Nature Strikes Back! William Girdler was a capable, thoughtful filmmaker, so despite his status at the time as a “copycat” or “cash grab” director, he often transcended derivative material with handsome photography and competent performances. Eco Horror was huge in the 70’s and this would be his penultimate production; following up his surprise hit and similarly-themed “Jaws on Land” Grizzly before tackling his final effort, the incomparable The Manitou.
It’s a bit slow-going for the first half-hour and there are a few dull patches, but Girdler and his crew ably film the prowling and stalking animals in sinister fashion, resulting in one of the better Man vs. Nature films of the era. And let’s not forget Leslie Nielsen’s fantastically mean villain turn only a few years away from his career-changing work in Airplane!.
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