Sorry to Disappoint You, But ... This is a Pretty Good Horror Flick
Really enjoyed this in a theater in 1977, and the Scorpion Releasing Blu-Ray today just as much.
The story is good, the situation believable, and the animals (and later, some characters) provide menace and suspense and even some scares throughout a magnificent natural backdrop that could hardly be better. The widescreen Todd-AO 35 cinematography shines throughout, making the most of it. How brilliant was Girdler to shoot his movie mostly in a national park? Great production value for next to nothing.
Not everything works. The initial introduction of the characters about to board is the most unbearable three minutes — lame exposition, poor dialogue, sub-TV acting. Ruth Roman is terrible throughout, as is Bobby Porter playing an annoying kid. Did anyone ever think Lynda Day George could act? Many of the others are barely adequate. Best were Ansara, Jaeckel, Cedar, and of course Leslie Nielsen.
In Paul Mantee’s interview we learn that director Girdler knew camera equipment very well but did not know how to talk to actors. This well explains a great-looking film with beautiful composures but often cringe-worthy dialogue. We first meet Sheriff Michael Andreas in an awkward expository conversation with Christopher Reeves, but later he gets his acting game on in a dramatic closeup at the bar listening to news of the coming plague. He’s sweating, already concerned something was going seriously awry in his little town. “Better let me have a big slice of pineapple pie covered in ice cream,” he says, staring straight ahead, as if it might be his last. One of many effective dramatic scenes, highlighted by Robert Sorrentino’s luscious cinematography that extracts full value from the natural beauty of green hills, blue skies, starlight sun streaks, and majesticly threatening wild animals.
The opening title sequence is one of the bext-looking and most effective of the decade, regardless of budget. Those gorgeous shots and Lalo Schiffrin’s ominous score well set the tone for what comes.