Food of the Gods Movie Review

A husband and wife on a secluded island discover some bubbling, seething stuff oozing out of their property. When fed to animals, the unappetizing glop creates giant offspring. The pious couple think that this is the Lord's way of ending world hunger, since it makes for some mighty big chickens. Inevitably, though, some less pleasant critters get hold of it and as a result the wife, a couple of young folks, and a corrupt businessman are trapped on the island by a platoon of giant rats and wasps. This updated version of the H. G. Wells novel was a ‘70s comeback for ‘50s giant-radioactive-monster auteur Bert I. Gordon. The performances are nothing special – in fact, they're lousy. But the film does have some surprisingly effective visual moments; the giant rats (regular-sized vermin swarming over model cars) look much better than you'd have any reason to suspect. On the other hand, the giant fake rooster-head that attacks the hero is pretty lame.

1976 (PG) 88m/C Marjoe Gortner, Pamela Franklin, Ralph Meeker, Ida Lupino, Jon Cypher, Belinda Balaski; D: Bert I. Gordon; W: Bert I. Gordon; C: Reginald Morris. VHS, Beta LIV, VES