Killdozer! (film)

Last updated

Killdozer!
Killdozer(1974).jpg
Genre
  • Horror
  • Sci-Fi
Based on Killdozer! by Theodore Sturgeon
Written by

adapted by
Herbert F. Solow
Directed by Jerry London
Starring Clint Walker
Music by Gil Mellé
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Producer Herbert F. Solow
Production locationsIndian Dunes - 28700 Henry Mayo Drive, Valencia, California
CinematographyTerry K. Meade
Editors
  • Bud Hoffman
  • Fabien Tordjmann
Running time74 minutes
Production company Universal Television
Original release
Network ABC
ReleaseFebruary 9, 1974 (1974-02-09)

Killdozer! is a 1974 made for TV science-fiction horror movie, adapted from a 1944 novella of the same name by Theodore Sturgeon. [1] A comic book adaptation appeared the same year, in Marvel Comics' Worlds Unknown #6 (April 1974). The film has since gained a cult following.

Contents

Plot

A meteorite crashes onto the Earth's surface on an island off the coast of Africa. Countless years later, after natural forces have buried it and restored the local environment, six construction workers are boated to the island to begin work building an airstrip for an oil drilling company at the crash site on the uninhabited island. A recovering alcoholic, foreman Kelly (Clint Walker) is in charge, but this is his last chance to redeem himself; if he fails this project, he will almost certainly be fired and face very poor job prospects.

Kelly and bulldozer driver Mack (Robert Urich) uncover the meteorite (though they do not know what it is), which emits a strange sound. When the bulldozer (a Caterpillar D9 in the movie, a Caterpillar D7 in the novella) is used to try to shift the meteorite, it emits a blue light that moves to, and seems to possess, the bulldozer. Mack, standing nearby as this occurs, falls ill and then dies some hours later. Chub (Neville Brand), the team's mechanic, cannot find anything wrong with the inoperative bulldozer, but can hear the odd sound from the blade. Kelly orders that the bulldozer not be used.

Beltran (James A. Watson Jr.) ignores the prohibition and starts the bulldozer, bringing it to malevolent life, indwelt by the entity. It destroys the camp's only two-way radio and begins a rampage, killing the workers one by one. It seems to run indefinitely in spite of a limited fuel capacity. The entity that indwells the machine has some rudimentary intelligence and guile: it hunts down the men.

The crew is soon reduced to just Kelly and Dennis (Carl Betz). Running out of options, with the expected relief crew not due to arrive just yet, they amuse themselves by convicting the entity/bulldozer of murder, then consider methods of "execution": it is too heavy to hang, and too big for the gas chamber. They then realize it might be able to be electrocuted. They lure it to a trap consisting of steel Marston Matting (used for constructing temporary runways during World War II) connected to a generator.

As the high voltage electricity conducts through the bulldozer, the alien entity emerges as an aura around the machine, but there is nothing close by for it to transfer to: the aura finally fades. The men shut down the power and check the blade: no sound. Though Kelly realizes his story will not be believed, he intends to tell the truth.

Cast

Production

Filming took place in early 1974 near Newhall California. Stunts were done by Carey Loftin who did stunts on Duel. [2]

Release

Home media

Killdozer! was released for the first time on DVD by Willette Acquisition Corporation on July 1, 2021, and on blu-ray and DVD by Kino Lorber in 2020. [3]

Reception

Killdozer! received mostly negative reviews upon its release, with criticism directed towards the film's 'outlandish' premise.

The Los Angeles Times called it "technically lots more impressive than it is dramatic." [4]

Charleston Picou from HorrorNews.net gave the film a mixed review, writing, "While the movie itself is well made for a ‘70s TV flick, with decent acting and directing, it’s ultimately undone by the overall ridiculousness. The titular killdozer is never really that frightening and is sometimes kind of silly looking." Regardless, Picou stated the film 'still manages to be entertaining'. [5] Jon Condit from Dread Central panned the film, awarding the film a score of 0.5 out of 5. In his review, Condit criticized the film's ridiculous premise, sluggish pace, "one-dimensional" characters, and overall lack of suspense. [6] Andrew Smith from the British film review website Popcorn Pictures gave the film a score of 0 out of 10, writing, "Killdozer is dreadful fare which should have been left to rust on the seventies scrap heap. It’s hard trying to find positives to say about it. Even its short running time drags out for an eternity." [7] However, not all reviews for the film were negative. The Terror Trap rated the film a score of 2.5 out of 4 stars, stating that the film "comes off fairly well thanks to its straightforward, sci-fi approach", while also noting its strange premise. [8]

Legacy

In spite of receiving largely negative reviews from both critics and audience members, Killdozer! has acquired a cult following over the years and is now considered a cult classic. [5]

The rock band Killdozer was named after the film.

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Santas Slay</i> 2005 film

Santa's Slay is a 2005 Christmas slasher black comedy film written and directed by David Steiman, a former assistant to Brett Ratner; Ratner served as a producer. After a millennium of spreading Christmas joy due to losing a bet with an angel, Santa Claus reverts to his demonic self and gives the gift of evil and fear. The film stars Bill Goldberg, Douglas Smith, Emilie de Ravin, Robert Culp, Saul Rubinek, Dave Thomas, Rebecca Gayheart, Chris Kattan, and Fran Drescher.

<i>Minotaur</i> (film) 2006 British film

Minotaur is a 2006 horror film, directed by Jonathan English. It stars Tom Hardy, Tony Todd, Ingrid Pitt and Rutger Hauer. It was filmed in Luxembourg, and is a loose retelling of the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur.

<i>Dark Waters</i> (1994 film) 1994 Russian film

Dark Waters, is a 1994 horror film directed by Mariano Baino, who co-wrote it with Andy Bark and also served as the editor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Killdozer! (short story)</span> Short story by Theodore Sturgeon

"Killdozer!" is a science fiction/horror novella by American writer Theodore Sturgeon, originally published in the magazine Astounding and revised for the 1959 collection Aliens 4.

<i>Doll Graveyard</i> 2005 film

Doll Graveyard is a 2005 horror film released by Full Moon Features and directed by Charles Band. It involves four haunted dolls that are possessed by the spirit of a young girl and come to life with murderous intentions.

<i>Fire Serpent</i> Canadian TV series or program

Fire Serpent is a 2007 Sci Fi Channel monster movie directed by John Terlesky.

<i>Hammerhead: Shark Frenzy</i> 2005 American film

Hammerhead: Shark Frenzy, also known as Sharkman or simply Hammerhead, is a 2005 Syfy original movie, written by Kenneth M. Badish and Boaz Davidson, and directed by Michael Oblowitz. The film stars William Forsythe, Hunter Tylo, and Jeffrey Combs. The film premiered on Syfy on June 18, 2005.

<i>Freakshow</i> (film) 2007 American horror film directed by Drew Bell

Freakshow is a 2007 independent film which was made by The Asylum, directed by Drew Bell. It is an unofficial remake of the Tod Browning film Freaks. According to the film poster and DVD cover art, Freakshow is banned in 43 countries, though there is no mention of which countries banned it.

<i>Evil Dead Trap</i> 1988 Japanese film

Evil Dead Trap is a 1988 Japanese supernatural slasher film directed by Toshiharu Ikeda and produced by Japan Home Video.

<i>The Brainiac</i> 1962 film

El Baron del Terror is a 1962 Mexican supernatural horror film directed by Chano Urueta, written by Federico Curiel, Adolfo López Portillo and Antonio Orellana, and starring its producer, Abel Salazar.

<i>Jolly Roger: Massacre at Cutters Cove</i> 2005 American film

Jolly Roger: Massacre at Cutter's Cove is a 2005 American horror film by The Asylum, written by Gary Jones and Jeffrey Miller and directed by Jones, and starring Rhett Giles as Jolly Roger.

<i>Straight into Darkness</i> 2004 American film

Straight into Darkness is a 2004 American horror war film directed by Jeff Burr and starring Ryan Francis and Scott MacDonald. It was produced by Mark Hanna and Chuck Williams.

<i>Shapeshifter</i> (film) 2005 American film

Shapeshifter is a 2005 horror film with supernatural elements created by the independent film group The Asylum. It was directed by Gregory Lemkin who also co-wrote the film.

<i>Homebodies</i> (film) 1974 film by Larry Yust

Homebodies is a 1974 comedy horror film directed by Larry Yust. The film features a cast of veteran actors, including Ian Wolfe, Ruth McDevitt, Peter Brocco, and Douglas Fowley. The film centers on elderly residents resorting to murder to protect their condemned building.

<i>Malatestas Carnival of Blood</i> American horror film

Malatesta's Carnival of Blood is a 1973 American horror film, directed by Christopher Speeth and written by Werner Liepolt. It is the only film that Speeth and Liepolt made.

Crowhaven Farm is a 1970 American made-for-television supernatural horror film and folk horror film directed by Walter Grauman and starring Hope Lange, Paul Burke and John Carradine. It originally aired as the ABC Movie of the Week on November 24, 1970.

<i>The Loreleys Grasp</i> 1973 Spanish film

The Loreley's Grasp is a 1973 Spanish horror film written and directed by Amando de Ossorio, and starring Tony Kendall, and Helga Liné. The film centers on a series of horrific murders in a German town by the Rhine river perpetrated by a deadly water spirit known as the Lorelei.

References

  1. Cavett Binion (2015). "Killdozer!". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times . Archived from the original on July 21, 2015.
  2. "Killdozer will star Clint Walker". The Sacramento Bee. January 20, 1974. p. 152.
  3. "Killdozer (1974) - Jerry London". Allmovie.com. Allmovie. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  4. Thomas, Kevin (February 2, 1974). "Man vs Killer machine". The Los Angeles Times Part 2. p. 3.
  5. 1 2 Picou, Charleston (December 27, 2017). "Film Review: Killdozer (1974)". HorrorNews.net. Charleson Picou. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  6. Condit, Jon (September 15, 2004). "From Here to Obscurity: Killdozer - Dread Central". Dread Central.com. Jon Condit. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  7. Smith, Andrew. "Killdozer (1974)". PopcornPictures.co.uk. Andrew Smith. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  8. "Killdozer (1974)". TheTerrorTrap.com. The Terror Trap Staff. Retrieved September 30, 2019.