Cataclysm (1980)

Police detective, Mitchell, investigating the death of a victim of a Nazi concentration camp discovers a nightclubbing playboy who has strange powers over women and is seemingly ageless.

Directors:

Phillip Marshak, Tom McGowan,

Writer:

Philip Yordan

Stars:

Cameron Mitchell, Marc Lawrence, Faith Clift

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Cameron Mitchell	...	Lt. Sterne
Marc Lawrence	...	Abraham Weiss / Dieter
Faith Clift	...	Claire Hansen
Richard Moll	...	James Hanson (as Charles Moll)
Maurice Grandmaison	...	Papini
Robert Bristol	...	Olivier
Klint Stevenson	...	Jim
Elizabeth Martin
Christie Starley	...	Ann (as Christie Wagner)
Robyn Russell	...	Mrs. Ziegler
Georgia Geerling	...	Waitress
T.J. Savage	...	Morgue attendant
Phil Yordan Jr.	...	Waiter
Norma Clift	...	Old bookstore woman
Lou Edwards

Storyline

Police detective, Mitchell, investigating the death of a victim of a Nazi concentration camp discovers a nightclubbing playboy who has strange powers over women and is seemingly ageless.

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Plot Keywords:

death | nazi | occult | night club | vision | 

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Genres:

Horror

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Also Known As:

The Nightmare Never Ends

Filming Locations:

La Jolla, San Diego, California, USA

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min 88 min (DVD)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

The car used to run over Satan's Little Helper towards the end of the movie miraculously repairs its own windscreen between shots.

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Crazy Credits

This motion picture is protected under laws of the United States and other countries and its unauthorized duplication, distribution, or exhibition may result in civil liability and criminal prosecution. NO FOOLIN'.

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Connections

Referenced in Video Nasties: Moral Panic, Censorship & Videotape (2010)

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Soundtracks

"I'm Your Lover"
Written by Billy Kirkland
Produced by Billy Kirkland
Performed by Billy Kirkland

User Reviews

The Devil Is Loose Again!

"The investigation into the mysterious death of an aging Nazi war criminal hunter brings a surprising revelation to the cop working on the case. It appears the old man was actually following an individual with ties to the Nazis, who seems to have not aged in appearance in spite of the passage of over 30 (sic) years. The policeman and some other individuals decide to track down the mysterious individual to find out his horrifying secret," according to the DVD sleeve's synopsis.

The appropriately named Faith Clift (as Dr. Claire Hansen) and atheist writer husband Richard "Charles" Moll (as James Hanson) go to sinful Las Vegas to see the shows and promote Mr. Moll's book "God Is Dead". Ms. Clift is troubled by nightmarish dreams about Nazis. Meanwhile, Marc Lawrence (as Abraham Weiss), a blathering Jew, has traced Nazi war criminal Robert Bristol (as Mr. Olivier) to Vegas; and, he reports the finding to police lieutenant Cameron Mitchell (as Sterne). At first, Mr. Mitchell won't believe old Mr. Lawrence, because young Mr. Bristol hasn't aged in 35 years.

"Cataclysm" (aka "Satan's Supper" aka "The Nightmare Never Ends") is a classic "so-bad-it's-good" film. Although others try, nobody in the cast can best Clift's supremely awful performance; her effort is astonishing. Also, watch Mitchell ("High Chaparral") defeat Moll ("Night Court") for best artificial hair. Bristol is delightfully devilish; it's too bad he, Maurice Grandmaison (as Papini), Klint Stevenson (as Jim), and Christie Wagner (as Ann) have so few screen credits; their characterizations are perfect.

Films like this hardly ever have good endings; admittedly, it's truly difficult to appropriately end a story as bad as this one -- but writer Philip Yordan and company come up with a real winner; it may make you want to click your heels… or hooves, as the case may be. See it with an open heart, or liver…