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The Beast of Yucca Flats

The Beast of Yucca Flats

List Price: $14.99
Your Price: $13.49
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Minimalist Genius
Review: Less is more. "The Beast" is a 54 minute movie, with no special features.

There are no special effects, sans stock footage of an atomic blast. (The blast is at dusk... while the surrounding action is in bright So Cal daylight :-). The atomic fallout turns Joseph Javorsky, "noted scientist," into a mutant zombie Beast. The rest of the story is... unpredictable. The Beast lives in a cave, amidst a vast distance... yet kids happen to bump into him, and posse pursuers go straight to him. At first glance, they know he must be a killer because a) he's big, b)he has a torn shirt, c) he has some white stuff on the side of his face, d) he moves stiffly. ( a) and d) were also true *before* the atomic blast:-). So the posse shoots this Beast, this casualty of scientific "progress." But then the atomic "Beast" comes back to life (sort of, it's hard to tell:-) to choke the life out of us... and to metaphorically choke our dreams of a brave new world! "The Beast of Yucca Flats" is a reflection of our nuclear age... and a haunting premonition of the future!!

The look of "Yucca" is black and white minimalist. There is no dialogue, minimal "action," and minimal story to get in the way of the awkward images. I really liked it, as a relaxing counterweight to all the overkill in movies since the blockbuster age (Jaws, Star Wars, late 70's and forward). And there is some kind of Ed Wood-esque grasping for larger themes; science and progress are dangerous, cold war paranoia, stamping out someone "different," decline of rugged individualism. "Yucca" is a slapdash "project" and/or odd visionary genius.... or just a blank 50's canvas that you can read a lot into....

And my favorite part was the (hilarious!) narrator -- with his Dragnet serious style voice and philosophical bent. Of the few lines the narrator says (usually to tell us what we already know, or what we just saw for ourselves!), he introduces three or four times: "Joseph Javorsky, noted scientist." Regarding a man standing by his car, he narrates, "caught in the gears of progress." (?!) Adding a twist for a badged posse guy, he states, "caught in the gears of justice." (?!) And for two posse guys climbing a (mild!) hill, "One slip, and it's a thousand feet to *nowhere*."

What does it all mean? I have no idea! But this is a very interesting and entertaining movie!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: The bar has been lowered.
Review: Move over Plan 9, THIS is the worst movie in the history of cinema. It's not even a movie, it looks and feels more like an hour of stock footage. Everything you've heard about this movie is true, but you must watch it to truly understand how bad this is.

This film was shot without sound for whatever reason. There is just some voice over hear and there. Our narrator sounds like your favorite high school teacher who spoke in monotone. I have not counted how many times he said the word 'progress', but whenever he spoke you knew it was coming.

There is no acting in this film at all except for people pretending to die. 99% of this movie is people walking around aimlessly. The housewife probably didn't even know she was being filmed half the time. People have asked about the rabbit at the end. Simple. Someone aimed in the camera on a rabbit running along. Someone thought it would be a good idea to get some interaction with Tor and the rabbit. Effective? Hardly. Thought provoking? Uh-uh. Pointless? Absolutly.

The 'Bad Movie Convention' of America should give out awards to anyone who can sit through this. It really is a tortutr. If it was 90 minutes, I don't think I could do it.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Not many like this one
Review: Now this a movie everyone should see at least once!

A Russian scientist, played by Tor Johnson, is chased into A-Bomb test area by agents when he defects to America. As a result of exposure to radiation, Johnson is turned into a fiend and goes on a rampage. After kidnapping and killing several residents, he is eventually killed.

Most of the movie is in narration which is an indication of the film's low, low budget.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Uplifting and Spiritual!
Review: Once again, Coleman Francis inspires us.'

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Feel Ed Woods touch
Review: The presence of the master can be felt behind the scenes of this grade Z classic. Although Ed is not mentioned in any of the credits, it is widely acknowledged that he helped first timer Anthony Cardoza pull this one off. The film bears Woods influence by use of some of his stock players and his impossible to duplicate editing style. If you enjoy Plan 9 or any other 'so bad its good' films, get this one quick.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: No-Budget Cinema
Review: The theatrical trailer proclaims that this 1961 schlock-fest was "filmed ENTIRELY on location in Yucca Flats!" How's that for an endorsement? Actually, the trailer is far superior to this dreary attempt at Z-grade science-fiction, with no synchronized dialogue but more voiceover narration than any movie in history. "The Beast of Yucca Flats" does not belong in the "so bad it's funny" category -- it's just plain bad. Recommended only to fans of Tor Johnson.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: So what's the deal with the freakin' rabbit?
Review: This is a 54 minute movie. I mean, that's about how long it took to make. This movie is so bad ("HOW BAD IS IT?") to refer it to Ed Wood is an insult to Ed. It's that bad. It is also hilarious. One of my fellow reviewers said to imagine it had been made by a 10 yr old. I don't think he's giving 10 yr olds enough credit.

I collect Ed Wood and various other really awful movies. This is without doubt the worst made of the entire bunch! In fact, I believe deep in my cold, cold heart, this is THE worst movie ever made. There are so many obvious mistakes that it is unsporting to even try pointing them out. The movie is a total hoot and well worth showing to a bunch of friends.

However, if you have even a hint of compassion you might consider getting them thoroughly drunk first. And even then I doubt any of them could figure out what the deal was with the rabbit!


Rating: 1 stars
Summary: What was going on at the end with the freakin' rabbit?
Review: This is a 54 minute movie. I mean, that's about how long it took to make. This movie is so bad ("HOW BAD IS IT?")to refer it to Ed Wood is an insult to Ed. It's that bad. It is also hilarious. One of my fellow reviewers said to imagine it had been made by a 10 yr old. I don't think he's giving 10 yr olds enough credit. I collect Ed Wood and various other really awful movies. This is probably the worst made of the entire bunch, and honey, that is saying something! There are so many obvious mistakes that it is unsporting to even try pointing them out. The movie is a total hoot and well worth showing to a bunch of friends. However, if you have even a hint of compassion you might consider getting them thoroughly drunk first. And even then I doubt any of them could figure out what the deal was with the rabbit!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: One of the WORST movies of all time!!!
Review: This is a sad excuse for a "movie" but then again if you have a since of humor you can make fun of it and end up enjoying it. I mean terrible, it would be very hard for someone to right any kind of review on the content of this film. I still don't know what the heck was going on the movie. I mean Eraserhead makes more since than this, whatever you call it, just don't call it a movie. Definately a turkey.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: I thought I knew what bad movies were...until this.
Review: This is one of those movies that puts life into perspective. Why did I spend my time watching this? What is going on in this movie? Will it ever end? I can assure you that this was the longest 54 minutes of my life, and I found my self knawing at my arm.

The good thing about this movie is that other movies which are bad don't seem quite as bad anymore. Sitting in the movie theater, you'll say to yourself, "This movie isn't as bad as The Beast from Yucca Flats!" It will at a new air of enjoyment your cinema experiences, no matter what the film-making quality!

My sympathy to Leonard Maltin, who had to view this whole movie also.


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