KILLDOZER

US, 1974, 75 minutes, Colour.
Clint Walker, Carl Betz, Neville Brand, Robert Urich.
Directed by Jerry London.

Killdozer (a deadly bulldozer) is an offbeat short science fiction telemovie. It preceded the great interest in Star Wars and Close Encounters and Aliens of the late '70s. An isolated community of workers is confronted by an alien force which lands unexpectedly on earth - and takes possession of a giant bulldozer. It naturally wreaks havoc on the group and individuals - violently and in their interactions with one another. Eventually there is a giant fight of machine (possessed) versus machine (man-driven) and mankind conquers. Clint Walker is the solid hero. The characters tend to be stereotypes from this solid hero with a past, the buddies, the investigator. The film is entertaining enough in an average kind of way - but is interesting as an anticipation of films which became popular and high-budget in the late '70s and '80s.