- Directed by: Arch Hall Sr.
- Written by: Bob Wehling, Arch Hall Sr.
- Stars: Arch Hall Jr., Marilyn Manning, Richard Kiel
- Run Time: 1 Hour, 32 Minutes
- Watch it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hc46zpP4RQ4
Spoiler-Free Judgment Zone
Two teens encounter a prehistoric giant in the desert. The poster makes it look way more exciting than it actually is. It’s often included in worst movies ever made lists, and it probably belongs there. The pacing is clunky, the dubbing is bad, there isn’t a lot to the script, and the acting is questionable. It’s watchable and somewhat interesting, but not one to really recommend.
Spoilery Synopsis
Roxy leaves the store and stops to talk to the guy at the gas station. On the road to the lake, she almost runs over a caveman. Tom interrupts the proceedings before the giant man carries her away, but he doesn’t see anything. When they tell their fathers, the old men don’t believe them.
In the morning, they find giant footprints in the dirt. Mr. Miller, Roxy’s father, wants to visit the nearby mountains and maybe write an adventure book about the big caveman. Miller takes a helicopter up to the mountain to spend the night. Miller soon encounters the cavemen.
Meanwhile, at the pool, Tom plays his guitar on a huge amplifier, which probably annoys people for at least a square mile. Roxy gets a call that the helicopter set to meet her father can’t show up for the rendezvous, so she and Tom head out there to pick him up– in a dune buggy. We get lots of gratuitous “Wheee!” in the dune buggy. Night falls, which leads to a campout, and another song from Tom (where are the backup singers coming from?).
Out in the desert, the caveman hears the music and homes in on them. He sneaks into camp and eats their food while they sleep. He runs off when Tom’s faulty radio starts playing.
The next morning, the two continue the search for Mr. Miller. The caveman grabs Roxy while Tom is off in the hills. Roxy wakes up in the creature’s cave next to her father, who is still alive. The caveman sniffs her all over; he likes her perfume. The cave is also occupied by the caveman’s mummified dead relatives.
Miller calls the creature “Eegah,” and Roxy whines about the cave (I’m whining about the pacing and acting at this point). Later, Eegah goes out for a dead rabbit and some flowers for Roxy. Roxy shaves the caveman, which is badly needed. Afterwards, Eegah’s got one thing on his mind, but Roxy ain’t having that.
Rocy lures Eegah outside, but Tom is out there as well, and he fights the big man. The three jump into the dune buggy and ride off with the caveman in pursuit. As they drive away, Roxy looks at the big man longingly. Eegah goes back to his cave and tells his troubles to the mummies.
Eegah leaves the cave and goes looking for Roxy and her car. He uses his bloodhound powers to follow her with his nose– right to town. Miller and Roy talk about Eegah, and they decide to keep the whole thing a secret so that people won’t hunt down and kill the caveman. They head to a party with Tom, and Eegah causes mayhem looking for Roxy. The police get a call “Large man or giant on the loose.”
Meanwhile, Tom’s doing more singing at the party. Roxy tells Miller that she’s worried about Eegah. “Something’s happened to him.” Then she proceeds to dance with Tom and another guy from the band who wants to fight. Eegah shos up at the party, and everyone sees him. He grabs Roxy and carries her off.
The police shoot Eegah repeatedly, and he dies. Everyone is sad, especially Roxy.
Brian’s Commentary
Richard Kiel got all the “big man” roles in the 60s and 70s.
This feels like an hour-long TV show stretched into a movie. It’s got lots of unnecessary filler scenes, and it’s downright boring at times.
Yawn.
Kevin’s Commentary
It’s strange; I had a used copy about 15 years ago that was in black and white. This was in color, and I don’t see any mention of it online or in trivia about it having two versions.
Trivia says much of the sound was accidentally destroyed, which is why it’s (badly) dubbed. It’s impressive how Tom starts to sing with his guitar around the campfire, and there are drums, bass guitar, and backup singers who join in.
Richard Kiel certainly was a big feller. 7 foot 2. With a very fake-looking beard here.
I was slightly entertained, but it’s really pretty bad overall. My biggest complaint is the clunky pacing and too many filler scenes.
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