Review of The Day of the Triffids (1963) by Joolie S — 20 Aug 2006

[font=Courier New]After a 24 hour meteor shower, 99% of the world has gone blind from watching the lights as they fell from the sky. Bill (Howard Keel), who was recovering from eye surgery during this night, is one of the few people left in the world who still have sight. And he is one of the few people in the world that can see what else was caused by the meteor shower. Large moving plants called Triffids, who spit poisonous stingers, have infested the Earth, and are destroying everything and everyone in their path.

[i]The Day of the Triffids[/i] isn?t a great movie, but is a fun B-Grade flick that is sure to entertain. A lot of the film is laughable. Mostly the blind people in the film who stumble around more comedic than like they are actually in danger. There is every cliché character you can think of in a movie like this. And the Triffids move like they were made of wood.

But what does save the film are the moments where we are shown the devastation this situation has caused the world. I especially like the scene where a commercial flight is desperately seeking help from the airport to talk them through a landing, since everyone on board is blind.

One thing I do hate about the film was the married couple who are trapped in a lighthouse. While watching the film, I felt that Karen (Janette Scott) and Tom Goodwin (Kieron Moore) were a tacked on and needless element. I soon discovered after viewing the film that because of the original cut of the film?s short length, these two characters were added in to lengthen it. I suppose a longer movie seems better, but I still feel the film could have done without them.

But I still love this movie. I?ve had it for awhile, and last weekend was the first time in a long time that I watched it again. [i]The Day of the Triffids[/i] is a flawed film, but I think that is what I like about it. It has some interesting ideas tossed in with ones that don?t really matter. But the film?s few surprising moments are enough for me to recommend it![/font].