Hitchcoc
When this movie showed at a small movie theater down the street, the marquee (which used magnetic letters) said, "Now Showing. Food of the Gods." During the night, someone switched the letters around and made it "Food of the Dogs." This was apropos in that it was probably the worst movie to appear that year at the theater. It has a stupid plot, horrible actors, and looks cheap. Anyway, that anyone would bother to pretty much remake an awful 1965 film is a little jaded. The H.G, Wells story is a lesser work but it is ten times the story here. If it's on TV, don't bother. By the way, who the heck was this Marjoe Gortner guy? I do remember his hair, but that's about it.
imdaveysmom
In 1976 my parents took us kids to see this movie not realizing what we were about to see. I was only six years old and a particular scene is seared into my memory. There was a woman reaching into a cupboard and when she withdrew her hand she had a large cockroach on her arm. Next thing I know my mom puts her hand over my eyes and tells my dad to drive. Forty years later it's still with me.Just recently I was flipping through the channels and low and behold what do I see listed? You guessed it, FOOD OF THE GODS! I had to see what I missed. It's funny how time and age can change your perception. At six I was terrified of big bugs. At forty-six I found the whole thing laughable. I suppose that in 1976 the special effects were decent enough, in this day and age watching a herd of gigantic rats was hilarious. My teenage son and husband couldn't believe that this movie scared me.So if you're looking for a good fright, you should give this movie a pass. However, if all you're looking for is a good time and not wanting to take anything seriously this is the movie for you.
Leofwine_draca
A last-gasp attempt at the 1950s 'giant monster' B-movie, directed by schlock purveyor Burt I. Gordon (aka 'Mr Big') who utilises some of his famed back screen-projected beasts onto the screen for the last time. FOOD OF THE GODS is apparently partly based on a tale by H. G. Wells, but turns out to a typical entry into the genre.The storyline is simplicity in itself: creatures on a remote island have grown to giant size, and a group of diverse characters must battle to save themselves. In the lead is former child evangelist Marjoe Gortner, one of the oddest looking leads to populate '70s cinema; in support is Ida Lupino in her last screen appearance. Still, one of the performances really register as this is a film all about the giant creatures.And the effects are pretty decent, at least in places. Things start off badly with some dodgy giant wasps and chickens, but once the rats come into it things really pick up, with some elaborately-staged set-pieces that convince in places. After that point it's an action-packed ride to the climax, with added gore and bloodshed for modern-day '70s audience. Although I had concerns about animal welfare - some of the rats look like they get genuinely injured/drowned - FOOD OF THE GODS turns out to be a surprisingly entertaining little monster flick for fans of the genre and a film which doesn't deserve it's poor reputation.
MARIO GAUCI
The animal life of a remote farming community grows to enormous size after eating from a mysterious product and threatens the locals; in the meantime, members of an inland food-manufacturing company seek to exploit the discovery as a deterrent to world starvation. A sound cautionary tale by a visionary author (H.G. Wells) is perfunctorily rendered in B-movie terms: annoying stereotypes and iffy special effects abound and the sound effects – in which every animal seems to emulate the cry of a distraught feline! – are particularly grating. Director Gordon had already tackled (equally liberally and even less effectively) the same literary source in his earlier film, VILLAGE OF THE GIANTS (1965); at least here, we have the hamminess of heroic football player Marjoe Gortner and slimy businessman Ralph Meeker on the one hand and the intensity of Meeker's aide Pamela Franklin and farm woman Ida Lupino on the other for added entertainment value. It is rather unfortunate that, out of the four species depicted 'under the influence' of the titular snack – wasps, worms, rats and (most hilariously) chicken! – the narrative picks up the former as its main focus since marauding rodents have had their fair share of screen vehicles. Even so, for someone who hates them myself, it was somewhat gratifying to watch them getting vividly blown away, electrocuted and drowned!! Apparently, this was followed by a sequel 13 years later...
AD
