Day of the Animals (1977)

A battle for survival ensues after a group of hikers encounters a chemically imbalanced forest.

Director:

William Girdler

Writers:

William W. Norton (screenplay) (as William Norton), Eleanor E. Norton (screenplay)

Stars:

Christopher George, Leslie Nielsen, Lynda Day George

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christopher George	...	Steve Buckner
Leslie Nielsen	...	Paul Jenson
Lynda Day George	...	Terry Marsh
Richard Jaeckel	...	Professor MacGregor
Michael Ansara	...	Daniel Santee
Ruth Roman	...	Shirley Goodwyn
Jon Cedar	...	Frank Young
Paul Mantee	...	Roy Moore
Walter Barnes	...	Ranger Tucker
Andrew Stevens	...	Bob Denning
Susan Backlinie	...	Mandy Young
Kathleen Bracken	...	Beth Hughes
Bobby Porter	...	John Goodwyn
Michelle Stacy	...	Little Girl
Michael Andreas	...	Sheriff

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

lion | mountain | ozone layer | survival | helicopter | 

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Taglines:

There's no place to hide on...The Day of the Animals

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Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 May 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

Something Is Out There

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,200,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Film Ventures International (FVI),Mid-America Pictures,Montoro Productions Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Shooting took place at Long Barn, California, on Todd-AO 35 film.

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Goofs

After Tucker watches the news report in the diner, the camera is visible in a reflection as it moves towards the window.

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Quotes

Roy Moore: The canteen's been evolved, Prof. In and out.

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Connections

Featured in Dusk to Dawn Drive-In Trash-o-Rama Show Vol. 1 (1996)

User Reviews

Leslie put the rug down and come over here.

Day of the Animals: 4/10: Filmed in glare-o-vision (either to emulate a world without ozone or to give me a headache) Day of the Animals ask what if all the animals went crazy and decided to work together to kill B-movie actors. Hmm.

Unlike most nature gone wild movies that focus on one deadly animal (snakes, spiders, small dogs wearing the cutest rat outfits.) Day of the Animals, like its predecessor Frogs, throws every living creature at the cast. (Though in Day of the Animals defense unlike Frogs it at least sticks to animals, no one gets killed by the Spanish moss.)

It doesn't work. It really doesn't work. The animal attacks are laughable. Rats and snakes on fishing lines are thrown at actors. A shirtless Leslie Nielson who gets attacked by a bear rug in a scene right out of that killer carpet movie The Creeping Terror. And, most laughably, the so called attacking dogs. Whom are downright lovable complete with wagging tails. (I've seen Benji look fiercer than those German shepherds whom looked every bit like they were chasing a miniature chuck wagon.)

As for the acting, well you get a shirtless Leslie Nielson hamming it up (years before he did Airplane and "went" into comedy) and Jon Cedar channeling a third rate William Shatner singing Barry Manilow (you won't be able to get that Mandy tune out of your head.)

The film in fact has plenty of cannon fodder (even that old comedic and anti-Semitic stand-by the overprotective Jewish mother played by Ruth Roman like she was directed by Leni Riefenstahl). It even has the Poseidon Adventure scene when one pig-headed group splits off from the other.

Day of the Animals also has the worst DVD transfer ever. A third rate pan and scan picture and no chapters or even a title screen. And unlike its companion piece Grizzly it needed a good transfer. After all it's filmed in glare-o-vision.