Gritty nuclear war classic. Sure, the end of civilization is scary here, but star Ray Milland may be scarier as a husband and father who clicks into cold-blooded survivalist mode in order to protect his family. They’re on the way to a nice country vacation when Los Angeles suddenly goes up in a mushroom cloud. World War III is on and it isn’t long before society breaks down completely and people are beating, robbing and killing each other over food and gasoline. Ray Milland and family (including wife Jean Hagen and son Frankie Avalon) hide out in a secluded cave, but there’s a pack of juvenile delinquent types on a rape and murder spree nearby.
Ray Milland also directs—this is his first feature film as director—and gives a great performance as a guy pushed to the edge. He’s basically honorable, but he’s also reduced to screwing over other innocent people and even killing a few unarmed men so his family can be safe. But everyone else is equally desperate. It’s not a pretty picture of humanity here. No one comes out looking good. Les Baxter’s bawdy jazz score doesn’t fit the mood at all, but this is a good one. Check it out sometime when you’re in the mood for an apocalyptic downer.