Warning: This is a slow burn. There's no real character development so if you want a soap opera with people fighting with each other about past misadventures or love triangles, this isn't for you. It's a film about something that kills most of the members of a small town and the pursuit of what that thing is. There's not a lot of action but the urgency is found in the struggle to find a "cure" that will fend off the potential devastation of life on Earth.

There's lots of early '70s tech and half a century-old hard science. If that's of no interest to you, don't watch this. It's certainly not without its flaws, but the fine performances and great early '70s special effects and attractive sets make this a well spent two hours. The strange electronic score by Gil Melle is incredibly original.


This is based on a book written by Michael Crichton (writer of Jurassic Park) and is directed by Robert Wise (The Haunting, Star Trek: The Motion Picture).