At the Earth's Core (1976)

Plot Outline: A Victorian scientist and his financial backer test out a new machine called the 'Iron Mole' which can drill into the Earth. They hope to find untapped resources beneath the Earth's surface but what they do find is a cavern world of gigantic monsters, primitive human slaves and winged monsters that rule over this kingdom.

The Review: Unfortunately it never really convinces anyone of its good intentions to bring life to the Edgar Rice Burroughs story. Instead we get bombarded with horrible giant plastic monsters, men in rubber suits and cheap explosions on miniature sets. If you're a kid then maybe you will be able to forgive it for this but adults will just laugh at it and see right through. It's not that bad though - the film is only let down by it's cheapness. The acting is pretty top form for such a fantasy film. Peter Cushing is on top form again and his presence alone lifts this film from its gloom. He is better than the material presented but still manages to make the role his own, as any less gifted actor would be unable to do. His performance is slightly twisted to his usual cool, calm and reasonable man of science. He's more eccentric this time as if he were playing Dr Who again. Doug McClure is his usual gung-ho self in this type of film but still pales in comparison to his colleague. He makes a decent action hero though - he's believable like Bruce Willis was in Die Hard. McClure usually has an annoying habit of understanding the native people in these films, despite the fact they speak different languages. But here the natives speak well-preserved English and Caroline Munro is the princess, bearing some amazing oil-soaked cleavage. The sets look pretty cheap and the colours are slightly hallucinogenic at times - but it does give you the impression that this is a completely different world and the red/purple sky eerily reminds you that they are in the centre of the Earth. The dinosaurs do look extremely pathetic too - as if the Japanese had leftover kaiju suits from the Godzilla and Gamera series and Amicus found them in a bin somewhere. The rhino monsters are arguably the worst monsters I've ever seen on film (and that takes some beating - Guiron, Reptilicus, Yongarry, Gappa, et al) and their fight is ridiculous. But it's all in good fun though.

Final Verdict: If you've seen the likes of Warlords of Atlantis then you'll know what this film is about. Good British fantasy fun for kids on a Saturday but the really cheap special effects and sets will put off those adults looking for something more satisfying.

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