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| director = ] | director = ]
| image = The Being.jpg | image = The Being.jpg
| image_size = 215px | caption = Theatrical release poster
⚫ | caption = DVD cover
| producer = ] | producer = ]
| writer = ] | writer = ]
Line 10: Line 9:
| music = ] | music = ]
| editing = David H. Newhouse | editing = David H. Newhouse
| studio = Cybelle Productions<ref name=afi />
| distributor = ]
| distributor = Best Film & Video Corp.<br>]<br>Aquarius Films<br>Crest Films<ref name=afi>{{AFI film|57851|The Being}}</ref>
| released = {{film date|1983|11|18|''US''}} | released = {{Film date|1983|11|4|ref1=<ref name=afi />}}
| runtime = 82 minutes | runtime = 82 minutes
| language = English | language = English
| country = United States | country = United States
| budget =
⚫ | gross =
}} }}


'''''The Being''''' is a 1983 ] written and directed by ] and starring ], ], ], ], ] and ] producer ], who is billed as "Rexx Coltrane".<ref name=amgover /> It focuses on a detective who is trying to solve a string of grisly murders and disappearances. It was first film directed by Kong, who went on to direct several other films of the same type, including '']'', which has become a cult favorite.<ref name=amgover> on Allmovie.com</ref> '''''The Being''''' is a 1983 American ] written and directed by ] in her directorial debut, starring ], ], ], comedian ], ], and ] producer ], who is billed as "Rexx Coltrane" in the opening credits and "Johnny Commander" in the closing credits.


It focuses on a detective who is trying to solve a string of grisly murders and disappearances. Kong, a recent college graduate, was given a $4.5 million budget from her then-husband ] to write and direct a film. ] began in 1980 under the title ''Easter Sunday''.
==Synopsis==

People have been disappearing in the town of Pottsville, Idaho. Detective Mortimer Lutz (]) thinks it is connected to the toxic dump site near the town, but is impeded in his investigation by the Mayor (]), who is concerned about the economic impact on the town's potato industry should it turn out to be true. In reality, the toxic waste has turned a young child into a cannibalistic,mutant monster, devouring anyone who comes across him. When the existence of the mutant is discovered, Lutz begins a run against time to stop it before it consumes the town's entire population.


==Plot== ==Plot==
In the town of Pottsville, ], citizens begin disappearing. Young Michael Smith, son of Marge Smith (]) is the first to vanish. A young man is decapitated while fleeing from an unseen assailant, and patrons at a drive-in theater are brutally murdered. At each scene, green slime is found. Wanting to get to the bottom of the disappearances but afraid that the publicity might damage the town's potato business, Mayor Gordon Lane (]) hires ] Garcon Jones (]) to investigate. Also investigating the disappearances is Detective Mortimer Lutz (]), who suspects that something terrible has befallen the town.
The film opens in the town of Pottsville, ] with a young man who is being chased by an unknown figure; the young man manages to drive away in a car but the unseen assailant tears through the roof and ]. Sometime later Detective Mortimer Lutz investigates the abandoned vehicle; Lutz is puzzled by the appearance of the car and the fact that there is no body. A little while later the unseen killer slaughters a young couple and a stoner at a drive-in movie theater after the incident however all the bodies are missing and green slime is found in both incidents. Lutz later visits Mayor Lane and notifies him that something dangerous is happening, but Lane dismisses Lutz's concerns, and hires ] Garcon Jones to investigate the matter. However Lutz is still convinced that something terrible is going on, his suspicions are later confirmed when he is attacked by the creature in his house. Lutz narrowly escapes the encounter and tries to convince Mayor Lane who dismisses this as another of the detective’s regular complaints. The next night policeman is slaughtered in his car by creature. Later at the end of the next day, Lutz heads home where he dozes off, while picking up his girlfriend Laurie they are suddenly attacked by the creature, after holing themselves inside the diner they manage to lock the creature inside the freezer. When they manage to bring the mayor, the creature is gone, and a puddle of green slime. Furious that Lutz called him all the way over there for nothing. After the mayor leaves, Lutz is called from the dump by Jones, who tells him to meet him there, as he has discovered something. When they arrive Jones shows them an abandoned building which is undoubtedly the creature’s lair, Jones explains that he discovered a network of tunnels that led into the creature’s lair. After narrowly escape an encounter with the creature they stop at the sheriff’s station in order to gather weapons, Lutz, afraid for Laurie’s safety locks her in the jail cell much to her dismay. Heading back to the beast’s lair, they wait until the creature returns. During this time Jones reveals that the creature is a ], who uses a larger percentage of its brain but at the same time it is completely ] due to prolonged exposure to the ] emitting from the dump site, the creature is also sensitive to light. It is also revealed that the creature is in fact young Michael Smith who was the first person to go missing. Lutz and Jones are attacked by the mutant, fleeing from the vehicle into another abandoned building where they attempt to contact the sheriff’s station but none of the phones work. While Jones is wandering around the facility he is attacked by the creature who manages to drag him off and ]. Blocking the exists Lutz faces the creature, but he is no match for it as it easily knocks him around the room, after a failed attempt to gas the creature Lutz manages to throw a nearby bottle of ] at the creature, stunning it. Taking advantage of this Lutz grabs a nearby axe and hack the creature to death. Upon its demise the creature explodes, Lutz emerges from the building victorious. However a new mutation bursts from the ground of toxic dump site just before the screen fades to the credits.


Meanwhile, more people disappear, with a puddle of green slime found at each site. With this new string of disappearances, Lutz begins to suspect that Jones knows more than he's willing to tell. His suspicions grow when he's attacked by something monstrous while at home, with Lutz barely managing to escape from his attacker. Lutz confronts Jones about the incident but is told that there's nothing wrong in the area.
⚫ == Cast ==


The following night, while Lutz takes his waitress girlfriend Laurie (]) home, they're suddenly attacked by a hideous creature. After holing themselves inside a diner, they manage to lock it inside a freezer. The couple then contact Mayor Lane, however, when he arrives, they discover that the creature has vanished, leaving behind a puddle of green slime. In light of this recent attack, Lutz confronts Jones again, who then admits that a highly radioactive creature is responsible. It's revealed that the town is home to one of 2,000 ] in the U.S. and the creature (who's implied to be Michael Smith) is the resulting mutation due to repeated exposure to the site's radioactive materials. The ], while intelligent, is completely ] but sensitive to light and is inactive during the day.
⚫ * ] as Garcon Jones

Arming themselves with shotguns, Jones and Lutz eventually manage to track the creature down to an abandoned warehouse where they're stalked by the hungry mutant. Jones is soon attacked and ] by the creature, leaving Lutz alone to fend off the creature. Donning a gas mask, Lutz attempts to kill the creature with ] but it seems unfazed by the poisonous fumes and tosses Lutz around like a ragdoll. As the creature advances, Lutz manages to toss a beaker of ] into the creature's face, momentarily stunning it. Taking advantage of the creature's distraction, Lutz grabs a nearby axe and hacks the creature to death, ending the reign of terror.

A new mutation is seen bursting from the ground.

⚫ == Cast ==
⚫ * ] as Garson Jones
* ] as Laurie * ] as Laurie
* ] as Detective Mortimer Lutz * ] as Detective Mortimer Lutz
Line 36: Line 43:


'''Cast notes:''' '''Cast notes:'''
*Marianne Gordon was married to singer ] at the time, and is billed as "Marianne Gordon Rogers"<ref name="amgover">{{cite web |last1=Firsching |first1=Robert |title=The Being (1983) - Jackie Kong |url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-being-v4706 |website=Allmovie.com |publisher=Robert Firsching |access-date=10 April 2019}}</ref>
*'''Bill Osco''', who produced the film, was billed as "Rexx Coltrane" for his acting role.
* ] is featured in the drive-in movie.
*'''Marianne Gordon''' was married to singer ] at the time, and is billed as "Marianne Gordon Rogers"<ref name=amgover />


== Production == == Production ==
Kong, a recent college graduate, was given a $4.5 million budget from then-husband Bill Osco to write and direct a film, despite the fact that she had no professional film-making experience. She stated that she impressed Osco with storyboards and shot breakdowns. Kong wooed Martin Landau by pretending to be an actor interested in his theater workshop, and using the opportunity to give him her script. Impressed with her straightforwardness, he accepted the role.{{sfn|AFI|1980|p=26}} It would mark producer and occasional actor Osco's departure from his previous sexually explicit films such as the 1974 ] film '']''.<ref name="oscoproduction">{{cite news |last1=Haber |first1=Joyce |title=Joyce Haber's Hollywood: A Very Good Year for Andy |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=861&dat=19711114&id=1iVIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=O4EMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1754,2224180 |access-date=10 April 2019 |agency=The Victoria Advocate |publisher=Joyce Haber |date=November 14, 1971 |location=Victoria, Texas |page=19}}</ref> ] began in 1980 under the title ''Easter Sunday''.


==Release==
''The Being'' is notable as the first film made by schlock horror film writer and director ]. Filming began in 1980 under the title "Easter Sunday", before being put on the shelf for three years before finally being released on November 18, 1983 with the tagline "The Ultimate Terror has Taken Form".<ref name="Muir2007">{{cite book|last=Muir|first=John|title=Horror films of the 1980s|year=2007|publisher=McFarland and Company|page=297}}</ref>
===Theatrical release===
During the film's production it was intended that the film would be released on Easter in 1981.<ref name="afi" /> However, the film could not find a distributor for three years, and was finally released on November 18, 1983 under its new title.<ref name="timesoverview">{{cite web |last1=Firsching |first1=Robert |title=The-Being - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes - NYTimes.com |url=https://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/4706/The-Being/overview |access-date=10 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150625071237/https://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/4706/The-Being/overview |archive-date=June 25, 2015 |url-status=dead |department=Movies & TV Dept. |work=] |date=2015 }}</ref>{{sfn|Muir|2010|pp=45}}{{sfn|Bowker|1985|pp=11}} ''The Being'' was a commercial failure, performing poorly at the box office.<ref name="blood80sretro">{{cite web |last1=Navarro |first1=Meagan |title= Toxic Waste Mutant Schlock Monster 'The Being' - Bloody Disgusting |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/3546321/came-80s-toxic-waste-mutant-schlock-monster/ |website=Bloody Disgusting.com |publisher=Meagan Navarro |access-date=10 April 2019 |date=February 20, 2019}}</ref><ref name="screamfest">{{cite web |last1=Kaminski |first1=Julia |title=Jackie Kong: The Queen of Camp |url=https://screamfestla.com/blog/jackie-kong-queen-camp |website=ScreamFestLA.com |publisher=Julia Kaminski |access-date=10 April 2019 |date=February 23, 2017}}</ref>


== Reception == ===Home media===
⚫ ''The Being'' was released on ] on September 13, 2005 by Shriek Studio in widescreen format with no special features. Shriek Studio released it again on July 31, 2007 as a part its ''Mutant Monsters Triple Feature'' which combined it with ''The Dark'' and '']''. It was last released by Code Red as a ] alongside ''Cop Killers''.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Being (1983) - Jackie Kong|url=https://allmovie.com/movie/the-being-v4706/releases|website=AllMovie.com|publisher=AllMovie|access-date=17 October 2015}}</ref>


==Critical response==
The film has been met with negative reviews. On the review website ] it has had few but mostly negative reviews.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Being|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/being/|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes|accessdate=2013-09-14}}</ref>
Critical response for ''The Being'' has been mostly negative, with many criticizing the film's acting, script, editing, and poor lighting.
On ] it currently has an abysmal 3.3/10 reviewed from 647 viewers.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Being (1983) - IMDb|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085224/|website=IMDb.com|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=12 September 2014}}</ref>
Scott Weinberg from DVDTalk.com was among the film's detractors calling the film "Grungy, muddy-looking" he also called it a "blatant ] ripoff".<ref>{{cite web|last=Weinberg|first=Scott|title=The Being|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/17846/being-the/|publisher=DVDTalk.com|accessdate=2013-09-14}}</ref> J. Read from monstersatplay.com called it "cheap, rushed, and an incongruous mess" stating it as a perfect example of all the bad movies that came out in the 1980s.<ref>{{cite web|last=Read|first=J|title=The Being (1984)|url=http://www.monstersatplay.com/review/dvd/b/thebeing.php|publisher=Monstersatplay.com|accessdate=10/7/2013}}</ref> Allmovie.com calls the film "abysmal",<ref name=amgover /> with "clumsy, ham-fisted" direction, effects that are at times "goofy", and a "leaden, noncharismatic" performance from lead actor and producer Bill Osco.<ref name=amgrev>Guarisco, Donald. on Allmovie.com</ref> Nevertheless, the reviewer calls it "worthy of note for cinematic trash-fiends", because of its cast, flashes of humor and "oddball qualities".<ref name=amgrev /> Scott Weinberg from ] was among the film's detractors calling the film "Grungy, muddy-looking" he also called it a "blatant ] ripoff".<ref>{{cite web|last=Weinberg|first=Scott|title=The Being|url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/17846/being-the/|publisher=DVDTalk.com|access-date=2013-09-14}}</ref> J. Read from ''Monstersatplay.com'' called it "cheap, rushed, and an incongruous mess" stating it as a perfect example of all the bad movies that came out in the 1980s.<ref>{{cite web|last=Read|first=J|title=The Being (1984)|url=http://www.monstersatplay.com/review/dvd/b/thebeing.php|publisher=Monstersatplay.com|access-date=October 7, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130519224255/http://www.monstersatplay.com/review/dvd/b/thebeing.php|archive-date=2013-05-19|url-status=dead}}</ref> ] called the film "abysmal", with "clumsy, ham-fisted" direction,"lack of focus", "goofy" effects, and a "leaden, noncharismatic" performance from lead actor and producer Bill Osco. Nevertheless, the reviewer calls it "worthy of note for cinematic trash-fiends", because of its cast, flashes of humor and "oddball qualities".<ref name=amgrev>Guarisco, Donald. on Allmovie.com</ref>
] gave the film a negative review awarding it a score of 1 <sup>1/2</sup> out of 4, stating, "The biggest mystery about this mystery-horror film is how the producer ever managed to persuade two Oscar winners (Dorothy Malone and Jose Ferrer) to appear in such cinematic Valium".<ref>{{cite web|title=The Being Review|url=http://movies.tvguide.com/the-being/review/105153|website=TV Guide.com|publisher=TV Guide|access-date=26 November 2014}}</ref>


Robert Firsching from '']'' panned the film, calling it, "abysmal".<ref name="timesoverview"/> ] awarded the film 1{{1/2}} stars out of 4 stating that humor was the film's only saving grace, stating that "it wasn't enough to overcome its Z-grade script and production".{{sfn|Maltin|2014|pp=197}} Jack Sommersby from eFilmCritic.com gave the film a negative review, writing, " it's not the worst of its type but not quite good enough to warrant a recommendation".<ref name="sommersbyreview">{{cite web|last1=Jack|first1=Sommersby|title=Movie Review - Being, The - eFilmCritic|url=http://www.efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=25054&reviewer=327|website=eFilmCritic.com|publisher=Jack Sommersby|access-date=21 March 2016}}</ref> Brett Gallman from ''Oh, the Horror!'' wrote, "''The Being'' manages an odd, offbeat quality despite its familiarity. It’s a film that features an amorphous killer alien but also takes the time to consider Pottsville’s other plights, such as the impending arrival of a massage parlor that has the moral majority in a tizzy. Osco’s voiceover narration and interior monologues abruptly stop midway through the film, and even the Easter setting is entirely incidental".<ref name="horrorreview">{{cite web|last1=Gallman|first1=Brett|title=Horror Reviews - Being, The (1983)|url=http://www.oh-the-horror.com/page.php?id=1352|website=Oh, the Horror.com|publisher=Brett Gallman|access-date=21 March 2016}}</ref>
⚫ ] awarded the film 1 1/2 stars out of 4 stating that humor was the film's only saving grace, stating that "it wasn't enough to overcome its Z-grade script and production".<ref name="Maltin2014">{{cite book|author=Leonard Maltin|title=Leonard Maltin's 2015 Movie Guide|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=F60TAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT197|date=2 September 2014|publisher=Penguin Group US|isbn=978-0-698-18361-2|pages=197–}}</ref>


== Home video == ==Legacy==
In spite of the film's critical and commercial failure, ''The Being'' would gain a small ] over the years since its release.<ref name="cultfilm">{{cite web |last1=Watson |first1=Ian |title=20 Cult Sci-fi Movies You Might Not Have Seen |url=http://www.tasteofcinema.com/2015/20-cult-sci-fi-movies-you-might-not-have-seen/ |website=TasteofCinema.com |publisher=Ian Watson |access-date=10 April 2019 |date=November 14, 2015}}</ref> Kong would go on to direct '']'' (1984) and the 1987 cult horror film '']''.<ref name="konginterview">{{cite web |last1=Darko |first1=Danni |title=Interview With The Icon: Jackie Kong — Morbidly Beautiful |url=http://morbidlybeautiful.com/interview-jackie-kong/ |website=MorbidlyBeautiful.com |publisher=Dannie Darko |access-date=10 April 2019 |date=February 28, 2018}}</ref>

⚫ ''The Being'' was released on DVD on September 13, 2005 by Shriek Studio in widescreen format with no special features. Shriek Studio released it again on July 31, 2007 as a part its ''Mutant Monsters Triple Feature'' which combined it with '']'' and ''Creatures from the Abyss''.


== References == == References ==
'''Notes''' '''Notes'''
{{reflist}} {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}


==Bibliography==
⚫ == External links ==
{{refbegin|30em|indent=yes}}
*{{cite book|ref={{sfnref|AFI|1980}}|title=American Film|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JPI8AAAAMAAJ|year=1980|publisher=American Film Institute}}
*{{cite book|author=Bowker|title=Variety's Film Reviews: 1983-1984|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UXJZAAAAMAAJ|date=31 December 1985|publisher=Bowker|isbn=978-0-8352-2798-8}}
⚫ *{{cite book|last=Maltin|first=Leonard|title=Leonard Maltin's 2015 Movie Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F60TAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT197|date=2 September 2014|publisher=Penguin Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-698-18361-2}}
*{{cite book|last=Muir|first=John Kenneth|title=Horror Films of the 1980s|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VJ1vcmaOd7wC&pg=PA297|date=28 July 2010|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-5501-0}}
*{{cite book|last=Stine|first=Scott Aaron|title=The Gorehound's Guide to Splatter Films of the 1980s|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AiiSCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA39|date=8 July 2003|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-1532-8}}
*{{cite book|last=Weldon|first=Michael|title=The Psychotronic Video Guide To Film|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nhjsnWfFoiAC|year=1996|publisher=St. Martin's Press|isbn=978-0-312-13149-4}}
{{refend}}


⚫ == External links ==
*{{AFI film|57851|The Being}}
*{{IMDb title|0085224|The Being}} *{{IMDb title|0085224|The Being}}
*{{tcmdb title|68398|The Being}} *{{Rotten tomatoes|being|The Being}}
*{{AllRovi movie|4706|The Being}} *{{TCMDb title|68398|The Being}}

* on ''Bad Movies''
{{Jackie Kong}}
* on ]

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Latest revision as of 07:46, 22 December 2024

1983 American film
The Being
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJackie Kong
Written byJackie Kong
Produced byBill Osco
StarringMartin Landau
José Ferrer
Dorothy Malone
Ruth Buzzi
Marianne Gordon
Bill Osco
CinematographyHanania Baer
Robert Ebinger
Edited byDavid H. Newhouse
Music byDon Preston
Production
company		Cybelle Productions
Distributed byBest Film & Video Corp.
New World Pictures
Aquarius Films
Crest Films
Release date
  • November 4, 1983 (1983-11-04)
Running time82 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Being is a 1983 American horror film written and directed by Jackie Kong in her directorial debut, starring Martin Landau, José Ferrer, Dorothy Malone, comedian Ruth Buzzi, Marianne Gordon, and exploitation film producer Bill Osco, who is billed as "Rexx Coltrane" in the opening credits and "Johnny Commander" in the closing credits.

It focuses on a detective who is trying to solve a string of grisly murders and disappearances. Kong, a recent college graduate, was given a $4.5 million budget from her then-husband Bill Osco to write and direct a film. Principal photography began in 1980 under the title Easter Sunday.

Plot

In the town of Pottsville, Idaho, citizens begin disappearing. Young Michael Smith, son of Marge Smith (Dorothy Malone) is the first to vanish. A young man is decapitated while fleeing from an unseen assailant, and patrons at a drive-in theater are brutally murdered. At each scene, green slime is found. Wanting to get to the bottom of the disappearances but afraid that the publicity might damage the town's potato business, Mayor Gordon Lane (José Ferrer) hires chemical safety engineer Garcon Jones (Martin Landau) to investigate. Also investigating the disappearances is Detective Mortimer Lutz (Bill Osco), who suspects that something terrible has befallen the town.

Meanwhile, more people disappear, with a puddle of green slime found at each site. With this new string of disappearances, Lutz begins to suspect that Jones knows more than he's willing to tell. His suspicions grow when he's attacked by something monstrous while at home, with Lutz barely managing to escape from his attacker. Lutz confronts Jones about the incident but is told that there's nothing wrong in the area.

The following night, while Lutz takes his waitress girlfriend Laurie (Marianne Gordon) home, they're suddenly attacked by a hideous creature. After holing themselves inside a diner, they manage to lock it inside a freezer. The couple then contact Mayor Lane, however, when he arrives, they discover that the creature has vanished, leaving behind a puddle of green slime. In light of this recent attack, Lutz confronts Jones again, who then admits that a highly radioactive creature is responsible. It's revealed that the town is home to one of 2,000 nuclear dump sites in the U.S. and the creature (who's implied to be Michael Smith) is the resulting mutation due to repeated exposure to the site's radioactive materials. The mutant, while intelligent, is completely psychotic but sensitive to light and is inactive during the day.

Arming themselves with shotguns, Jones and Lutz eventually manage to track the creature down to an abandoned warehouse where they're stalked by the hungry mutant. Jones is soon attacked and disemboweled by the creature, leaving Lutz alone to fend off the creature. Donning a gas mask, Lutz attempts to kill the creature with poison gas but it seems unfazed by the poisonous fumes and tosses Lutz around like a ragdoll. As the creature advances, Lutz manages to toss a beaker of acid into the creature's face, momentarily stunning it. Taking advantage of the creature's distraction, Lutz grabs a nearby axe and hacks the creature to death, ending the reign of terror.

A new mutation is seen bursting from the ground.

Cast

Cast notes:

  • Marianne Gordon was married to singer Kenny Rogers at the time, and is billed as "Marianne Gordon Rogers"
  • Robin Stille is featured in the drive-in movie.

Production

Kong, a recent college graduate, was given a $4.5 million budget from then-husband Bill Osco to write and direct a film, despite the fact that she had no professional film-making experience. She stated that she impressed Osco with storyboards and shot breakdowns. Kong wooed Martin Landau by pretending to be an actor interested in his theater workshop, and using the opportunity to give him her script. Impressed with her straightforwardness, he accepted the role. It would mark producer and occasional actor Osco's departure from his previous sexually explicit films such as the 1974 sexploitation film Flesh Gordon. Principal photography began in 1980 under the title Easter Sunday.

Release

Theatrical release

During the film's production it was intended that the film would be released on Easter in 1981. However, the film could not find a distributor for three years, and was finally released on November 18, 1983 under its new title. The Being was a commercial failure, performing poorly at the box office.

Home media

The Being was released on DVD on September 13, 2005 by Shriek Studio in widescreen format with no special features. Shriek Studio released it again on July 31, 2007 as a part its Mutant Monsters Triple Feature which combined it with The Dark and Creatures from the Abyss. It was last released by Code Red as a double feature alongside Cop Killers.

Critical response

Critical response for The Being has been mostly negative, with many criticizing the film's acting, script, editing, and poor lighting. Scott Weinberg from DVD Talk was among the film's detractors calling the film "Grungy, muddy-looking" he also called it a "blatant Alien ripoff". J. Read from Monstersatplay.com called it "cheap, rushed, and an incongruous mess" stating it as a perfect example of all the bad movies that came out in the 1980s. Allmovie called the film "abysmal", with "clumsy, ham-fisted" direction,"lack of focus", "goofy" effects, and a "leaden, noncharismatic" performance from lead actor and producer Bill Osco. Nevertheless, the reviewer calls it "worthy of note for cinematic trash-fiends", because of its cast, flashes of humor and "oddball qualities". TV Guide gave the film a negative review awarding it a score of 1 out of 4, stating, "The biggest mystery about this mystery-horror film is how the producer ever managed to persuade two Oscar winners (Dorothy Malone and Jose Ferrer) to appear in such cinematic Valium".

Robert Firsching from New York Times panned the film, calling it, "abysmal". Leonard Maltin awarded the film 11⁄2 stars out of 4 stating that humor was the film's only saving grace, stating that "it wasn't enough to overcome its Z-grade script and production". Jack Sommersby from eFilmCritic.com gave the film a negative review, writing, " it's not the worst of its type but not quite good enough to warrant a recommendation". Brett Gallman from Oh, the Horror! wrote, "The Being manages an odd, offbeat quality despite its familiarity. It’s a film that features an amorphous killer alien but also takes the time to consider Pottsville’s other plights, such as the impending arrival of a massage parlor that has the moral majority in a tizzy. Osco’s voiceover narration and interior monologues abruptly stop midway through the film, and even the Easter setting is entirely incidental".

Legacy

In spite of the film's critical and commercial failure, The Being would gain a small cult following over the years since its release. Kong would go on to direct Night Patrol (1984) and the 1987 cult horror film Blood Diner.

References

Notes

  1. ^ The Being at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
  2. Firsching, Robert. "The Being (1983) - Jackie Kong". Allmovie.com. Robert Firsching. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  3. AFI 1980, p. 26.
  4. Haber, Joyce (November 14, 1971). "Joyce Haber's Hollywood: A Very Good Year for Andy". Victoria, Texas: Joyce Haber. The Victoria Advocate. p. 19. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  5. ^ Firsching, Robert (2015). "The-Being - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes - NYTimes.com". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 25, 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  6. Muir 2010, pp. 45.
  7. Bowker 1985, pp. 11.
  8. Navarro, Meagan (February 20, 2019). "[It Came From the '80s] Toxic Waste Mutant Schlock Monster 'The Being' - Bloody Disgusting". Bloody Disgusting.com. Meagan Navarro. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
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Bibliography

External links

Films directed by Jackie Kong
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