Retrospect of '80s Horror: THE BEING (1983)

The '80s were filled with films that tried to comment on the dangers of toxic waste which makes 1983's "The Being" a special oddity. Unlike the more successful "C.H.U.D." (1984), this film did not age as well as that film but it still manages to do its fundamental job which is to entertain (although in a more campy way).

The film stars Martin Landau as a scientist who ventures to a small Idaho town which is plagued by a string of strange murders that seem to be the caused by something mutated by toxic waste. He teams up with the local sheriff to try and stop the monster from killing anyone else. Landau seems to be slumming in this film as this is not one of his better films. The film suffers from weak performances but has a slight charm to it being from the bygone era of toxic waste horror which peaked a year later with the release of "The Toxic Avenger."

The film is written & directed by Jackie Kong (who was behind the film "Blood Diner") and the cinematography (which isn't bad) is by Hanana Baer (who continues to work today in both feature films and television). "The Being" is not definitely for everyone but those who love the '80s for its toxic waste horror will love this film.