In the Year 2889 (1969)


In the Year 2889 is a remake of the 1955 Roger Corman movie The Day the World Ended.  This comes from American International - their television branch, in particular - so it's no surprise that Corman is trying to make an extra buck off the same plot which, to be clear, does not take place in the year 2889.  The title was that of a Jules Verne book and, since American International had it sitting around since Master of the World, they decided to finally use it.  

Capt. John Ramsey (Neil Fletcher) and his daughter Joanna (Charla Doherty) have survived a nuclear holocaust because their home lies in a valley whose climate has resisted the nuclear fallout.  However, that may not last, as if rains come too soon it might contaminate their water supply.  This fact, and a dwindling food supply, means the survivors that flock to the house put some may compromise their survival.

Among these survivors are Steve Morrow (Paul Peterson) and his contaminated brother Granger (Max W. Anderson), as well as a low-level gangster named Mickey (Hugh Feagin) and his exotic dancer girlfriend Jada (Quinn O'Hara).  Tensions mount between Mickey and the rest as he seeks to wrestle control from Jim.  Meanwhile, Steve's brother starts to show some strange signs that Jim recognizes from his time in the Navy.  Those exposed to radiation outside the valley begin to change into something other than human.

The creatures look like someone reused a Morlock mask from The Time Machine, and in particular one that had seen better days.  Despite there supposedly being a horde of radioactive zombies outside the valley there was probably only one mask to share among everyone, so most of the time it's one mutant (Byron Lord) hanging around and watching Lori and Ruby hang around a pool in their bikinis. 

There isn't a whole lot that happens and what does is predictable.  It's pretty much a shot-for-shot remake of the Corman movie, just in color and on an even lower budget than the original.  It is enjoyable for a laugh, although even with its short runtime it drags.  Still, it is nowhere the worst movie one could sit through, and it is definitely not the worst that American International put out. However, if interested, it would be better just to watch the Corman film. 

In the Year 2889 (1969)
Time: 80 minutes
Starring: Paul Petersen, Charla Doherty, Neil Fletcher, Hugh Feagin, Quinn O'Hara
Director: Larry Buchanan

 

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