Even the chick on the screen takes it in the neck!
The Being (1981) is a sci-fi atomic power horror story of uncertain virtue. With sketchy nods to conspiracy theory elements concerning suppression of information because of public panic, atomic energy frightful danger, the audience is subjected to the usual elements of such movies: people being dragged away shrieking, people being killed, naked people being killed, naked people in cars being killed, cars being treated as if built through papier-mâché techniques, and, well, let’s be clear.
This doesn’t come across a B-list movie. More like C-list.
But there are elements that stand out. I enjoyed the make-up and special effects, particularly that of the monsters or mutated humans, as it seemed effective for the era, pleasantly repulsive.
The climatic fight scene is nicely balanced, really, as the each side is getting hurt. It clears the bar for such fights. Too bad about Mr. Biggles.
The contrast between the occasional soporific radio show, featuring a good ol’ boy in Idaho, and the horror of what’s going on is almost effective in terms of contrast.
And the bereft mother, Marge, who is out of her mind with fear concerning her missing child, was well done and disturbing, as it suggests that a small town will just ignore such a person, rather than turn out to help search for the kid. It’s not necessarily congruent with reality, then or now, but it’s an unexpected element of horror.
But don’t mistake what I wrote above to indicate it’s worth hunting down and ingesting, because it’s not. Young adults having sex in cars and being killed for it is a quaint reminder of a bygone era where extra-marital sex didn’t just get you a frowning, but your life ripped out of your chest, but for today’s younger audience, unless they’re retro, they’ll just puzzled. Why have cars? Why have sex in cars?
And the dream scene, so odd, was extraneous.
Yeah, don’t bother.
