The Day of the Triffids

This was solid and surprisingly very effective at getting across both the dread and horrific atmosphere of such a predicament--and would make a very good double bill with Kaufman's (70's) 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers'. I love my veggies, but I'll never look at a salad the same way again...

_**Attack of the Plant Monsters**_ After a curious meteor shower creates havoc on Earth, a merchant navy officer (Howard Keel) in England is forced to contend with mobile vegetation-based creatures; meanwhile on an island off of Cornwall a troubled scientist couple working at a lighthouse try to solve the problem (Janette Scott & Kieron Moore). "The Day of the Triffids” (1963) is a British creature feature that borrows from “War of the Worlds” of ten years prior (particularly the ending), but it’s not in the same league. While the creators did their best to create scary-looking plant monsters, they’re just not as formidable as the Martian threat in that other movie. It doesn’t help that the females are depicted as dainty, useless screamers (I realize it’s a sign of the times but, c’mon, they could do more than stand idly by screaming). Still, if you like 50s-60’s Brit horror, like "Island of Terror" (1966) and "Night of the Big Heat" (1967), you’ll probably appreciate it (it’s on par with the former, but not as good as the latter); just don’t expect Peter Cushing or Christopher Lee. The movie runs 1 hour, 33 minutes and was shot at Shepperton Studios, just west of London, as well as locations in London and Spain. GRADE: C