In the Year 2889 is a 1967 American apocalyptic science fiction television film about the aftermath of a futuristic nuclear war directed and produced by low-budget auteur Larry Buchanan.
This film was commissioned by American International Pictures (AIP) as a colour remake of Roger Corman’s Day the World Ended (1955) intended to be shown on television.
Plot:
A nuclear war has wiped out almost all of Earth’s citizens. It is set in the year 1977; not 2889. The movie follows a group of survivors in a Dallas mansion threatened both by rising radiation levels, a ruthless tough guy and cannibalistic mutants.
Reviews:
“The crazy thing is, there are a couple of respects in which In the Year 2889 actually improves upon its predecessor. The explicit acknowledgement of Mutant Madison’s secret identity works rather better than the oblique treatment the subject received in 1955, and the creature’s earlier appearance in the film helps a lot.” 1000 Misspent Hours
“Buchanan worked on budgets that were lower than normal even for the mid-to-late 1960s. He was stuck in a mix of burned out leading men, semi-talented local actors and technicians, and with strings being pulled by a svengali at the AIP corporate offices. To make a movie at all, under those circumstances, is a stupendous feat, even if the finished product is disappointing.” Horror DVDs
“Although both It’s Alive! and In the Year 2889 have hideous creatures on display, they’re not really “man versus monster” flicks at heart. Humans prove to be the most dangerous foes, and the beasts are only briefly glimpsed in both flicks. The bulk of the action is driven by its lead characters who are placed in claustrophobic, prison-like conditions…” DVD Talk
Offline reading:
It Came from Hunger! Tales of a Schlockmeister – Larry Buchanan, 1996, McFarland, USA
The Films of Larry Buchanan: A Critical Examination – Rob Craig, 2007, McFarland, USA
