Customer Reviews

The Day of the Triffids

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

My star rating is based on the Cheezy Flicks DVD release. The movie gets four+ stars IMHO!

THE MOVIE: This clever classic from the days of my youth is still exciting to watch today. Although the idea of killer plants may seem cheesy, the mass blindness and resulting hysteria add that apocalyptic taste I so love! The Triffids don't move very fast, but they do make scary noises... and that's a good thing. The action is well paced and the camera work is interesting. Ultimately, this is sort of like a zombie flick, but instead of zombies we have killer space plants.

THIS DVD: The ONLY thing this DVD has going for it is that it's widescreen. The back of the box says, "4:3 Aspect Ratio" and, "Digitally Remastered"; both statements are wrong. The color is dull and a little pink, which is really sad for a film that made such dramatic, stylistic use of color. The print is pretty clean most of the way through except at reel changes and towards the end, buts that's forgivable. What is NOT forgivable is that the last chapter of this DVD is a pixilated, skipping, jacked-up mess that is totally impossible to watch (I checked on multiple players to be sure). I returned my first DVD and the replacement had exactly the same problem, which tells me that the problem is with "Cheezy Flicks" and their poor quality DVDs. Recently, fly-by-night DVD publishers like this have been showing up on Amazon charging top dollar for discs that belong in the bargain bins. No matter how much I love this movie, this is one of those bargain bin discs. However, BOTH current DVD versions of this film have little to recommend, other than the film itself.

On my Sony, the Cheezy Flicks DVD release I received this week strugged and failed about 4 minutes into chapter 17 as the guy in the lighthouse was in the process of hosing down some triffids. Chapter 18 wouldn't play either. I've seen a couple of similar comments posted elsewhere on the Internet about the last chapter or last few minutes.

This version also seems shortened vs. the release I've seen on TV a couple of times. I thought there was supposed to be an early scene where a gang a young tuffs was roaming the streets making trouble for people including a young woman (then our hero stepped in to save her). I couldn't find that scene in this DVD, so if someone else has please do speak up.

The back of the box says 4:3 aspect ratio. A sheet inside mentions letterbox and it played in letterbox format on my TV. Coloring seemed okay for an old flick to me, though unremarkable.

Although I'd rate the original movie 5 stars in its category, the DVD I received had a playback problem and seemed short.

I saw this film when it first came out. I loved it then and I love it now. The Widescreen version is great, though the colors have faded badly, and this "remastered" version isn't "re-imagined". The sound is fine, though, and with a little imagination, the film comes off well (I DO miss some of the colorful landscapes...the greens & reds are very washed-out, and this IS a film about plants!). A later-career performance by Howard Keel is solid, as is the performance of Nicole Maurey (her red hair comes thru!). The important scenes involving Kieron Moore and Janette Scott, filmed separately, were integrated well. There were no cast lists, but the performance of the little girl was wonderful, whomever she may be. I hate bad kid-actors. This IS a fine film; I remember the critics praising this film. I know director Sekely has made other films that I admire that I can't recall. This is definitly worth a look. John Wyndham's book is well translated to the screen. The goofy extras at the beginning are fun, though you can't forward to the film without watching them...

The movie Day of the Triffids has always been a favorite. I have been waiting for years to add this movie to my DVD collection. The Chezzy Flicks release brought the movie out in letterbox the way the movie was filmed. The picture and sound quality are certainly acceptable and much better than the poor quality Allied Artist release. As others have mentioned, the color is washed out and it does not look like a new transfer, but it is the best quality version available at this time. If you must add this film to your own collection, go with the Chezzy Flicks release.

I love the movie Day of the Triffids. This second release brought the movie out in letterbox the way the movie was filmed which is way better. But the quality is not that great. The colour is washed out and it does not look like a new transfer or remastered like the write up says. It is a pricey DVD for the quality of this movie and not being a well known company that put it out. There is also cheapy ad's before the movie starts.
But it is good to have it wide screen at least.

This is such a classic "monsters from space" film. Of course, you have to really love corny monster movies from the 50s era to truly enjoy it. Unfortunately, the last 20-30 minutes of the film had no sound.

If you are able to view a good DVD of this flick, it is almost as good as it was in the movie theaters in 1962. The wonderful plants constructed by the special effects department, and the strange clicking noises emanating from these plants are well worth a view. Although it is strange to see Howard Keel in this role, he does a valiant job. Don't expect to be awe-struck by strong plots and story lines. The beauty to be found is in watching the Triffids and listening to them. What will save humanity from these dreadful botanical abberations? Will it be radio waves? Radiation? Fire? Ice? Cathode Rays? Maybe saline solution in the form of sea water. Watch it and see.

One day a comet came by and a meteorite left off a triffid. So we are familiar with the little cuties. They never bothered anyone.

Little did we know that the next comet would bring a hungry version of triffid. Looks like the new one likes snacking on cute girls and little doges.

What do we care if a few slow moving plants are roaming around? No wait, the meteor shower has blinded most of the population. Now we have a problem as a plant that munches on people and propagates like rabbits can now feed without having to exercise.

This is more than just an eating story. There is also a lonely sailor that escaped being blinded while he was in the hospital. How he builds a family from acquaintances on his mission to regroup. Mean while back at the lighthouse on an island a burned out lush scientist has found a mission to bump off the triffids before he becomes triffid chow.

This is one of those movies that would have been more dramatic in Black and white.

The only draw back on this movie is the female in the lighthouse screams and screams and screams. Them she hears something and does not want to wake up her hubby so she walks right up to the poor triffid and screams at it. It looks like the poor thing lost its footing.

Again this is a pale reflection of an excellent book. Also to be politically correct the triffids that were genetically produced in Russia in the book now mysteriously come from a comet to let the Russians off the hook. However the movie captured the essence. And it is necessary to watch for cultural literacy. And it is just down right fun.

The Day of the Triffids (20th Century Rediscoveries)

A friend of mine had talked a lot about a scary movie he had seen as a child, and he would like to see it again. I purchased this at Amazon, I could not find it any where else, my friend was totally surprised and has watched it several times. Of course it isn't that scary anymore, but it brought back a lot for good memories for my friend.

It is presented in its original widescreen format, Which I prefer but the transfer has undergone no cleaning up that I can detect. The color is faded out, drab, and the film really shows it's age. However it is a complete version and I'am happy to have it in my collection