Day of the Animals [Blu-ray]

The first thing that came to mind when I inserted this Blu-Ray of the PG-Rated "nature gone amuck" horror film into my player was that how many of the main stars are no longer with us (Only two are still alive!). The director also passed away in a helicopter crash (he was only 30 years-old) after making one more film (THE MANITOU - 1977), which was released theatrically in the U.S. three months after his death in January 1978. This film was very sad for me to watch; not that it is a bad film (far from it), but because I always was an ardent fan of the director and all of the deceased actors (who appeared in many of the director's films). The premise for this film is very 1970s: Because of the abundant use of fluorocarbon gases in aerosol spray cans, the Earth's protective ozone layer is severely damaged, letting dangerous amounts of ultra-violet rays reach the surface of our planet, starting with high-altitude areas. The opening on-screen scrawl says that this motion picture dramatizes what COULD happen in the near future IF we continue to do nothing to stop this (A mere two years later, in October of 1978, the FDA would order the phaseout of "non-essential" uses of fluorocarbons in spray products. Could this film have helped this happen? Who knows?). The film opens with Steve Bruckner (Christopher George; GRIZZLY - 1976; R.I.P.) leading a group of hikers on a two week trip down a 5,000 foot mountain, not heeding the warnings of Ranger Tucker (Walter Barnes; PIGS - 1972; R.I.P.), who tells Steve that there have been many reports of "accidents" at that high altitude. The group of hikers and Steve take two helicopters to the top of the mountain and we are introduced to them and their quirks: Bossy and racist advertising executive Paul (Lesiie Nielsen, who would become a comedy icon in AIRPLANE - 1980; R.I.P.); Native American tracker Santee (Michael Ansara; IT'S ALIVE - 1973; R.I.P.), the brunt of Paul's racist remarks; former football player Roy (Paul Mantee; WOLF LAKE - 1978; R.I.P.), who blew out his knee and was forced to retire; cheating husband Frank (Jon Cedar; LITTLE CIGARS - 1973; R.I.P.) and his unforgiving wife Mandy (Susan Backlinie), who are on this trip to try and save their marriage; Professor MacGregor (Richard Jaeckel; THE DARK - 1979; R.I.P.), who is on this hike to study nature; divorced mother Shirley (Ruth Roman; IMPULSE - 1974; R.I.P.) who has brought her inquisitive young son John (Bobby Porter) for some bonding time; young couple Bob (Andrew Stevens; THE TERROR WITHIN - 1988) and girlfriend Beth (Kathleen Bracken); and TV reporter Terry Marsh (Lynda Day George; PIECES - 1982; who, like Stevens, is still with us at the time this review was written). As soon as our group starts their hike, they see such unusual sights as buzzards and eagles perching together in trees and when they camp out for the first night, Santee says to Steve, "There's something strange in the woods and I don't know what it is." Steve asks Santee to keep it between themselves for now because it won't take much to panic the "city folks". That night, a wolf attacks Mandy, so, the following morning, Frank takes her up the mountain to the nearest Ranger station to get her medical attention, while the rest head down the mountain on their hike. Paul keep making racial epithets of Santee's ancestry (stupidly calling him "kemo sabe" and other Native American insults) and generally making himself a pain-in-the-ass to the rest of the group (even challenging Steve's role as leader). Frank and Mandy continue to fight about his adultery while they head up the mountain, until Mandy is attacked by a flock of buzzards and falls to her death over a cliff to the boulders below (an awful optical effect), even though Frank tries to save her. Frank finds a young, dirty mute female child (Michelle Stacy) and when he gives her a slice of an orange, he is attacked by an eagle, so he grabs the young girl and heads for the nearest town (he just lost his wife, so he has a new purpose in protecting this young girl, since it's apparent that her parents have been killed). When the rest of the group discover that their first food drop has been raided by animals, Paul blows a gasket and wants to be the new boss, but the rest of them vote him down, preferring to stay with Steve. Meanwhile, Ranger Tucker gets a call from the main Ranger station telling him that animals are attacking people at 5,000 feet, so the Army is called in to evacuate the town and then the hikers on the mountain. Tucker is attacked by a pack of rats in his home (a very good and bloody scene that could never be shown in a PG film today), but he escapes after pulling a rat off his face and cutting its head off with a knife. He sends his wife to safety and then heads to town to help with the evacuation, but there a rabid-looking, scroungy dog that seems to follow his every move (more on the dog and Tucker later). Steve and his hikers are attacked by a pack of cougars that night and everyone chips-in to help one another, except Paul, who looks out for himself like the selfish jerk he is. Paul, once again, tries to assert his authority, only this time Shirley (and her unwilling son John), Bob and Beth stupidly aligned themselves with Paul (thinking it will be easier to hike 15 miles uphill to the Ranger station than 30 miles downhill to the town). Steve tries to tell them they are making a big mistake, but Santee tells him, "You can't save fools from themselves.", as the rest head down the mountain with Steve. Paul shows what a bad guy he is to his four new recruits by violently abusing everyone (including repeatedly throwing young John to the ground) and trying to assault Beth. When Bob tries to intervene, Paul impales him in the stomach with a homemade spear, killing him. As a raging thunderstorm hits, Steve and his group find and abandoned mine for shelter, while Paul and his remaining three scared-to-death prisoners are exposed to the elements. The now quite-mad Paul curses God ("You see what you want and you TAKE it!") and tries to assault Beth again, only this time he is interrupted by a grizzly bear and decides that he is strong enough to kill the mighty beast, so he charges the bear (they both put each other in a bear hug, in a winking moment to the audience), only for Paul to be mauled to death (How's that for cursing God?). Frank and the young mute girl make it to town, only to find it abandoned (except for a whole lotta rattlesnakes and that pesky mangy mutt). Frank puts the young girl in an abandoned vehicle for safety while he goes looking for a car that works, only to be bitten by rattlesnakes and attacked by the dog, killing him while the little girl watches horrified. Beth is bitten by a pack of wild dogs when she, Shirley and John discover a destroyed helicopter (the dogs are making a meal out of the helicopter's pilot nearby), so all three lock themselves in the copter and wait for help. Steve and his group find some abandoned, windowless cabins and are immediately chased by another pack of dogs. They try to keep the dogs at bay in one of the cabins, but Roy and the Professor are killed, while Steve, Terry and Santee use a small dock as a raft and head down the rapids with two angry dogs as passengers. The following morning, everyone wakes up to find all the animals dead, thanks to our Government using an experimental virus on them. Some people are immune to the virus, but others, like Ranger Tucker fall victim to it, and the Army wants to know why some people survived it, so I guess it won't be smooth sailing for our survivors! Terry says, "It's finally over!", but we all know that it won't be for them. Directed by William Girdler (ASYLUM OF SATAN - 1971; THREE ON A MEATHOOK - 1973; ABBY - 1974, GRIZZLY - 1976 and others), who would tragically die in a helicopter crash of his own while scouting locations for a film in the Philippines, doesn't give the large cast much to do (except for Leslie Nielsen, who get a chance to show his acting chops), except act scared while being attacked by various animals. But the attack scenes are well-filmed, using actual animals, building suspense, and Nielsen really does come across as a violent racist bully. The screenplay, by the late William Norton (I DISMEMBER MAMA - 1972; NIGHT OF THE JUGGLER - 1979) and his wife Eleanor Norton, is nothing but scenes of animals attacking people, but it is strangely satisfying all the same, since all of the effects are old-school and it is filled with great genre actors who are no longer with us. That's what surprised me most: for a film made in 1976, very few of the actors in it are alive today. For that fact alone, it is a great time capsule for seeing all of these actors collected together in one film. It also makes me realize how old I am since I originally saw this in a theater. Also starring Michael Andreas, Gil Lamb and an uncredited appearance from FRIDAY THE 13TH's (1980) "Crazy Ralph", Walt Gorney. Originally released on VHS by Media Home Entertainment (also released theatrically and on VHS [by Applause Productions, Inc.] under the title SOMETHING IS OUT THERE), it then got a budget fullscreen DVD release from the now-defunct DVD, Ltd. before being released in a beautiful anamorphic widescreen print on DVD & Blu-Ray by Scorpion Releasing, the preferred way of watching the film. William Girdler should have become one of the premiere directors of genre films if it wasn't for his tragic death, so to get any of his films on disc looking this good is a blessing. Now if only someone would release ABBY on home video in the U.S. officially for the first time (The injunction by Warner Bros. for copying THE EXORCIST too closely [it doesn't] is no longer active and Warners has gone on record saying so.), I will be a happy man. Rated PG, but it is somewhat bloody in spots.

If you loved the "Animals Gone Mad" theme going in the mid to late 1970s, you'll love this movie! I have the previous edition dvd special edition that was put out and I have to say, this bluray edition puts that to shame for quality of the movie plus sound. Although, this bluray did not have the alternate title or tv master of the movie, it is still worth getting. All the actors did a great job for the script that they were given. The Ozone layer is being depleted because of the over use of spray cans and the chemicals going into the atmosphere. Yeah, we've heard it all before, right? Yep. Now, it's Global Warming. A group of thrill seeking hikers go into the mountain for adventure, but soon find themselves in the fight for their lives! One by one and as a group, they are stalked by all the animals of the air and land. Soon, frustrated with their progress, they split into two groups. One led by the character played by Leslie Nielson(Hey Hotshot!) and the other by Christopher George. One group decides to press on to higher elevations and the other goes back down the mountain. I have to say, by the time Nielson's character gets under my skin, here comes a huge bear to the rescue! They don't make them like this anymore where a character literally goes after a bear and tries to take it down "bare handed" lol.But wait, it's not just the higher elevations on the mountain, it's the city below that is effected as well. Soon, the Army or National Guard is on the scene to "mop up" the situation and the radio declares the dangerous ozone has moved on or shifted out of the mountain city. All will be returned to normal within 24 hours as if the animals want to play nice again to mankind. lolHere is what you get on this New Edition:A Brand New 16x9 (2.35:1) Anamorphic Master in HD from the Original InterpositiveBrand New 5.1 Surround Sound, created from the film's Original three stripe Mag.Isolated Music Track by Composer Lalo Schifrin (Bluray exclusive)Interview with Actors Jon Cedar and Paul ManteeFun Facts and trivia segment with Mr Pickles and Kat. (A Comedic Commentary of the Actors in the film and what they went on to do or what they did prior to this movie) Hosted by a movie mogul that is eye candy ready.I would probably keep the dvd release prior to this one because of the alternate title movie itself. "Day of the Animals" was not the original title for the movie, "Something's Out There" was. So, now, I basically have a bluray/dvd combo.

One of those films you remember from yesteryear, can’t wait to see again, then feel let down. Sometimes your memories are better staying just that, memories. Saying that, it’s not a bad film, very reminiscent of Hitchcock's The Birds. Some good animal attacks scenes, but it's just not an overly exciting film. Saying that, we’re glad to have a copy in our collection, even though it's not one we'll watch very often. Quality of transfer is good as is the sound, foreign release that plays fine in English, 3.5 stars from us.

Okay...i'll keep this briefBack in 70's as a teenager, i went to see a double bill at the cinema (as what was regular in the 70's and 80's and decades before), yes 2 movies, great value, great entertainment.The second of these movies was "Day Of The Animals"..Made in 1977 and touching on ozone layer issues and some real angry animals..Basically, this is one of the best movies ever. I've owned videos, DVD'S , but this transfer on Blue Ray is quite simply EXCELLENT.It stars the great, vastly underrated Christopher George...who also starred in "Grizzly (1976)This transfer get's 5 stars where as the recently released Blu Ray of Grizzly has more grain than your local cereal..Day Of The Animals....why can't all films look as good as this on Blu Ray??Highly recommended!

My wife and I were amazed at the quality of this region free blu ray edition. I have never seen it look so good. Clear vibrant colors and excellent sound. I think this is Paul Mantee' s best role outside of Robinson Crusoe On Mars. Jon Cedar has a substantial role as well. We were fortunate to have an interview with both these talented artists sadly no longer with us.

Just checked this dvd, it's great I can listen to it in English. I've wanted this for ages. Thanks 😊

Good quality for a classic movie