Review of Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970) by Carl M — 01 Feb 2013

Following the trajectory set forth by Captain Taylor, a second ship comes barreling down to the unfamiliar desert world, bearing with it another passenger that has been lost in space and time. Brent sets off in search of Taylor, but instead finds himself caught in the midst of a holy war, where the intelligent apes that rule the planet look to eliminate the human threat! Brent escapes, and takes refuge in a subterranean city run by advanced humanoids who worship an atomic warhead. What will become of The Planet of the Apes? BENEATH THE PLANET OF THE APES gets off to much of the same start as the original, and even features Charleton Heston look-alike James Franciscus as the new space captain. It isn't until the third act when the ideals of peace shift towards destruction, and the real plot gets carried underway. The philosophical discussions from the first film have been replaced with political satire that reflects the anti-war sentiments of Vietnam and atomic warfare. Echoes of Hiroshima and Nagasaki can be heard when the remaining humans shed their disguises, while the chimpanzee protests and demonstrations immediately bring to mind the horrors of Kent State. All of the same incredible costume designs return in this first sequel, along with a number of impressive subterranean sets recreating segments of New York City. Viewers are not soon to forget the explosive climax, which offers an even more nihilistic ending than the first.

-Carl Manes.

I Like Horror Movies.