Review of The Day After (1983) by Brad R — 18 Sep 2012

The Day After builds slowly, establishing the daily lives of and events of middle-American families. One woman is getting married, a father and mother are coping with their daughter moving out, a man is planning a vacation with his family, etc.

All comes to a crashing end when, amidst rising political turmoil between the Russians and the United States, the unthinkable happens: all-out nuclear war. All at once, nothing from their past lives matter.

All their relationships, quarrels, accomplishments, and failings are replaced with the single task of staying alive in a post-apocalyptic America. Many films and sub-genres have dealt with a post-apocalyptic world, but as realistically as The Day After.

This is a gritty, un-glamorous portrayal of what life would be like after nuclear war. Spoiler: there are no zombies. There is just a painful loss that they now must face: loss of life, meaning, and future, which is acted superbly by a brilliant cast including Jason Robards, John Cullum, Bibi Besch, JoBeth Williams, a young Steve Guttenberg, John Lithgow, and more.

The Day After is a beautifully provocative and heartbreaking film.