Day of the Animals

1977

Action / Horror / Sci-Fi / Thriller

10
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Rotten 30% · 5 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Spilled 30% · 1K ratings
IMDb Rating 5.3/10 10 3623 3.6K

Plot summary

The depletion of the earth's ozone layer causes animals above the altitude of 5000 feet to run amok, which is very unfortunate for a group of hikers who get dropped off up there by helicopter just before the quarantine is announced.

Top cast

Lynda Day George as Terry Marsh
Leslie Nielsen as Paul Jenson
Michelle Stacy as Little Girl
Andrew Stevens as Bob Denning
720p.BluRay 1080p.BluRay 2160p.BluRay
897.39 MB
1280*534
English 2.0
PG
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 37 min
Seeds ...
1.63 GB
1920*800
English 2.0
PG
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 37 min
Seeds 87
4.41 GB
3840*2160
English 2.0
PG
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 37 min
Seeds ...

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by Wuchak 6 / 10

***What if animals went batty and attacked humans?***

***What if animals went batty and attacked humans?*** Animals at high altitudes go crazy in the Sierra Nevada Mountains due to exposure to ultraviolet radiation, the result of depletion of the ozone layer. A dozen hikers regrettably get dropped off up there by helicopter just before the quarantine is announced. The backpackers are played by the likes of Christopher George (the guide), Leslie Nielsen (a boorish exec), Lynda Day George (an anchorwoman), Richard Jaeckel (a professor) and Michael Ansara (an AmerIndian guide). “Day of the Animals” (1977) is a nature-strikes-back flick cut from the same cloth as “The Birds” (1963), “Frogs” (1972) and “Grizzly” (1976). It was made by the director of the latter, William Girdler, who died at the age of 30 in early 1979 while scouting locations for his next film in the Philippines when his helicopter hit electrical lines. Although “Day” is superior to “Grizzly,” it’s not on the level of “The Birds.” The characters are dull except for those played by Nielsen, Ansara and George. It doesn’t help that Girdler doesn’t know how to photograph women, although he had the resources: blonde Susan Backlinie (Mandy) and brunette Kathleen Bracken (Beth). The first half is relatively tedious, but things pick up for the second and the animals are wonderful (hawks, vultures, cougars, snakes, rats and a bear). Speaking of the bear, Nielsen’s mad showdown with a bruin is a highlight, although the idea was lifted from the end of "Sands of the Kalahari" (1965). The film runs 1 hour, 37 minutes, and was shot in the Sierra Nevada Mountains near Long Barn, California, about 25 miles northwest of Yosemite National Park. GRADE: B-
Reviewed by lee_eisenberg 6 / 10

Surely you can't expect Leslie Nielsen to wrestle a grizzly. He does, and no calling anyone Shirley.

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".
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