The Food of the Gods (1976)

Director: Bert I. Gordon

Starring: Marjoe Gortner, Pamela Franklin, Ralph Meeker

A group of friends travel to a remote Canadian island to hunt, only to be attacked by giant killer animals which have populated the place.

I have fond memories of seeing this when I was a kid (not in 1976!). However, watching it now, the film has lost its magic.

I’m not sure whether the visuals were considered good back in the day, but it certainly doesn’t hold well by today’s standards, or even movies from around the same time. The ‘creature’ effects are actually really bad – especially the wasps – and they make use of close-up photography to make the creatures look bigger, but to no avail. In 1976 they might have fooled the audience with this trick, but not today. The creature sound effects are hilarious – and this is by no means a compliment!!

The story revolves around a strange substance seeping from the ground making any animal or insect that eat it, grow into gigantic creatures. Off course there’s the opportunist, Bensington (Ralph Meeker) trying to benefit from this, regardless of the consequences. And we have our hero, Morgan (Marjoe Gortner) who soon senses something very wrong and tries to destroy it. Not a shabby idea, but maybe the movie needs a modern remake.

‘The Food of the Gods’ surprisingly received an award nomination for Best Horror Film.

Would I watch it again? No.