Nightbeast (1982) Is This 80s Cult Classic Really That Bad?

Hello and welcome to another episode of Frightfully Forgotten Horror Movies. We got a trash or treasure for you. A request by Matt, 1982's Night Beast. Before we get started, what are we drinking? >> Today we're drinking Kevin Sorbo Smash IPA. >> [laughter] >> Strong like Hercules when you drink this. >> Or that's how you think anyways. Punch all these bricks and in the morning your >> [laughter] >> In your mind you're breaking all the bricks but then you wake up in the morning your hand's like >> It's all mangled. >> [music] >> Night Beast was directed by Don Dohler and he's directed a couple of low-budget movies that's kind of his claim to fame, movies like The Alien Factor and Alien Factor 2 and Galaxy Invader. >> [laughter] >> That's all these shitty movies. But he's probably most well-known for actually starting a magazine called Cinemagic about special effects and stuff like that back in the 60s which actually was purchased by Starlog, the famous sci-fi magazine that's been running since 1979. >> Richard Dysart is in this. He used to be a TV host and he used to introduce weekly horror movies. >> That was kind of a thing back in the day. Like the local TV horror movie host, you know? I miss those days. >> I know. >> It was a cool thing in a cable TV and yeah. >> [laughter] >> Yeah. Today's feature. >> Yeah. Like that. >> Night Beast starts off with the shot in space and you see this tacky model of the spaceship. >> [laughter] >> You see this asteroid flying through space as well and they collide. And then the ship crash lands on Earth. It shows this explosion and it's super long. Like the scene is like way too long of this ship exploding. You see him get killed by Beast [laughter] actually. Couple of campers. Holy [ __ ] [laughter] Then you see like the silhouette of this creature coming out of the wreckage, right? Night Beast. >> [laughter] >> One of the campers goes to the sheriff's office, Sheriff Sinder, to let him know, "Oh, Sheriff, there's a there's something up there in the woods. You better come and check it out." So the sheriff calls his deputy, who's sleeping, who's this like young woman. In the meantime, there's a car driving down the highway, this uncle with his kids, Uncle Dave. Uncle Dave needs to take a leak, so they pull over and he goes to take a leak. And you can STAY IN THE CAR. UNCLE DAVE, someone's behind you. And of course it's Night Beast. Then he hears this thump. They open up the door and Uncle Dave's all mangled on the hood with his eye hanging out. Kids run away. Shows this couple making out in a house and the lady's like, "Oh, stop. It sounds like someone's running towards the house." >> [laughter] >> Sounds pretty specific like >> Or it's just an animal. No, it's someone running towards the house. [laughter] Why don't you go look? Not footsteps like I hear footsteps. That sounds better like someone's running towards the house. >> [laughter] >> So he gets his shotgun of course and go looks out and it's kind of foggy. Night Beast comes out and starts tearing his guts out. [laughter] It's all long too like it keeps going and >> [laughter] >> The kids see this of course cuz they're hiding and they run away. Night Beast chases them back to the car. They hide in the car they think that they're safe. And the Night Beast shoots the car and it just vaporizes the whole car. [laughter] That's the end of that. The sheriff and a couple of the good old boys got a bunch of guns. They find the night beast finally and they kind of see what's happening and they get this big shootout with night beast. Like tons of these laser beams flying. Super shooting him too. Like tons of gunfire, tons of laser fire. But night beast ends up taking out a couple of the good old boys, right? He hits them and they kind of turn to this kind of stardust. >> [laughter] >> Of course they're no match for night beast and his laser gun. So they all retreat and they go back to the sheriff's office. Sheriff has an idea too. He's like, well, we got to somehow get that gun out of night beast's hand cuz we're never going to beat him otherwise. And so they're all kind of thinking, well, who's the best like sharpshooter around here? They go get this old man farmer and his son. They get into another shootout with night beast. Super long shootout [laughter] and the night beast doesn't even move through all the bullets. He's just like standing still with all that laser fires spraying the [ __ ] [laughter] laser fire everywhere. And it's not even at night anymore. It's during the day. It's day beast. Cause a distraction, the farmer is going to shoot the gun out of night beast's hand. And night beast all vaporizes the son. HE'S >> [laughter] >> MY BOY. BUT THEY GET THE GUN. He takes off and they bring the doctor back into the woods to try and find like all the dead bodies or like all the wounded and stuff from like all those shootouts. >> Even though there's nothing left cuz they're all vaporized. It's all that dust on the ground. So what body? >> Yeah, I don't know. Like [laughter] the one guy got hit, right? He night beast swiped the one guy. So I guess there was one body, yeah. >> Whatever. While they're in the woods, they come across THIS DRAGO, GUYS. DRAGO! [screaming] Standing in the woods like with his motorcycle. He's He starts giving the sheriff [ __ ] >> The funny thing is like, "Sheriff, what are you doing here?" It's like, "What are you doing here riding around in the woods and on a motorcycle?" Like, "Don't Don't you have anything better to do? Get out of here, Drago. >> [laughter] >> I I have no time for your [ __ ] >> [laughter] >> "What are you going to do, Sheriff? Knock me off my bike?" >> He all takes off to his girlfriend's house and starts beating her. >> [laughter] >> Beating her up for like no reason. It's like, "You god damn bitch." He's all slapping her and everything. >> I think you're absolutely right. >> They go to the mayor, get everyone out of the town because that piece is killing everybody. The mayor obviously doesn't believe them that there's some space alien out there killing townspeople. Cook up this story about gases and all this [ __ ] in the mines. Yeah, they don't believe. >> Please. >> [laughter] >> The mayor and his girlfriend just stay there and get drunk. >> Yeah. >> He's >> [laughter] >> blackout drunk. They then see this doctor's office and this guy sticks his head in and he's like, he's demanding whiskey. He goes outside to his car to get that whiskey and Nightbeast is there and he chops his hands off. Kills all these other guys. >> Yeah, he all >> Yeah, he all throws them around and everything. So, Nightbeast gets into the doctor's office. Doctor and her assistant go into the basement and then the assistant guy opens up the door, I guess, to check if Nightbeast is there. And he is. He's all right there. And then he just closes the door. >> [laughter] >> All pleasant and like slowly goes downstairs. Like nothing. [laughter] >> Yeah, it's like, "Why would I be freaking out? Nightbeast is right there." [laughter] >> So Night Beast gets into the basement, the assistant guy sees that the dryer cord is frayed. So he gets the idea to put water on the ground and electrocute Night Beast. So he starts filling up a pail and dumping it on the ground and he keeps going. He >> [laughter] >> fills like four or five pails of water up and Night Beast is just like he's still >> [laughter] >> He's not doing anything. It's like the guy's all calm. Like >> [laughter] >> he's not like he's rushing to get it done. It's So they electrocute Night Beast, but they don't kill him. But they get the idea that he can maybe be stopped by electricity if they get a big enough charge. Cook up the scheme to get like this huge electrical coil. And that's where we're going to end it. So if you want to see what happens with the sheriff and the townsfolk and poor Night Beast, keep watching. You know, I almost got a copy of Night Beast on VHS back in the '90s when I was fixing up my VCR at that grumpy old bastard's shop. >> All When I said you could raid my junk pile, I didn't mean you could build your whole [ __ ] VCRs with my stuff. >> What do you care? You're not doing anything with it. >> Nobody takes advantage of me. Got that? I was thinking maybe we can work out a deal. We re-tube a few TVs. Put the toilet paper on the little spools. [ __ ] like that. Do that and you can raid my junk pile for whatever you want. Hell, I might even throw in a copy of Night Beast. >> I'll think about it. >> Well, don't think about it long or I'll throw you out IN YOUR [ __ ] ASS. >> SO, WHAT HAPPENED? DID YOU get the tape? Thought about it too long. So, that'll bring us to the treasure for Nightbeast. So, what do you think is the treasure for this? >> Well, the first thing you'll notice in the movie starts actually is the music. It's pretty good for Nightbeast. It's your classic low-budget 80s synthesizer score. >> Yeah. >> But, it suits the movie perfectly and it's actually a good score. Like, it complements the movie quite quite well. >> Yeah. Yeah, it's probably the one of the shining hallmarks of the movie, right? >> Another thing, too, is Nightbeast himself. He kind of looks neat, you know? It's like >> design. >> Yeah. Yeah, and his teeth and all that. And he's got some cool space robot. It's like, [laughter] man. I like how he's kind of a badass, too. Like, he comes out of his ship and like with guns blazing. Like, he just starts shooting. Like, [ __ ] Starts vaporizing all these people. [laughter] I think he's kind of cute. Like, he's kind of got this like cute look to him. He's like, "Aw, Nightbeast." [laughter] He's crash-landed, right? Yeah. Yeah, it's like, "Oh, leave him alone." >> Yeah. >> I'm surprised they haven't actually like marketed Nightbeast Nightbeast toys and like a big Nightbeast plushy that you like go to bed with. You like, "Oh, yeah. You're my cuddle Nightbeast." >> [laughter] >> "Good night, Nightbeast." >> He would make for a cute plushy. >> Yeah. >> [laughter] >> The effects actually in this movie, considering its budget of $15,000, which is very low-budget, are quite good. They're obviously not as good as a high-budget movie, >> Yeah. >> but considering they're not bad, you know? >> they're pretty good. >> Like, even like the space stuff that takes place in the beginning with the obvious model. Like, for the budget, it looks pretty good. And the kills are good. >> Yeah. Yeah, it's like when he with the dead make-out couple when Nightbeast tears that guy's intestines all up. Like that's pretty decent. Kills Uncle Dave and his eyes hanging out. That looks pretty good. Rips the mayor's head right off. Yeah, that's pretty good. It looks pretty good. Like it's no better or worse than like a Troma movie effect. You know, like it's not perfect, but it's possible. >> Yeah, exactly. Yeah. >> Overall quality of the movie is actually pretty decent for what it is. Like it doesn't look shitty. >> Right. Yeah. >> and there are some really shitty looking movies out there. Decent shots like with Nightbeast standing in the wreckage with the lights coming behind him with the fog and all that stuff. Like there's some cool shots in this movie for >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Considering the kind of movie it is, like the tension building in certain scenes actually aren't that bad. I'm not sure if it's the pad runtime a little bit to stretch things out cuz the movie is under an hour and a half already. Especially at the ending where they're like planning to get him and everyone's kind of like waiting for Nightbeast to show up so they can trap him. Like it's drawn out and you're like, "Ah, [ __ ] Like when is he going to come?" Like you're kind of like on the edge of your seat a little bit. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> It's like and how is he going to show up? >> And the ending for this movie is, you know, a pretty decent payoff for what it is. >> What it is, you know. >> One guy sacrifices himself, you know, cuz they got Nightbeast trapped all those cables that are charged, right? >> Yeah. >> But he's holding the cables. He's like, "Let go of the cables!" LIKE "HE'LL GET OUT!" >> YEAH. YEAH. >> "FLIP the switch!" And they all fry him. >> The guy. >> Poor bastard. >> [laughter] >> And another treasure is that there's some nudity in this, right? There's some boobs in this movie. So what the hell? >> Yeah. >> Like uh Drago's girlfriend packing her bags to leave when she's naked. >> [laughter] >> You pack the clothes you're wearing? What the hell you going to wear out? >> [laughter] >> Which brings us to another piece of treasure in this, which is an unintentionally hilarious scene, hilarious sex scene, if you could even call it that. >> [laughter] >> And like the lead up and everything cuz the sheriff gets his leg cut, so they go back to her place. She's going to dress the wound, right? Of course she takes his pants off. >> [laughter] >> He's all sitting there with his pants off and he she's like, "I need to get changed." And she starts undressing in front of him and she's like, "You just stay there." All right. And he like lays down and his gitch. >> [laughter] >> They start undressing and they just stand there naked staring at each [laughter] other for a while. >> His ass. >> Stupid [ __ ] pale wife. >> [laughter] >> They have this really bad awkward sex scene. >> His shitty mustache, too, like >> The opposite of sexy is what the sex scene is. Hilarious. >> It turns you off more. >> [laughter] >> Oh, man. >> And the fight scene, too. >> It's all awkward again, like they're trying super hard to not hurt each other. Like they're all hesitating. You see like they're all slow to hit and like Ooh. Like all those sounds they're making. >> And it's a treasure mentioned as part of the treasure just cuz how funny it is. It's a hilarious [ __ ] fight scene. Mostly cuz the sound effects. But that also brings us to the trash because it does show how poorly this movie really is kind of made because like again, like you said, they're hesitating and the guy's shirt changes color mid-fight from black to blue. >> [laughter] >> It's like nobody's paying attention. >> So, it is treasure cuz it's hilarious, but it's hilarious because it's pretty bad. >> Yeah, yeah. >> They're all around >> It cuts to that guy, the Drago guy, rolling for no reason. >> Yeah, why is he rolling now? >> [laughter] >> Yeah, that's [ __ ] funny. >> Which leads right into the acting. The acting is [ __ ] piss-poor in this movie. It's so bad. Nobody has any character whatsoever. Like They're just completely devoid. They're like stone. >> Yeah, everybody is just flatline. >> [laughter] >> The sheriff shows no emotion for most of the Maybe there's one scene where he raises his voice a little bit. >> Yeah. >> But like there's a [ __ ] alien in your town killing everybody. Mayor, I thought I told you guys to leave. That'll do it. Just negative personality. >> none whatsoever. Like that coroner guy too or whatever that assistant guy. He's [ __ ] bad. Like >> this permanent look of like mild disgust >> [laughter] >> throughout the whole movie no matter what's going on. It's the same It's like look at his face. >> It's [laughter] almost on purpose. He's [ __ ] wooden. >> Yeah, yeah. >> His reaction to everything is just How can people act this bad? [ __ ] >> And that mayor guy, he's kind of he's okay. But there's that one scene where he's all drunk. He passed out. Then he wakes up. He's looking for Mary Jane, his girlfriend. >> Mary Jane. >> Yeah. >> [laughter] >> Mary Jane. >> Mary Mary Jane. >> God, I told you. Stop calling me Birdie. Mary Jane. >> [laughter] >> Kind of like a Shatner or something. >> Yeah, very Shatner-esque. [laughter] >> Mary Jane. >> And you don't give a [ __ ] about any of the characters. There's like no character development or character building. >> Yeah. >> Like the only character building is the fact the sheriff and the deputy get together and then that guy at the end sacrifices himself, but they didn't really build him up to be like the kind of like martyr or anything. Like it was just kind of a minor character throughout the whole movie until at the end he kind of, you know, sacrificed himself, but you don't care about him cuz he's barely in the movie. >> Yeah, exactly. The useless Drago [ __ ] It's a pointless side plot that goes nowhere. >> funny character and all, but he's totally pointless. Like his only existence is to beat up women. He's just there and just like every time you see him on screen he's like beating up some woman. Like >> Yeah, and then at the end he shows up and he's all fighting like those guys. It's like What the hell? [laughter] Like >> beating up the deputy for no reason. And for a movie called Night Beast there's not enough night beast. >> Yeah. >> And it's like because the design is pretty cool. They actually show him like close-ups and stuff a lot, but he's not in the movie enough. >> a deadly character. The kills are good. Like give me more of that. Give me more night beast tearing people's guts out and stuff. Like I want to see him like wipe out swaths of people. >> His design is cool, but like the fact that the mouth barely moves. [laughter] He's always the same position all the time. >> They could have like They could have had one line of dialogue saying that he had like a shield or something. So like he didn't have to worry about bullets. >> Then then that would explain it. >> Yeah, but like those shootout scenes where he's just standing there >> Yeah. >> motionless. [laughter] >> Yeah. >> It's like, well can't this guy move? >> Yeah, exactly. >> It's not like he's in a big giant suit. Not mobile. >> Yeah, it's just a head. >> It's just a guy in some shiny clothes. Why is the movie called Night Beast? >> Got no clue. >> Most of it takes place during the day. >> Yeah. >> Like >> And he's not Like he's not really a beast or anything. He's an alien. >> [laughter] >> So, you could call night alien at least, but that's shitty. That's a shitty title, night alien. >> Yeah, it's like god damn. >> So, night beast does sound better, but it doesn't make any sense in the context of the movie. If it took place during one night, I get it. >> Yeah. >> But it's like more like night and day beast. >> [laughter] >> Dusk beast. That's shitty, too. So, I guess night beast is a good name, but it just doesn't make any sense. >> Yeah. >> The setting's like the doctor's office. Like it's obviously just someone's house. Like the waiting room in the doctor's office is just a living room. >> Yeah. >> And like they show in the doctor's office and it's clearly like a bedroom or something. Like >> Yeah, yeah. >> [laughter] >> Yeah, it's kind of weird. >> It's pretty funny. >> Yeah, and then like obviously when they go in the basement, it's just somebody's house. >> Yeah, it's like yeah, the washing machine is like well, that's not a doctor's office. >> Trash or treasure? >> That's a tough one. I'm really torn on night beast cuz it is bad. It's a bad [ __ ] movie, but there are some enjoyable parts for sure. Like >> I'm going to say treasure. >> Yeah, cuz I laughed enough to make it kind of like fun and funny. If you're looking for a shitty movie to watch and laugh at, well it's a good example of a shitty movie to laugh at. >> Yeah, that's true. Yeah. >> not so bad, it's good. It's like just bad enough where it's funny. >> Yeah, yeah. >> [laughter] >> It's not yeah, yeah. There's there's some enjoyable parts to this movie. It's not >> Yeah, like maybe I wouldn't watch the whole movie over again, but there's definitely scenes I would go back and rewatch to laugh at. >> It's treasure, but that's a very thin razor thin treasure. >> Yeah, it's just almost treasure, you know? >> Yeah. >> Check out night beast. I mean you can't really go wrong with it. >> No, it's a fun tacky movie. What can you say? It is what it is. It was made on $15,000, so it could only would so good. >> Yeah, exactly, you know. >> So, they really did the best with their budget. There was there's some moments. >> Yeah, exactly. So, check it out and until next time, keep drinking. >> [music] [music]