Killdozer! (film)
| Killdozer! | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Jerry London |
| Produced by | Herbert F. Solow |
| Written by | Ed MacKillop Theodore Sturgeon |
| Music by | Gil Melle |
| Cinematography | Terry K. Meade |
| Editing by | Bud Hoffman Fabien Tordfmann |
| Release date(s) | 1974 |
Killdozer! is a 1974 made for TV science-fiction/horror movie, adapted from a 1944 novella by Theodore Sturgeon. A comic-book adaptation appeared the same year, in Marvel Comics Worlds Unknown #6 (April 1974).
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[edit] Plot
An ancient meteorite crashes onto the Earth's surface. Six construction workers later begin work building an airstrip at the site, on an island off the coast of Africa.
Foreman Kelly (Clint Walker) and bulldozer driver Mack (Robert Urich) uncover the meteorite, which emits a strange sound. When the bulldozer is used to try and shift the meteorite it emits a blue light and seems to possess the bulldozer. Mack, standing nearby as this occurs, falls ill and then dies. Chub (Neville Brand), the team's mechanic, can not find anything wrong with the non-functioning bulldozer, but can hear the odd sound behind the scoop. Kelly orders that the bulldozer not be used.
Beltran (James A. Watson Jr) ignores the prohibition and starts the bulldozer, bringing it to malevolent life. It destroys the camp's only two-way radio and begins a rampage, killing the workers one by one. It seems to run indefinitely in spite of a limited fuel capacity. The machine has some rudimentary intelligence and guile, and hunts down the men.
The crew is soon reduced to just Kelly and Dennis (Carl Betz). Running out of options they jokingly convict the bulldozer of murder and devise methods of 'executing' it. Too heavy to hang, too big for the gas chamber... until they realize it might be electrocuted. They lure it to a trap consisting of woven metal matting used for temporary runways during World War II, connected to a generator.
As the bulldozer is electrified, the alien entity emerges as an aura around the machine, then finally fades. The men shut down the power and check the scoop: no sound. Kelly realizes his story will not be believed as he is a recovering alcoholic - and this job was his last chance to redeem himself.
[edit] Cast
- Clint Walker as Lloyd Kelly
- James Wainwright as Dutch Krasner
- Carl Betz as Dennis Holvig
- Neville Brand as Chub Foster
- James A. Watson Jr. as Al Beltran
- Robert Urich as Mack McCarthy
[edit] References to the film
- The film is referenced many times in Mystery Science Theater 3000 throughout the series.
- After Conan O'Brien mentioned the movie on The Tonight Show, the movie attained cult classic status with over three million hits on YouTube within a week of its mention.
- In the episode of Beavis and Butthead called "Pool Toys", Beavis asked Butthead if he has ever seen that Killdozer movie.
- Wisconsin '80s punk band Killdozer is named after the film.
[edit] External links
- Killdozer at the Internet Movie Database
- Killdozer! at AllRovi
- EOFFTV review - a full length review of the film
- Gone and Forgotten- Killdozer comic adaptation
- Worlds Unknown #6 - a review of the comic adaptation
- Killdozer Visits The Holyland! - a loving tribute
- Clip from Killdozer at YouTube.com
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