MovieChat Forums > The Being (1983) Discussion > Just bad...not 'good' bad.

Just bad...not 'good' bad.


I like films that are so bad that they're good as much as the next person but this film was just plain bad! There were a few amusing scenes but feh. The funniest thing to me was how sooo low budget this film appeared (like it had been made for a few thousand dollars only). Another funny thing was how they showed only the creature's arm in a number of scenes. Another funny scene was where the monster jumps into the sheriff's car. It's so obvious that someone threw an empty monster suit into the car. In a later scene they throw an empty monster suit at Martin Landau & Landau proceeds to wrestle with the empty suit! He also wrestled with a fake giant octopus in "Ed Wood" but that film was intentionally funny to show Wood's inept film qualities. Granted, the Ruth Buzzi on a broom scene is bizarre too.

What drew me to this film, 30 years after I first saw the poster in a theatre lobby (which isn't the poster shown here btw), was the has-beens in the cast. I'm a sucker for z films with faded stars. For an ultra cheap film...having Dorothy Malone, Martin Landau, Jose Ferrer & add to that Ruth Buzzi(?)...well I wanted to see this. Regrettable decision that that was. The way these actors got cast in this garbage is probably a more entertaining story than the film's actual script. I was aware that Landau's career was oddly in the toilet in the early 80's & he was appearing in shockingly bad low budget stuff (like "Alone in the Dark" which had Jack Palance in it too). Ironically, several years later both Palance & Landau would return to the top of the food chain again by both winning Oscars (Landau for "Ed Wood" & Palance for "City Slickers"). Talk about big time career resuscitation! Jose Ferrer & Dorothy Malone were former Oscar winners so it's best not to even remember this awful film on their esteemed career lists. Anyhoo each person has different tastes so you may enjoy this inept film. I really didn't. The last 20 minutes are the best part of the film.

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I like films that are so bad that they're good as much as the next person but this film was just plain bad!


Yeah, but that's what's charming about this movie, or lots of those old chippies in general.

Another funny thing was how they showed only the creature's arm in a number of scenes.


Yeah... I thought it was it's penis at one moment. xD

Another funny scene was where the monster jumps into the sheriff's car. It's so obvious that someone threw an empty monster suit into the car.


What I found amusing about that scene is that monster perfectly went through small door-opening while completely failing at it's ambush. The least successful monster of all times.

In a later scene they throw an empty monster suit at Martin Landau & Landau proceeds to wrestle with the empty suit! He also wrestled with a fake giant octopus in "Ed Wood" but that film was intentionally funny to show Wood's inept film qualities.


Yep, I was amazed at that scene, and it instantly reminded me of Ed Wood. In fact, this is probably what encouraged Tim Burton to hire him for "Ed Wood". It must be that!

Granted, the Ruth Buzzi on a broom scene is bizarre too.


Yep, amazing scene. So out of place, so funny.

What drew me to this film, 30 years after I first saw the poster in a theatre lobby (which isn't the poster shown here btw), was the has-beens in the cast. I'm a sucker for z films with faded stars. For an ultra cheap film...having Dorothy Malone, Martin Landau, Jose Ferrer & add to that Ruth Buzzi(?)...well I wanted to see this.


Hmm, for such a cheap movie, it had fairly descent cast. Sure, none of them are A listers, but Martin Landau is kinda your step-down from Vincent Price (much like John Carradine).


Regrettable decision that that was. The way these actors got cast in this garbage is probably a more entertaining story than the film's actual script. I was aware that Landau's career was oddly in the toilet in the early 80's & he was appearing in shockingly bad low budget stuff (like "Alone in the Dark" which had Jack Palance in it too). Ironically, several years later both Palance & Landau would return to the top of the food chain again by both winning Oscars (Landau for "Ed Wood" & Palance for "City Slickers"). Talk about big time career resuscitation! Jose Ferrer & Dorothy Malone were former Oscar winners so it's best not to even remember this awful film on their esteemed career lists.


Well, every actor has at least one movie that they wish they haven't done it. I don't blame them at all. Considering that they weren't high listers, but yet enough kinda familiar name to sell THIS kind of a movie, I don't blame them for appearing in it at all. Most of them probably thought it will just play in theaters and be forgotten and they'll get their paycheck. Betsy Palmer scenario sounds familiar?

Anyhoo each person has different tastes so you may enjoy this inept film. I really didn't. The last 20 minutes are the best part of the film.


I actually thought it was quite good cheesy movie. I am not gonna pretend it's amazing, not even good movie, but it was fairly entertaining due to it being so ridiculous and almost inept. One of the most amusing things is probably the lead guy, he has literally the same reaction on everything that happens on screen.

I have no idea why people like to pretend how they were surprised at how bad some movies are. I mean, with it's title, and with it's trailer, you should be perfectly aware how bad it would be. You know, those people who watch movie with title "Sharknado" and are shocked that it turns out to be horrible, because they obviously expected Alien. ;)

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Cool.

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Oh.

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