Rural Southern California horror with Jack Palance and Martin Landau
Two teen couples in SoCal go out to a remote lake for some summer fun, but experience something horrific. The only people who believe their story are two local old men that aren’t quite right in the head (Jack Palance and Martin Landau). Christopher S. Nelson and Tarah Nutter play the two protagonists.
"Without Warning" (1980) is an obscure horror flick that obviously influenced “Predator” (1987). Although “Predator” is technically the better film, I prefer this more modest production. It works up some quality spookiness along with an air of paranoia.
As far as its f/x concepts go, it borrows from Star Trek’s “Operation - Annihilate” (1967) and “The Corbomite Maneuver” (1966), mixing in the geographical setting of “Tourist Trap” (1979) with elements of “Squirm” (1976). The inclusion of Palance and Landau as crazies also brings to mind the soon-to-come “Alone in the Dark” (1982).
Whilst Tarah Nutter (Sandy) does well as the lead female, Lynn Theel (Beth) is notable in the feminine department.
Christopher S. Nelson plays a likable male protagonist and should have gone on to better things, but he was never able to breakout in the biz beyond TV work and minor movies.
My rating is kinda high for such a Grade ‘B’ horror that’s about 12-15 minutes too long, yet it delivers the goods by featuring the requisite staples in a respectable manner, including a moving piano-oriented score.
The film runs 1 hour, 29 minutes, and was shot at Paramount Ranch, Agoura, California (main location), and nearby Agoura Valley Inn (bar scene), as well as Malibu Creek State Park (lake).
GRADE: B-/B
