Here's another movie far better than it's reputation would have you believe, 1972's giant killer rabbit opus NIGHT OF THE LEPUS. Biologists are trying to find a way to hormonally destroy the overpopulation of mongrel rabbits plaguing western ranches. Unfortunately, the scientists' daughter inadvertently releases one of the test animals and the results are cattle-sized hausenpfeffer with ravenous appetites. It's actually one of the best of the 70's monster movies, but apparently most critics have never seen any rabbits beyond those fluffy domesticated pet store types. The film has been continually run down not for any technical flaws, but singularly for it's basic premise of featuring killer rabbits. Based on the book "Year of the Angry Rabbit" and featuring some stunning miniature effects, the film also boasts one of the best casts you could assemble for such a thing. Stuart Whitman and Janet Leigh are the biologists, Rory Calhoun the rancher they're trying to help, DeForest Kelley the university connection, and Paul Fix is the Sheriff, continuing a standing tradition of older cowboy stars playing lawmen in science fiction movies. Worth checking out, provided you can watch a movie on it's own merits.
No comments:
Post a Comment