Plot: What’s it about?
In It’s Alive, a couple takes a drive through the Ozarks, unaware that danger surrounds the entire stretch of road. The area has an unusual atmosphere, but a sign of civilization from time to time keeps the couple reassured. The roads are narrow and mostly unmarked however, which means travel can be a complicated process. That lesson is learned when Norman (Corveth Ousterhouse) takes a wrong turn, one which lands he and his wife Leilla (Shirley Bonne) in serious trouble. The mistake turns into a total loss of direction for the couple, which causes a lot of unneeded driving and of course, that means a lot of wasted gasoline. A farm looks like a haven to the two, a chance to rest for a while and get the trip back on track. The farm belongs to a man named Greely (Bill Thurman), who has a collection of rare animals. Is the farmhouse a true haven for these lost lovers, or will it prove to be their final destination? In Year 2889, the landscape of Texas is like never before, thanks to the impact of nuclear war. A small group of survivors remain, with some remnants of the former world, such as music and electric power. But within the group, arguments erupt and tempers flare, even though no one else is out there. At the same time, a band of mutants is lurking outside the house, but will the survivors be able to outlast them?
This double feature is a tribute to Larry Buchanan, a schlock director who remains in business, even in the year 2004. Buchanan’s resume includes such classics as Common Law Wife, The Naked Witch, Mars Needs Women, and The Other Side of Bonnie & Clyde. In this release, we have two of Buchanan’s made for television efforts, both of which have dark visions of the world and both of which are loaded with cheese. We’ll start with It’s Alive, a monster movie of sorts, though we’ve seen this creature before. Buchanan recycles his beast from Creature of Destruction, which means we don’t even have a fresh monster to gaze upon. Instead, we have a low rent frame filled with poor production values and a terrible cast. One time Disney staple Tommy Kirk (Old Yeller, Swiss Family Robinson) heads the assortment of players, but even his performance is miserable. The paper mache caves are hilarious beyond words, as if this were a high school production, not a feature film. As far as Year 2889, the less said about this one, the better. I mean, at least It’s Alive had a monster, this dull clunker is all talk and no action. I am a massive fan of schlock, but these films push even my patience, as both are dead serious and have minimal camp value. But for devotees of bad cinema, this double feature is worth a once over.
Video: How does it look?
It’s Alive and Year 2889 are presented in full frame, as intended. I wasn’t holding out much hope in regard to these transfers, since both were shot on low end stock with little resources. As it happens, the visuals come across better than I expected, though of course, you can tell these were low rent productions. The source prints are in good condition, with no serious damage and minor debris in some scenes. This allows for a clean image, but the stock used prevents the visuals from having a crisp, refined presence. Instead, we have soft and loose visuals, though in this case, that is unavoidable. The colors and contrast prove to be passable, but never all that stable or accurate, thanks to the stock used. In the end, these movies look bad, but for the elements involved, I can’t imagine much better presentations.
Audio: How does it sound?
I wasn’t expecting much from the included mono audio and I didn’t get much, but the audio presence is more than adequate. The materials have aged in decent fashion and while no one will mistake these for high end soundtracks, the basics come through in more than decent form, which is what counts. The music and sound effects do seem a little thin, but given the films’ ages and budget limits, I think it all sounds better than expected. No real issues with dialogue, although again, sometimes it seems a little thin, but nothing to be concerned about. You won’t want to showcase the home theater with this release, but it gets the job done.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes an interview with star Paul Petersen, as well as some still photos & artwork from his personal collection.
