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| Things are looking bad when I pull out my thesaurus to find other words that mean "inept." In my opinion this movie does not have any problems, it is a matter of fact that this movie has lots of problems. We will examine the first scene as an example.
A woman is drying off after her shower, providing any young males with a sneak peek at the female anatomy of course. Black and white works wonderfully at accenting the human body as a form of art, but in this case I think we can safely assume the goal was a bit more base. It comes across very clinical and cold and I was not blessed with the wiring required to enjoy a sexual thrill while watching an autopsy. The scene also features a loudly ticking clock, the only sound you hear during the entire piece. A clock ticking! Tor walks in and strangles the girl to death and all we hear is a clock ticking the entire time. It might have waxed louder, but this perception could have been a defense mechanism invoked by my ID. At best the piece seems out of place, since it doesn't belong at the film's beginning and (in fact) there isn't a place to insert its occurrence within the remainder of the story. In other words: I don't know why this scene is here.
Meanwhile, in an alternate reality, Javorsky's plane has just landed at a remote airport where KGB agents ambush the group. Evidently he was carrying secret information about a Russian spacecraft that landed on the moon. Forget the fact that in those days the space race was a huge show of bravado from either side, an international version of arm wrestling to be honest. This would have been just four years after Sputnik and eight years before Apollo 11. I don't think the Russians would (or could) have kept such a feat quiet, though they would have been tight-lipped about the technology that made it possible.
Where was I? Oh, a car chase with the two KGB agents pursuing Javorsky's vehicle. You would expect better protection measures to be in place, anything to prevent two lightly armed men from threatening national security. You are better rooted in reality than both the screenwriter and director. They were using pistols for crying out loud! If just one of the good guys had a BAR or Thompson then it was probably all over.
The chase finally ends, unfortunately for the ponderous defector, near a nuclear bomb test. No blockades were put into place along the roads leading to the test area? Um, wow. Russia's finest are so close as to be subject to an immediately lethal dose of radiation, while Javorsky regresses into a mindless beast.
Two unsuspecting travelers are the first victims, the girl strangled unconscious then carried away and her husband killed. Around now the narrator's obsession with the word "progress" becomes apparent, though he will grow tired of it about halfway through the film. Man turned into monster - progress. Two people throttled - progress. A deputy is called to investigate a murder - progress. What in the world?
I did not mention the narrator earlier; I'm sorry. As soon as the inexplicable opening scene is over he manifests like some evil spirit and never leaves. If you desire to exorcise him then I suggest pointing the Holy Remote Control of Antioch at the entertainment center and pressing the mute button, but you'll miss some choice dialog. What flows forth from the speakers is completely absurd and some of the funniest stuff ever uttered in a completely serious voice.
Not to say that the actors never speak, but it is rare event. When they do speak the camera is not aimed at the speaker. Watch two people talking, the camera lingers on the person listening and when they are ready to say something it changes to the other individual. The only times a character is speaking on camera they have their backs to the audience. Between this and the narrator's enhanced role it encourages the idea somebody goofed up and lost the original soundtrack.
*AHEM*
The dynamite law enforcement team of Jim and Joe are soon on the case, following the beast's trail to a inaccessible plateau. It is so rigorous that they decide Jim will parachute in, then perform a search and destroy mission. This is bad for Hank, he made the mistake of taking the well traveled road over the plateau and breaking down en route. While fixing the tire both of his kids get lost, forcing him to search in the area that Jim is flying over.
Pick your jaw up, because sure as the sun rises in the East, the deputy starts shooting at Hank from the plane. Jim fails to remember that a public road (or two, along with some power lines) crosses the "inaccessible" plateau, nor does he know what the killer looks like, but he opens fire. Hehehehehe! Our suffering family man escapes and jumps back into his car, leaving the wife behind in case the boys return.
While their dad drives into town looking for help and a dictionary to look up "courage" in the two boys are wandering around the desert. Of course they cross paths with the killer and soon Tor is walking after them with murder on his mind. He walks after the two fleeing children, who are barely able to avoid his grasping hands. I'm not kidding darn it! The two deputies arrive just in time and shoot the beast to death, a rabbit gives Tor kisses, the end.
Clumsy and idiotic (hooray for the thesaurus) as all this sounds it is very amusing, because it is presented in such a serious manner. You know these people were trying their hardest to make a statement, but are unable to stop laughing at either the narrator talking about flying saucers or Tor throwing a rock. There's also the fact that whoever framed most of these shots was certifiably insane. People's faces constantly bob out of frame and it just seems all wrong. Point your finger and laugh. It is funny to see someone less fortunate than ourselves, especially when it's their own fault. |
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| Things I Learned From This Movie: | |
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 | Women wear shoes when they shower.
| | Nuclear testing grounds should be clearly marked.
| | Radiation poisoning causes necrophilia.
| | Confucius say: "Fat man should not hide behind little shrub."
| | Radiation sickness causes deafness.
| | Dead men will roll around until they are lying comfortably.
| | Rabbits are scavengers and feed on carrion.
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| 1 min - RANDOM GRATUITOUS BREAST SHOT!
| | 5 mins - Who is shooting? Maybe the car is backfiring?
| | 14 mins - I think this is supposed to be taking place at night.
| | 22 mins - You should not move someone who has a neck injury. Oops, she died.
| | 28 mins - The law is "innocent until proven guilty" not "innocent until shot."
| | 32 mins - How did he end up on the wrong side of the "keep out" sign?
| | 35 mins - He didn't work the action on that rifle correctly!
| | 40 mins - "Somebody was shooting at me, you stay here and look for the kids, I'll be back, bye!"
| | 46 mins - RANDOM ACT OF VIOLENCE AGAINST A ROCK!
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| | Audio clips in wav format | SOUNDS | Starving actors speak out | |
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| File | Size | Dialog |  | yuccaflats1.wav
| 74k
| Narrator: "Flag on the moon, how did it get there?"
| | yuccaflats2.wav
| 131k
| Narrator: "Touch a button, things happen. A scientist becomes a beast."
| | yuccaflats3.wav
| 118k
| Narrator: "Jim Archer, Joe's partner, another man caught in the frantic race for the betterment of mankind. Progress."
| | yuccaflats4.wav
| 230k
| Narrator: "Joseph Javorsky, respected scientist. Now a fiend prowling the wastelands, a prehistoric beast in a nuclear age. Kill, kill just to be killing."
| | yuccaflats5.wav
| 48k
| Narrator: "Nothing bothers some people, not even flying saucers."
| | yuccaflats6.wav
| 97k
| Narrator: "Boys from the city, not yet caught in the whirlwind of progress, feed soda pop to the thirsty pigs."
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| | Click for a larger image | IMAGES | Scenes from the movie | |
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  | Netflix - Only 4.99 a month. No Late Fees. Try it for Free | Badmovies.org recommended! If you want to rent many of the films reviewed on Badmovies.org - try Netflix. They carry an impressive number of b-movies and the DVDs arrive fast (create a list of titles you want to see, in case some are in high demand).
Netflix is running a free trial, so try it out today! |
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| | Watch a scene | VIDEO | MPEG video files | |
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 | yuccaflats1.mpg
- 1.9m
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| The narrator tells us that Tor is showing his fury here. I'm sorry, must have missed that part, all I saw was him toss a rock and then make unintelligible noises.
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| | Leave a comment | EXTRAS | Buy the movie | |
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| The Beast of Yucca Flats
Reply #1. Posted on November 25, 2006, 05:10:12 PM by Dr. Maniac
Could 56 minutes really be this long? Yes! Tor Johnson was 58 when he played this, his last feature film role. As if the thought of Tor playing a rocket scientist isn't enough to get you honking your horn at the drive-in screen!
He has defected to America to explain how a flag was planted on the Moon, a plot divice that is forgotten some 10 minutes into the picture!
You have to love the scenes where the KGB agents chase Tor into the desert. These 2 guys run and run and run but cannot catch the 400 lb ex-wrestler. They also shoot at him from all of 30 yards away and miss! After Tor is changed into The Beast he is able to sneak up on several people who evidently cannot hear him walking up behind them.
This is one time wherte you really have to keep repeating "It's only a movie . . .only a movie . . .only a movie . . ."
Will someone tell me why all the signs on the atomic testing grounds seem to face the wrong direction? People seem to come and go on the restricted area as they please.
And what is up with those guys in the copter shooting at the first man they spot?
The first time you see this movie you will want to watch it straight but after that, wait until 3 in the morning and knock back a pint of Scotch before you watch it again. Trust me, you will enjoy it more.
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Reply #2. Posted on October 10, 2003, 03:36:43 PM by Joe Blowe
STOP THE PAIN!!!!!
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| The Beast of Yucca Flats
Reply #3. Posted on November 25, 2006, 05:10:12 PM by Kamrat X
This is probably one of the worst films ever made. Everything reeks of "I donīt care" The actors arenīt even mouthing their lines for gods sake... The cutting is erratic and inept. Not to mention the hilariously pretentious narration by the director himself. All things considered, itīs a pretty surrealistic 56 minutes. I love it! :-)
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Reply #4. Posted on July 22, 2004, 10:30:53 PM by firebird
It seemed they were alwats giving TOR JOHNSON was always given B-Mivie parts case in point PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE and THE AMAZING COLOSSAL MAN as well as BRIDE OF THE MONSTER
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Reply #5. Posted on November 28, 2004, 12:39:33 AM by Henry Le Corno
This is one of those movies that proves that any old hack with a movie camera can make a movie. Just go ahead and give jr. a camera and he might come back with something similar if not better.
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Reply #6. Posted on November 25, 2006, 05:09:03 PM by snooky
Two of the most profound lines in film history:
Narrator-
A man presses a button, something happens;a scientist becomes a beast.
The beast-
ooaaarrrgghhhaaaaaa! oooooeeeooouuurrgghhhh!
Deep man....deep.
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Reply #7. Posted on November 25, 2006, 05:09:49 PM by chuck
Was watching the movie again last nite--got it for a buck at Wal Mart. May have figured out why the kids never responded to anyone's calls when lost. Mom was calling 'Randy and Art' while Dad was calling 'Mike and Randy'. That would have confused me. Wonder what happened to all those bodies left lying around?
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Reply #8. Posted on July 21, 2005, 12:24:07 PM by the great lardini
Tor Johnson is my idol. What an actah!!!!!
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Little girls will happily substitute a big, ugly toad for a doll. 