Nightbeast (1982)

Nightbeast (USA, 1982) 80 min color DIR-SCR: Don Dohler. PROD: Ted A. Bohus. MUSIC: J.J. Abrams, Robert J. Walsh. DOP: Richard Geiwitz. CAST: Tom Griffith, Jamie Zemarel, Karin Kardian, George Stover, Don Leifert, Anne Frith, Elanor Herman, Richard Dyszel. (Amazing Film Productions)

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Amusingly, this sci-fi invasion film is a reboot of Dohler’s own The Alien Factor, as it features many of the same actors, playing the same characters! One wishes instead there were references made to the earlier picture, for instance if the sheriff said: “Here we go again.” Rather, these people aren’t aware of their own fictions, and battle a hostile alien as if for the first time. Anne Frith and George Stover return as, respectively, Dr. Sherman and Steven Price. This time, Sheriff Cinder (Tom Griffith) has curly hair to go with his porn moustache- all the better as he is paired with the spunky patrolwoman Lisa Kent (Karin Kardian) to help save the world. Richard Dyszel returns as the hapless Mayor Wicker, overacting as ever, who whines incessantly that the sheriff’s declaration of an emergency situation is screwing up his meet and greet with the governor.

What Nightbeast may lack in consistency, it more than makes up for in energy- at first. The opening sequences are possibly the most intense writer-director Dohler has made. After a very impressive introduction where we see the alien ship flying through the galaxy and crashing on the earth, this hostile extraterrestrial spends the next few scenes shooting everything in sight, and ripping open the intestines of anyone who gets too close. Why the creature would bother going through such an elaborate hide and seek game with a smooching couple to disembowel one of them, when all it had to do was shoot, is a typical gap of logic. However, this is likely an excuse for Dohler and his effects team to pull out all the stops and show off whatever tricks they had. During the scenes where the local colour blast their rifles at the alien, the frame is consistently filled with laser beams and explosions. Understandably the film can’t sustain this furious action for the rest of its running time, but sadly much of the remainder is devoted to an unnecessary romantic triangle subplot.

Deputy Jamie (Jamie Zemarel) has a relationship with Suzie (Monica Neff), the ex-girlfriend of the sadistic biker Drago (Don Leifert, who is however very good). These scenes really serve no other purpose than to build up to an overlong fight scene between Jamie and Suzie, or perhaps to offer some titillation by viewing Suzie’s bare back. Yet more pointless titillation follows in a silly love scene between Sheriff Cinder and Lisa, which occurs right when they’re in the middle of saving the town from the alien. Dohler initially didn’t want to do the love scene (despite that it was a requisite for video sales), and just didn’t have the nerve to ask Ms. Kardian to do a nude scene- after all, she was his mother’s hairdresser! However, Griffith approached her about it, and she consented. This sequence is hilariously un-erotic, as Dohler’s obvious discomfort in shooting it is represented by stiff medium two-shots of the shirtless couple endlessly embracing. It foreshadows Dohler’s uncomfortable additions of nudity in his later films with Joe Ripple. On the other hand, this moment is also genuinely touching. Not that the two leads are unattractive, but it is refreshing to see a love scene with actors more of an everyday appeal, than the standard Hollywood model type.

But Nightbeast remains an enjoyable ride because the cast is obviously having a good time. The funniest bits are at the mayor’s house, as the elected official attempts to stay in control despite the martial law enforced by the sheriff. Eleanor Herman provides some comic relief as the mayor’s bubble headed girlfriend Mary Jane, who thinks the sheriff’s evacuation orders “sounds so exciting!” Once again Nightbeast is a family affair, as Dohler’s two kids (Greg and Kim Dohler) appear as victims early in the film. (Greg also worked behind the scenes as a stills photographer.) We also see the screen debut of Dohler’s half brother Glenn Barnes who becomes another victim of the creature. (Later, Barnes would be employed as the sound man.) In print, Don Dohler inspired untold numbers of people who read his special effects magazines and would grow up to be Hollywood players. However this is the only one of Dohler’s films that can boast a big name connection. A teenage J.J. Abrams (of Lost and the new Star Trek franchise) contributed to the music score! Nightbeast was on VHS by good old Paragon. Troma released it to DVD paired with Blood Boobs & Beast, John Kinhart’s excellent documentary on Don Dohler. Vinegar Syndrome released it to Blu-ray.

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