
Watch The Terror Within
- R
- 1990
- 1 hr 29 min
-
4.7 (2,119)
The Terror Within is a post-apocalyptic horror movie released in 1989 directed by Thierry Notz. Set in the future, the film takes place in an underground shelter where a group of scientists and survivors live after a deadly virus known as "The Plague" has wiped out most of humanity. The main character, David (played by Andrew Stevens), is one of the scientists who oversees the shelter's security and facilities.
As the story begins, a team of survivors returns to the shelter with a young pregnant woman named Karen (Starr Andreeff), who was found wandering in the wasteland outside. The group is alarmed when they discover that Karen is carrying a mutated fetus that appears to be immune to The Plague. The scientists become hopeful that Karen's child could hold the key to creating a vaccine for the virus.
Unfortunately, things start to go awry when a terrifying new threat emerges. A mutant creature begins to stalk and kill members of the shelter's community. As the body count rises, the scientists try to figure out where the creature came from and how to stop it.
The plot of The Terror Within is fairly straightforward, but the film manages to pack in some suspenseful moments and gory action scenes. One of the standout elements of the movie is its creature design, which is equal parts grotesque and eerie. The monster is shown mostly via glimpses and shadows, which helps to build tension and keep the audience guessing.
Despite its B-movie roots, The Terror Within benefits from strong performances from its cast. Andrew Stevens, in particular, is believable as the tough-but-compassionate leader of the scientists. Starr Andreeff is also solid as Karen, a character who is both vulnerable and resilient.
The movie also features an obligatory older actor in the form of George Kennedy, who plays a grizzled and skeptical survivor. While Kennedy's role is somewhat limited, he brings a welcome sense of gravitas to the proceedings.
Overall, The Terror Within is an entertaining if somewhat forgettable genre film. Its strengths lie in its creature design, effective suspense, and competent performances. However, some viewers may find the plot a bit too predictable and derivative of other horror films. Despite this, the movie manages to provide a few scares and some brainless fun, making it worth a watch for fans of the genre.
The movie's low budget is apparent in its production values, with much of the action taking place in the same few locations. However, this is offset by some impressive visual effects, including convincing practical creature effects and a climactic explosion that looks suitably impressive.
The Terror Within is not a groundbreaking or particularly original film, but it is a serviceable entry in the post-apocalyptic horror subgenre. Fans of creature features and survival horror will likely find something to enjoy here, even if the movie is ultimately more of a guilty pleasure than a classic.
The Terror Within is a 1990 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 29 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.7.