''Killdozer!'' is a 1974

made for TV A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...

science-fiction

horror movie Horror is a film genre that seeks to elicit fear or disgust in its audience for entertainment purposes. Horror films often explore dark subject matter and may deal with transgressive topics or themes. Broad elements include monsters, ap ...

, adapted from a 1944 novella of the same name by

Theodore Sturgeon Theodore Sturgeon (; born Edward Hamilton Waldo, February 26, 1918 – May 8, 1985) was an American fiction author of primarily fantasy, science fiction and horror, as well as a critic. He wrote approximately 400 reviews and more than 120 sh ...

. A comic book adaptation appeared the same year, in

Marvel Comics Marvel Comics is an American comic book publishing, publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Co ...

' ''

Worlds Unknown ''Worlds Unknown'' was a science-fiction comic book published by American company Marvel Comics in the 1970s, which adapted classic short stories of that genre, including works by Frederik Pohl, Harry Bates, and Theodore Sturgeon. Publication ...

'' #6 (April 1974). The film has since gained a cult following.

Plot

A meteorite crashes onto the Earth's surface on an island off the coast of Africa. Countless years later, after natural forces have buried it and restored the local environment, six construction workers are boated to the island to begin work building an airstrip for an oil drilling company at the crash site on the uninhabited island. Foreman Kelly (

Clint Walker Norman Eugene "Clint" Walker (May 30, 1927 – May 21, 2018) was an American actor. He played cowboy Cheyenne Bodie in the ABC/ Warner Bros. western series ''Cheyenne'' from 1955 to 1963. Early life Clint Walker was born Norman Eugene W ...

) and bulldozer driver Mack (

Robert Urich Robert Michael Urich (December 19, 1946 – April 16, 2002) was an American film, television, and stage actor, and television producer. Over the course of his 30-year career, he starred in a record 15 television series. Urich began his ca ...

) uncover the meteorite (though they do not know what it is), which emits a strange sound. When the bulldozer (a

Caterpillar D9 The Caterpillar D9 is a large track-type tractor designed and manufactured by Caterpillar Inc. It is usually sold as a bulldozer equipped with a detachable large blade and a rear ripper attachment. The D9, with 354 kW (474 hp) of gross p ...

in the movie, a

Caterpillar D7 The Caterpillar D7 is a medium track-type tractor manufactured by Caterpillar Inc. and most commonly used as a bulldozer. The D7 was first manufactured in 1938. A series of improved models were later produced, including the D7C in 1955, th ...

in the novella) is used to try to shift the meteorite, it emits a blue light that moves to, and seems to possess, the bulldozer. Mack, standing nearby as this occurs, falls ill and then dies some hours later. Chub (

Neville Brand Lawrence Neville Brand (August 13, 1920 – April 16, 1992) was an American soldier and actor. He was known for playing villainous or antagonistic character roles in Westerns, crime dramas, and ''films noir'', and was nominated for a BAFTA Awa ...

), the team's mechanic, cannot find anything wrong with the inoperative bulldozer, but can hear the odd sound from the blade. Kelly orders that the bulldozer not be used. Beltran (James A. Watson Jr.) ignores the prohibition and starts the bulldozer, bringing it to malevolent life. It destroys the camp's only two-way radio and begins a rampage, killing the workers one by one. It seems to run indefinitely in spite of a limited fuel capacity. The machine has some rudimentary intelligence and guile and hunts down the men. The crew is soon reduced to just Kelly and Dennis (

Carl Betz Carl Lawrence Betz (March 9, 1921 – January 18, 1978) was an American stage, film, and television actor. He appeared in a variety of television series, including the CBS soap opera '' Love of Life''; he is best remembered for playing Don ...

). Running out of options, with the expected relief crew not due to arrive just yet, they amuse themselves by convicting the bulldozer of murder, then consider methods of "execution": it is too heavy to hang, and too big for the gas chamber. They then realize it might be able to be electrocuted. They lure it to a trap consisting of steel

Marston Matting Marston Mat, more properly called pierced (or perforated) steel planking (PSP), is standardized, perforated steel matting material developed by the United States at the Waterways Experiment Station shortly before World War II, primarily for the ...

(used for constructing temporary runways during World War II) connected to a generator. As the bulldozer is electrified, the alien entity emerges as an aura around the machine, then finally fades. The men shut down the power and check the blade: no sound. Though Kelly realizes his story will not be believed as he is a recovering alcoholic, and this job was his last chance to redeem himself, he intends to tell the truth.

Cast

as Lloyd Kelly *

as Dennis Holvig *

as 'Chub' Foster * James Wainwright as Jules 'Dutch' Krasner * James A. Watson Jr. as Al Beltran *

as 'Mack' McCarthy

Release

Home media

''Killdozer!'' was released for the first time on DVD by Willette Acquisition Corporation on July 1, 2021, and on blu-ray and DVD by Kino Lorber in 2020.

Reception

''Killdozer!'' received mostly negative reviews upon its release, with criticism directed towards the film's 'outlandish' premise. Charleston Picou from ''HorrorNews.net'' gave the film a mixed review, writing, "While the movie itself is well made for a ‘70s TV flick, with decent acting and directing, it’s ultimately undone by the overall ridiculousness. The titular killdozer is never really that frightening and is sometimes kind of silly looking." Regardless, Picou stated the film 'still manages to be entertaining'. Jon Condit from Dread Central panned the film, awarding the film a score of 0.5 out of 5. In his review, Condit criticized the film's ridiculous premise, sluggish pace, "one-dimensional" characters, and overall lack of suspense. Andrew Smith from the British film review website ''Popcorn Pictures'' gave the film a score of 0 out of 10, writing, "''Killdozer'' is dreadful fare which should have been left to rust on the seventies scrap heap. It’s hard trying to find positives to say about it. Even its short running time drags out for an eternity." However, not all reviews for the film were negative. ''The Terror Trap'' rated the film a score of 2.5 out of 4 stars, stating that the film "comes off fairly well thanks to its straightforward, sci-fi approach", while also noting its strange premise.

Legacy

In spite of receiving largely negative reviews from both critics and audience members, ''Killdozer!'' has acquired a cult following over the years and is now considered a cult classic. The rock band Killdozer was named after the film.

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Killdozer 1974 films 1974 horror films 1974 television films 1970s science fiction horror films ABC Movie of the Week American horror television films American science fiction horror films American science fiction television films Films based on American horror novels Films based on short fiction Films directed by Jerry London Films set on uninhabited islands Films scored by Gil Mellé 1970s English-language films 1970s American films