a camping trip.

The characterisations are superficial and the aforementioned highly-regarded actors are left 'treading water.' It's short running time does little to compact the suspense, so much so that the standard viewer is unlikely to care much about whether individuals are saved or not.

A little-seen film that is available on YouTube but personally I would not set aside 75 minutes of my free time to watch it anytime soon. A shame really given the acting talent involved.