The Food of the Gods (1976)

A group of friends travel to a remote Canadian island to hunt, only to be attacked by giant killer animals which have populated the place.

Director:

Bert I. Gordon

Writers:

H.G. Wells (portion of novel), Bert I. Gordon (screenplay)

Stars:

Marjoe Gortner, Pamela Franklin, Ralph Meeker

1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Marjoe Gortner	...	Morgan
Pamela Franklin	...	Lorna
Ralph Meeker	...	Bensington
Jon Cypher	...	Brian
Ida Lupino	...	Mrs. Skinner
John McLiam	...	Mr. Skinner
Belinda Balaski	...	Rita
Tom Stovall	...	Thomas
Chuck Courtney	...	Davis
Reg Tunnicliffe	...	Ferry Attendant

Storyline

Morgan and his friends are on a hunting trip on a remote Canadian island when they are attacked by a swarm of giant wasps. Looking for help, Morgan stumbles across a barn inhabited by an enormous killer chicken. After doing some exploring, they discover the entire island is crawling with animals that have somehow grown to giant size. The most dangerous of all of these, however, are the rats, who are mobilizing to do battle with the human intruders.

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Plot Keywords:

when animals attack | murder of a woman | woman with a gun | island | killer animal | 

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Taglines:

H.G. WELLS predicted the atom bomb, nuclear energy and space travel...But his most frightening prediction was of a ecology gone berserk. WAS HE RIGHT AGAIN?

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Genres:

Adventure | Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 June 1976 (USA)

Also Known As:

H.G. Wells' The Food of the Gods

Filming Locations:

Cowan's Point, Bowen Island, British Columbia, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

American International Pictures (AIP)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

British actress Pamela Franklin's last feature film, although she would continue to work in television on several guest starring roles.

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Goofs

When Morgan first meets Mrs. Skinner's rooster, the legs (from the knees down) are visible of the crew member wielding the giant chicken head.

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Quotes

Lorna Scott: You don't care about anybody but yourself, do you?
Jack Bensington: Is that what you think of me?
Lorna Scott: I think you're the most selfish man I know.
Jack Bensington: So why do you work for me?
Lorna Scott: Because jobs for female bacteriologists are just not that easy to find, Jack.
Jack Bensington: So who told you to be one?
Lorna Scott: You're a bastard, did you know that?
Jack Bensington: Matter of fact, I do.
[laughs]

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Crazy Credits

End credits play over a stilled image of a child sitting in a school class drinking milk, not knowing it has the growth substance.

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Connections

Referenced in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Of Rats and Men (2014)

User Reviews

So bad it's good!

Wasps, worms, chickens, and rats feed off of an icky, gooey substance that causes them to grow to gigantic proportions, then terrorize the occupants of a remote mountain cabin. This trashy adaptation of the classic H.G. Wells story isn't just any ordinary bad movie. It's a movie that starts off so bad that you are compelled to actually keep watching it to see how much worse it can possibly get, and you have one heck of a good time in the process. Surprisingly, the film does have some fine points. The special effects are really quite acceptable, considering the era and the film's limited budget. And, amazingly, some of the performers manage to retain their dignity. Pamela Franklin as a sassy lady scientist and Ida Lupino as a bible-spouting farmer's wife come off best. This movie was a remake of the 1965 release VILLAGE OF THE GIANTS, also filmed by Bert I. Gordon.