Day of the Animals aka Something Is Out There

In the beginning, text on screen (very helpful device) informs us that in 1974 scientists started warning about the long term effects of the damage to the ozone layer. And that "This motion picture dramatizes what COULD happen in the near future IF we continue to do nothing to stop this damage to Nature's protective shields for life on this planet."

As the story unfolds, however, I lose the connection with the implications made in that statement. See, the danger to humanity as depicted here are animals. Considering that we are animals, as well, something is very wrong with the premise. But of course, there is no point in arguing with logic in a 1970's disaster (sort of) film. The damaged ozone layer influences animal behavior and that is that.

Our group of characters is out on a hiking trip. In what appears to be the worst timing ever. As soon as they set off, there is increasing news coverage of impending danger in places of high altitude. The hikers are heading - you guessed it - up, up, up.

Soon, the first of the group is attacked and injured. Luckily, she is still fit to walk and is sent back down the hill with one of the hikers going with her. A man. For protection. As weirder and more dangerous things start to happen to the group, not least of all the ravaging of their food supply, the group splits into two teams - one headed by the guide of the expedition and the other by Leslie Nielsen.

This is Leslie Nielsen before he became a total goofball and still pulled off bad guy. He is a loudmouthed, arrogant, racists (someone had to make bad jokes about Native Americans with one of them around - for tracking, no doubt) but still manages to convince a few of the idiot hikers to go with him even further up the hill while all the others decide to go down.

It is then that Leslie Nielsen goes bat shit. And it is glorious.

People continue to die, despite the men trying to keep the womenfolk safe. The job of the female in the film is to stand in corners, shaking from fear and/or point and scream at some dangerous sight. Also, they are given ridiculous lines like, "But they're dogs... Just dogs." And when the few survivors flee from the dogs they head straight for the water, where they believe themselves safe from the dogs. Because, you know, dogs fear the water (in this version of the future). Too bad that the woman in the scene can't swim. Always need someone to save them.

How does it all end, you ask.

Why, all the animals just drop dead, of course.

4/10