Night of the Lepus

MOVIE REVIEW OF Night of the Lepus (1972) PG

Cast
Director:	william f. claxton	Runtime: 1hrs 28min ( 88min)
roy bennett	.....	stuart whitman
gerry bennett	.....	janet leigh
cole hillman	.....	rory calhoun
elgin clark	.....	deForest kelly
sheriff cody	.....	paul fix
amanda bennett	.....	melanie fullerton
jackie hillman	.....	chris morrell
jud	.....	chuck hayward
frank	.....	henry wills
mildred	.....	francesca jarvis
dr. leopold	.....	william elliot
professor dirkson	.....	robert hardy
deputy jason	.....	richard jacome
housekeeper	.....	inez perez
walker	.....	g. leroy gainter
major white	.....	evans thornton
dispatcher	.....	i. stanford jolley
leslie	.....	robert gooden
truck driver	.....	walter kelley
doctor	.....	frank kennedy
cutler	.....	don starr
arlen	.....	peter o' crotty
officer lopez	.....	phillip avenetti
priest	.....	russell morrell
wife in car	.....	donna gelgur
husband in car	.....	stephen deFrance
child #1 in car	.....	sherry hummer
child #2 in car	.....	rick hummer
television newscaster	.....	jerry dunphy

PLOT SUMMARY

We start with news broadcast from real-life legendary news reporter Jerry Dunphy. This report is not terrifying, but it is warning that there has been an explosion in population among rabbits. News footage includes black-and-white archive film from Australia of rabbits storming and stampeding the land. Then, color footage is shown of Arizona land owners trying to battle a similar problem. The newscaster goes on to explain that this introduction of rabbits, known scientifically as Lepus, (and also making for a better movie title than Night of the Rabbits) was initially meant to supplement the food supply in Australia, but has gotten out of hand. It is now threatening nature's balance. Attempts to control this influx, however, have been called barbarous.

The movie focuses on a particular instance in the U.S. where a scientific, and significantly more humane method is being tried to control this invasion.

One rabbit escapes the control group, and for no apparent reason, becomes enormous and, naturally, evil. As rabbits do, this one, if able to speak, would never utter procreation and procrastination in the same sentence.

For the remainder of the movie, the rabbits terrorize the little (in human population...not land size) Arizona town, churning out mutilated bodies now, until a solution is hopefully found to rid the invasive mutants. The only question is, Will the humans find a solution before the rabbits kill the entire human race?! ⋘SPOILER ALERT!⋙ Yeah. they will…

TECH INSPECTION

Right from the first scene (after the pseudo-news report) this film lost 5 meows from this animal lover...watch to see why.

For some unknown reason, when things get bigger than normal, they become evil. Ironically, when other things become smaller, they too become evil (e.g. cell phones, televisions, intimate parts of the human anatomy…). Anyway, this apparently has been a common belief throughout movie history. From King Kong (1933), Godzilla (1954), and Mothra (1961), to Eight Legged Freaks (2002) and Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus (2009), the bigger they are, the meaner they get. And, according to this film, inherent cuteness doesn't discriminate. Lizards and insects are one thing, but cute little bunnies?…Never…except when you attach an ominous-sounding Latin classification such as Lepus.

Despite well-known personalities such as Stuart Whitman (Murder, Inc.), Janet Leigh (Psycho), and Bones…I mean Dr. McCoy…I mean DeForest Kelly (Star Trek), this movie was in no way a launching pad for great talent. Probably more like a source of ridicule for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

In all fairness, I don't think this movie is much worse than any of the other movies of this genre, but it's really no better, either. There is the expected, and apparently mandated, special effects such as extreme close-ups and miniature props to give the illusion of hugeness, and slow-motion footage. As is common knowledge, when things grow bigger, they, and everything around them, moves through space at a slower rate…including the breeze, which also blows dirt and leaves slower.

If you are a big fan of these types of movies (you know what I'm talkin' 'bout, Willis…and you know who you are), then knock yourself out and buy the DVD (chances are you already have it on VHS). Otherwise, you can thank me for watching it for you so you don't have to.

I will say, to this movie's credit(?), I have seen truly worse movies (e.g. Troll 2…see post for March 26, 2012 below), but that doesn't legitimatize using up time watching this one. You've got to admit, though, they are rather fun.

If you are looking for a bad movie to which I have actually given more than two meows, check out Rubber (Saturday, March 24, 2012 below).

QUOTES
Finally, a short list of quotes I think are worth repeating. There are only two this time, but this movie was not exactly brimming with witty or even intelligent dialogue:

• Gerry : We were trying to make Jack a little more like Jill, and Jill a little more like Jack…
• Amanda : A real gold mine?
  Jackie : Well, he hasn't found much yet…but he says he's going to…Come on!

RATING

Here is my personal rating of this movie. This rating is out of ten meows.
² /₁₀

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Intensity

MOVIE REVIEW OF Intensity (1997) TV Movie

Cast
Director:	yves simoneau	Runtime: 3 hrs 6 min ( 186 min)
edgler foreman vess	.....	john c. mcGinley
chyna shepherd	.....	molley parker
ethan trevaine	.....	blu mankuma
lori	.....	lori triolu
jim woltz	.....	brent stait
young chyna shepherd	.....	katie stuart
laura templeton	.....	deanna milligan
jack templeton	.....	kavan smith
miriam braynard	.....	piper laurie
ariel delane	.....	tori paul
mr. john q. citizen	.....	alex diakun
mrs. john q. citizen	.....	babz chula
george jespersen	.....	alfred e. humphreys
tom	.....	edmond kato wong
sarah templeton	.....	meredith bain woodward
peter templeton	.....	wally dalton
carmen trevain	.....	b. j. harrison
tight shoes	.....	merrilyn gann
chairperson	.....	gillian barber
head of the hospital	.....	jerry wasserman

PLOT SUMMARY

In this film adaptation of Dean Koontz's novel of the same name, Chyna Shepherd (Molly Parker) is a damaged young woman on her own. It is seen (mostly through flashback) that her parents were frighteningly abusive. Drugs and liquor were constantly present and openly displayed and consumed. Her father was a sociopath and murderer. Her mother loved her, but was just as much a, for lack of a better term, loser, as her father. Chyna remembers, as an adult, ways, rhymes, and chants her mother told her to recite to herself when she is frightened or is feeling threatened. These come in very handy throughout the movie.

Chyna is invited to Thanksgiving dinner at the house of her best (and perhaps only) friend. This is where the terror begins.

The friend's family is murdered by an unknown person in the middle of the night. Chyna hides from the killer, but secretly hitches a ride with him so he won't "get away." When the killer (John C. McGinley) stops for gas, Chyna learns that he has kidnapped a little girl named Ariel (Tori Paul), and is keeping her in his basement. At this point, the killer, Edglar (yes, Edglar...not Edgar, as is elaborated upon later in the story), explains the twisted reason why he kills, while also revealing the justification behind the title of the movie/book.

Chyna hitches all the way to Edglar's secluded house in the woods. where he company only with three attack dogs.

Eventually, when Chyna is discovered, he holds her captive as well. A conversation ensued which reveals the psychology of why each of them is where they are at this moment, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

When Edglar goes to work, Chyna finds Ariel in the basement. Chyna is then determined that she will get herself and Ariel out and away to safety before Edglar gets back from work, and somehow bring him to justice.

Finally, prepare yourself for a shocking, and I don't just throw that term around lightly, twist that intensifies the story tremendously.

TECH INSPECTION

I have not read the novel from which this movie was adapted. Nor have I read any of the novels from the mind of Dean Koontz. If this movie is any indication of his overall collection, I certainly have a new set of books to be explored.

Intensity is the perfect title for this story. From the moment you first see the killer's shadow in the bushes, you only need four inches of your chair, because that's where you'll be...provided you don't fall off completely.

John C. McGinley actually doesn't stray far from his snide character of Dr. Cox on Scrubs. Difference being that the sarcasm displayed with Dr. Cox is now portrayed with all seriousness with Edglar.

Casting in this movei is spot-on, and I felt I was in the midst of all the terror being experienced by Chyna, et. al. Whether that is good or bad, I can't say for sure.

Finally, if you take away nothing else from this film (and I'm confident that will not be the case), it will be the wanting of your breath back from the unexpected twist near the end. I cannot remember a more shocking development, especially in a movie, as is presented here.

Keep an eye out for symbolism and inconspicuous literary suggestions throughout the movie. In particular, the white coyotes versus Edglar's black guard dogs.

This was a made-for-TV movie, so good luck finding it on DVD (Amazon.com manufactures it on-demand on DVD-R, and has some unusual specifications and restrictions regarding successful playback). However, I strongly recommend you make every effort to secure a (legal) download online. It is worth the trouble. At the very least, pick up a copy of the book at your local library. If the precedent holds true, it will be even better than the movie. My name is already on the reserve list at the digital library here in Ohio. I'm number 3

QUOTES
Finally, a short list of quotes I think are worth repeating. You may recognize some, but these are my own picks, not ones that are particularly famous:

• Chyna : This idea you have that I am good 'friend' material is all in your head.
• Sarah : So, you have three choices, rinse, baste, or chop.
  Chyna : Chop.
• Edglar : Are you ready for your closeup, Ms. Desmond?
• Chyna : GO TO HELL!
  Edglar : Your mother never taught you to talk like that, did she?
  Chyna : You don't know my mother!
• Ethan : Whole world stops for a bunch of damn fool turkeys.

RATING

Here is my personal rating of this movie. This rating is out of ten meows.
¹⁰ /₁₀

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