The classic 1963 horror movie adaptation of revered science fiction writer John Wyndham's, "The Day of the Triffids," presents a terrifying proposition.
What if, by some unfathomable circumstance, our world was catastrophically thrust into dystopian turmoil by the mysterious emergence of a hostile plant species hellbent on plaguing the human population? By extension, to make matters more terrifying, what if their sudden appearance was due to deliberate human intervention?
Post-apocalyptic in tone, dramatically tense, and blessed with powerful performances from its starring leads throughout, "The Day of the Triffids" presents a nailbiting thrill ride, maintaining an eerie air of suspense while painting an ominous portrait of those overseeing our institutions.
With its conspiratorial premise, The Day of The Triffids is perhaps as much about carnivorous rampaging plants with a morbid taste for human flesh as it is a relatable political allegory about the sometimes shady and sinister backdoor aspirations of governments and corporations.
If the plot delivers a dizzying sense of heart-pounding paranoia, then the special effects are equally nausea-inducing, especially for their time. Seeing the monsters in locomotion persuing their human prey is particularly spooky, as seen below.
Considered hugely influential, according to Danny Boyle, The Day of The Triffids opening hospital scene from the original soure material helped inspire Alex Garland to start screenplay for their iconic dystopian zombie horror, 28 Days Later.
Now there's a lasting legacy. Want more from the horror movie hall of fame? Check out our retrospective Jaws review.
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