THE DAY TIME ENDED
1979/80 – R (Re-rating) – 80 Min.
D: John ‘Bud’ Cardos
S: Jim Davis – Christopher Mitchum – Dorothy Malone – Marcy Lafferty – Natasha Ryan – Scott Kolden
Full Moon Entertainment DVD / Cult Video Collection
Fullscreen / Stereo 2.0
Extras: Trailers
A family moves into a solar powered desert home wishing to leave the problems of the city behind and start a new life. Unsuspecting protagonists encounter strange things nearly upon arrival; glowing lights, pyramids that make animals disappear and reappear, and antagonistic laser-armed probes are early obstacles. Extraterrestrial occurrences gain momentum as the night wears on. Everybody tries to stay safe inside while spaceships and monsters run rampant outside. Eventually, a swirling vortex begins to move them through time. Abstract plot seems an afterthought; special effects (courtesy of talents such as Jim Danforth, Dave Allen, Lyle Conway, and others) are definitely the focus. The acting is fine, especially the little girl (Ryan), but some character reactions (or utter lack thereof) are bewildering. When it’s all over nothing much has been explained or resolved to any degree of satisfaction. The 80 minutes go by quickly; it’s all very entertaining in a quirky and strictly nonsensical way. Viewer reaction tends to play out as follows… If you enjoyed it years ago you’ll probably still enjoy it. If you didn’t care for it then, it’s a safe bet you won’t feel any different revisiting it now. Unfamiliar viewers who are fond of Laserblast, Starship Invasions, and later Charles Band (the producer) efforts can feel safer in approaching The Day Time Ended than most. A touch of Close Encounters of the Third Kind, a hint of Lost in Space, and a couple of large stop motion creatures kicking the living crap out of each other in the front yard… your move. Notes: The newly applied R rating is perplexing (a theme with The Day Time Ended) since nothing has changed. With the exception of some profanity and a few suspenseful scenes this is relatively safe family fare. Lastly, the DVD reviewed is disappointing at best, unstable image, cropped from 2.35, and sound problems besides. It deserved better.