THE DAY AFTER (1983)

Directed By: Nicholas Meyer
Written By: Edward Hume
Cinematography By: Gayne Rescher
Editor: William Paul Dornisch & Robert Florio

Cast: Steve Guttenberg, JoBeth Williams, Jason Robards, William Allen Young, Arliss Howard, John Lithgow, Amy Madigan


The frightening story of the weeks leading up to and following a nuclear strike on the United States. The bulk of the activity centers around the town of Lawrence, Kansas.

Yes i know it's technically a Tv-Movie (Though released as a feature in europe) but i recently watched it for the first time and shockingly found it's far off premise actually affecting. After the explosion inthe film no sponsor wanted to advertise so when the film first aired the second half was shown commerical free.

Awhit if movie that used the theory that was on many people's minds during the cold war of the 1980's What if the U.S. and Russia fired nuclear missles at each other. What would happen in the aftermath and instead of the poulation in the big cities (Whcih Would have been too expensive). The film focuses on different characters in America's heartland.

The film wouldhave gotten a better grade if the film had a bigger budget to afford more impressive effects. The story and script are there, But the visuals betray them every step of the way. Unfortunately Major studio films got it the other way great effects horrible stories. The movies production Values. Now look cheesy and fake, But at the time it looks good enough to make it into theaters. Especially with it's cast which weren;t as distinguished then.

When you watch the film it is a little laughable to think it was cutting edge back in the day.

Surprisingly at times this movie can be shocking in a good way. It's surprisingly downbeat for a Tv-Movie. Watching the film is equivalent to watching a Sci-Fi B movie from the 1950's. It has anostalgic feel. It's fun to watch and it;s logic and theories make sense if you put yourself in the character's mindset. Though i will admit some scenes are ridiculous.

The film had more ambitious special effects scenes that were cut. Due to the budget being altered when the film went from being a planned 4 hour epic to a 2 1/2 hour one.

The film decided to depict kansas as the center of all the action beauce it was theorized that since it is in the exact center of the united states. In a nuclear attack it would be genrally unaffected.

It'san ensemble film like a Robert Altman film (With less Skill) Where characters know and/ot Criss cross each other and are linked in some way.

GRADE: C+

It's a worthy rental as long as you don't expect much.